This may be obvious, but I haven't seen it posted anywhere yet. With all the money people are spending on grains and shipping from all the prep cos. I would humbly suggest that most grains can be obtained for $6-9 per 50 lb bag at Blue Seal feed dealers. I bought my first 200 lbs of wheat from a guy who posted on TB2K, and it is very good, but it cost a lot more and I had to drive a long ways for it (or pay shipping from that nice guy in NB). Blue Seal feeds are readily available at a lot of "farm supply stores", are untreated (I checked with the manufacturer), and they did not appear to me to have any impurities. I figure they HAVE to be better than what the people who grew and stored grain in the 1700s were eating, so they are good enough for me. (I know it's probably not hard red winter wheat, but it will keep you going in a pinch.) Plus you can plant it next spring if you want. (I planted some wheat which was sold for food and am getting a nice crop. . . so far anyways!)

-- judy (wednesdayschild@hotmail.com), July 07, 1999

Answers

We are laying in a lot of feed for animals, of course, but this is an idea that has been raised from time to time and it's worth consideration.

Let me suggest a slight variation: this is a VERY cheap way to purchase usable grain for your NEIGHBORS to help them out in a worst case if you have already stored a lot for your own family. Frankly, you don't even need to tell them where it came from: if it is truly needed post-Y2K, they ain't gonna ask anyway.

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), July 07, 1999.

I live near a Mennonite community and since I have shopped at their store before, I asked the lady if she could order me bulk grains, etc. and she was more than willing to do that and the price was very reasonable. I can usually get my stuff within a week or two and I just have to go to her store and pick it up right away since she has limited storage - plus by ordering, I don't deplete her normal stock.

-- Beckie (sunshine_horses@yahoo.com), July 07, 1999.

We buy dry corn for our donkeys. We buy it from a farmer north of Gainsville, Fl for $0.07 per pound. We buy 2 ton at a time. Its the cleanest corn I have ever bought. I take a bucket of it and sit and watch TV and go through it a handful at a time, picking out any cracked or bad kernals and tossing the good stuff into a bucket. This is the corn I grind for us. I have stored 400# of corn for neighbors or whomever may need it. We will be getting another two ton in the fall and I will rotate my stored corn into the animals feed and storing the new crop of corn for people.

Taz who figures corn meal will go along ways here in the south. Between corn (and my grinding it for them) and filling their water jugs, we hope to buy us some security.

-- Taz (Tassie @aol.com), July 07, 1999.

I'm buying my grains and beans from my health food store. I get everything in bulk, they give me a 10% discount and I have it within a week. Just bought 120 lbs of mung beans for $1.00 lb. Great for sprouting.

-- thinkIcan (thinkIcan@make.it), July 07, 1999.

IthinkIcan: Are you in Okla City??? I seem to remember that you are located in that area. If so, what health food store do you use? Do they have good prices on other sprouting grains? I'm in Lawton. THANKS!!

-- jeanne (jeanne@hurry.now), July 07, 1999.

Last I checked, hard winter wheat at the local feed mill was $4.00 per 50lb bag. No wonder farmers are going bankrupt.......

Big Dog, I've also given some thought to using that for "guests". Especially some particular family members who have been particularly snide about my "latest" paranoia.

Also, again, good backup for the animals. And not any more than grasshoppers deserve. Sorry, I'm in a mood today..

-- Jon Williamson (jwilliamson003@sprintmail.com), July 07, 1999.

I too made bulk purchases from my local health food store. I received 20% off on orders over $100. Put it up in 5 gallon buckets using the dry ice method.

Southern States is one of the feed store chains in the Mid-Atlantic region. I inquired about food-grade grains & received that look - "why would this guy be interested in purchasing bulk grain for himself? Is this guy nuts?" I backed away slowly!

Also, Sally Strackbien ("ie" or "ie"?) alerted us to a LDS bookstore which was selling off its entire inventory of nitrogen-packed 5 gallon buckets filled with wheat, corn, pintos, rolled oats. A few of us Northern Virginians took advantage of their sale.

A bucket for me, a bucket for the neighbors seems to be a common course of action with many of us. Feels good when we think of others doesn't it!

Best Wishes,

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), July 07, 1999.

I am right with you on this.... I was lucky to find a source for about 250 lbs. of local, organic hard red winter wheat for $9 per 50# but also have added lots of local feed store wheat and corn - like you said the wheat may not be the best for bread making but I figure if I need it I will be making lots of pancakes, mush, tortillas, etc. Good cheap peace of mind and also suitable for the goats and chickens.... Good going!

-- Kristi (securx@succeed.net), July 07, 1999.

I'm still looking for a local feed store that will order me 50# bags of rolled oats. It takes a bit of cooking, but still makes oatmeal cookies, oatmeal topping for cobbler, etc. You could probably make some sort of granola, using it, too.

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), July 07, 1999.

I agree with some of the others that I am putting more grain & beans away then I think we will need. Keeping a pot of beans on the back of the stove and cornbread will give some people a meal.

-- Beckie (sunshine_horses@yahoo.com), July 07, 1999.

my neighbor went down to the feed company and they said- "you're not into that y2k stuff are you"??!! they got bent out of shape over the whole thing........

the stuff is probably ok to eat- but planting it is iffy- especially in marginal areas of the US where growing season or winter hardiness is an issue.

-- farmer (hillsidefarm@drbs.com), July 07, 1999.

For people near Honeyville Utah or Rancho Cucamonga California I highly recommend Honeyville Grains. They have a large selection and very reasonable prices. They supply commercial bakers and will deliver in the area if the size is large enough. No connected with them, ect ect,

-- smfdoc (smfdoc@aol.com), July 08, 1999.

Mad Monk,

Think about getting a roller and rolling you own oat groats. I'm thold by those who are supposed to know that once rolled the oats start to loose nutritional value. I KNOW the loose flavor.

I eat a bowl of oats every day for breakfast and am never hungry till lunch if then. (Those who have meet the ol bear in person will attest that this is no small feat). Moma Bears oatmeal cookies are to die for.

There really is a difference when you "roll your own".

-Greybear

-- Got Butter?

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), July 09, 1999.

Taz - if you are ordering by the ton, where do you store all that grain?

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), July 13, 1999.

Just wanted to insert a few comments. Not all wheat is suitable for baking bread. So if that is your intention, make sure it's the right kind -- hard red or hard white I think. "Soft" wheat is only suitable for pastries or cereal. Also, I've read several cautions about suddenly shifting to a whole wheat diet and it's impact on the digestive system. Just food for thought as it were.

-- David Bowerman (dbowerman@blazenet.net), July 14, 1999.

I recommend Gary Hanson's farm in Nebraska. His web site is http://www.pleasanthillgrain.com I bought soybeans, corn, and a grain mill from him and was completely satisfied with the quality,price,etc. Very quick shipping. His email is zz@hamilton.net I'm pretty sure.

-- jeanne (jeanne@hurry.now), July 14, 1999.

Some thoughts on this thread,

From A.T. Hagens Food Faq:

Food FAQ

Types and Availability

If you are buying your grains and legumes from some-place other than a food store then you need to know the history of what it is you are buying. Straight field run grain, other than being dirty, is not likely to have had anything added to it that would make it undesirable for human consumption. There is, however, the small possibility it may have been infected with molds that would make it unsafe for eating.

Field run from storage and any grade of grain not specifically advertised for human consumption may have had fumigants, fungicides or insecticides not certified as safe for human foods added to it while it was in the bin. It is important to know what it has been treated with before you buy it.

Emphesis added. Yes, you can get wheat for $6+ a pound. One risk you run, compared to buying a known quality grain can also be substantial. Some people will take that risk and be OK with it, others will take that risk and get sick. Others (and Im one) simply prefer not to take it. Your choice, but just be sure you know what your are buying. Can a feed store tell you if a fumigant, fungicide or insecticide was used on the grain?

Second, if you are buying from a good source, the grains are dry. That's important (ever try to dry out a few hundred pounds or a ton of wheat?), and many places you buy it already in buckets......so that it stays dry. Wheat, brought from a dry growning area (Utah, Idaho) into a moist mid-Atlantic state will absorb moisture. Dry is good as far as avoiding mold and other things that make grain inedible.

Ive purchased wheat from two places:

Lehi Roller Mill

Hard Red Wheat = $14.99 (also bought great flour from them)

and

NRV Bulk Foodsin Blacksburg, VA

Hard Red Wheat = $22.95

The difference -- shipping. If you live in Utah or that area, you can buy wheat cheaply. Otherwise you have to have it shipped in. By the time I pay for shipping the wheat from NRV is cheaper than the wheat from Lehi. Course, I drive over to near Roanoke, VA and pick the wheat up at the warehouse with NRV, so there is no added cost.

-- de (delewis@inetone.net), July 14, 1999.