LTS and grain mills again...

[RobertJ]

I have spent the better part of today on the search bar here reading about grain mills. I watched the PAW videos and read the 10 posts found. I'm am in an info Coma.

I would love a Country Living grain mill, but can not budget it in at this time. I have little in LTS foods and feel the need to start filling this huge gap. I feel Im a day late and a dollar short but am going to do what I can in the time frame Im allotted and the little money I have. I felt like selling off some of my firearm collection to finance this, but just cant bring myself to do it right now.
I also feel like I need to be storing canned meats as well. Prices are going up every day.

I digress,
From what I read this morning it looks like I can afford the Back to the Basics/Victorio mill. Is there a vendor here that carries them, I prefer to support the sites I belong to, and their vendors. Is Amazon/Ebay the way to go to purchase these. With the mill is there any spare parts I need to purchase with it. Or extras? I will be trying to make breads and meals with it. I am a whole wheat person now due to my weight and elevating blood sugar levels, not Diabetic yet but on my way. was 275# last year and down to 221# as of yesterdays weigh in. Not doing so well with the diet over the Holidays.
I dutch oven cook and grill, but bread making from scratch I have never tried. I would love to pick someones brain locally (south Orlando, theme park area) on this if possible. I dont have a wife to help me in these matters its just me.
I am really feeling we are headed to an economic collapse/depression and would love to be able to have food and be able to make breads and meals, Corn meals for "breadding"etc. and to make corn breads and wheat breads. I also like the re fried bean idea in the one video.

Can anyone post some good cook books or how tos on making breads, tortillas (corn and whole wheat) meals. their preperations,spices needed etc.
I am totally lost and on unfamilliar ground here and no pun intended would like to get back to the basics.
I think I am going to go to the farm store to pick up the feeds for my storage grains, its been decades since I have set foot in one. What are some good name brand wheat and corn feed to pick up to start off with. Would Tractor supply have any feed? There is one right down the road from me (just thought about that) I wont stand out so bad there as I would in the feed store.

Last question for now, bread needs eggs and yeast I guess. I live in a subdivision ( Im working on it I know, I know). Chickens are singled out as a non pet so will have ti mill that over some for live chickens and what to do. What should I do for eggs? Is the packaged yeast any good and what kind of shelf life dos it have?
Thanks for any and all the help.

Confused but trying,
Robert

[protus]

the BB is good. i have had some issues with mine. But since im a fix it type over came the issues. many wouldnt.
If i had to spend the money over again i would drop the $$ for a country living or one of the electric uberwondermills or such.

there is quite a few bread books out there...the older the better imho.

[LizardKing]

Take small bites on all the info and not try to take it all in at once. I can't offer any advice on a grain mill, but the best bread recipe I use is one that was on the back of a bag of bread flour. It's just a simple rustic loaf that's tolerant of beginners and you can add all kinds of things to it for added flavor. Even when I don't produce a perfect bread (no bread machine for me), I still eat it and try again. No loss.

[Grinnan Barrett]

The B to B is a great starter mill. Learn to use it and then move up. YOu need to be sure you want to grind grain before you jump into a high dollar top of the line mill. The Country Living Mill is a top of the line product. the cost is pretty heavy though so be sure you want to invest before you jump. I have Bto Bs and Coronas and now a high dollar mill as well. You also have to commit to store grain in 5 gallon or 7 gallon pails. GB

[RobertJ]

Thanks all

[mrhappy]

Are you allowed to keep pigeons as pets? That might satisfy egg needs

[miked2345]

Are you allowed to keep pigeons as pets? That might satisfy egg needs

Pigeon eggs? People really eat those?? Wow... who would'a thunk!! (I prefer bald eagle eggs myself..) :cool:

[RobertJ]

Recieved my mill, a bit smaller then I expected. Also recieved my mylar bags and o2 absorbers. Now deciding weather to cut the bags down some or to store the full size. I have been reading the debate and may store in one gallon sizes to keep it fresh once I open a pail. I need to re watch the PAW video to get the name of that sealer again. Have to start looking for my grains this weekend.

Pigeon eggs hmmmm... gonna need a lot of them to add up, LOL,

[610Alpha]

I need to re watch the PAW video to get the name of that sealer again.

It is a clam shell sealer (type of sealer)...I bought mine from packoinc http://www.packcoinc.com/mp6cs-portable-bag-sealer.html Company is located in Missouri, shipping is free if order is over $25, this is the cheapest I could find on the net. $82.00 cheaper than ebay...I am working on my video review of it.

[BioG8r]

Grain Mills are one of those items where you truly get what you pay for.... Mini mills tend to be harder to keep the product uniform, spending the money up front wWILL payoff in the long run, nothing like having 500 pounds of grain and a mill that won't give you what you want. If you are wanting fine flours and the ability to crack grains, spend the dough for a good one now, I PROMISE they won't get any cheaper as time goes by! Buy junk now, buy better later isn't a sound philosophy.