WINTER WHEAT

just before we had this last run of rain, we were lucky enough to have the perfect conditions for harvesting our 5 acres of winter wheat. the combine ran well, we found a way to store it and it appears to be a good crop. now we just have to follow through with our plans to make and sell whole wheat flour. in the past, we have gotten to this point and then end up selling the wheat as cover crop seed to other farmers because that is the easier thing to do. we are really committed to turning this year's crop into a value added product for all those hungry localvores.

yesterday, spencer attended a workshop at butterworks farm where our mentor and friend, jack lazor, has a successful bean, grain and dairy farm (they make awesome yogurt!). this workshop was focused on growing grains for food. jack has really built he has an amazing set up for storing, cleaning and processing grains and beans. currently, he sells a half dozen varieties of dry beans including black turtle, jacob's cattle, vermont cranberry and the soldier bean that you can buy in bulk at many local coops. he also processes an heirloom corn to make cornmeal and mills whole wheat berries for flour. i should also mention two other amazing bean & grain farmers that have had an incredible influence on us and have been so helpful... ken vanhazinga (tio grains) and ben gleason (gleason grains).

this workshop was perfect timing to really motivate us to keep moving forward in our bean and grain venture. there is an incredible amount of demand and excitement to buy these items locally. i want to do it all... rolled oats, cornmeal, popcorn, buckwheat and whole wheat flour, beans and sunflower oil.