Obtaining Quantities of dry grains etc.

[Maid Marion]

I'm sorry guys if I missed reading where we can obtain larger quantities of hard wheat, and other grains to be able to store. I love the storage information provided here. I've already learned so much. We live in New Hampshire and googling doesn't seem to help out with finding what we need. We are willing to travel some distance to obtain what we need to make up our own buckets but are at a loss as to where to go to get these items. Driving to Utah...lol....Nevada..is out of the question and the shipping for most prepailed things is so outrageous it is prohibative. Thanks for the help. Like I said, sorry if I missed it if it has already been shared. There is so much great information here.

[miked2345]

I've found 50 lb. bags of rice at Sam's Club and 25 Lb. bags of wheat at Walmart... But I'm sure folks here have better sources for large quantities.

[goatlady]

Check at your local "health food" store. If they sell bulk, they most usually will special order bags of whatever you want at a nice discount. That is also a good way to try grains out - buy a pound and make stuff and see if you like it before buying 25 or 50 pounds of the stuff.

[MustangGal]

@ Goatlady - That was exactly what I was going to post. We may even use the same health food store! :D I know the last time I ordered it was less than $30 for a 50 lb bag. Of course, then you have to pack it.

I get my white rice from Sam's Club. I also buy 25lb bags of flour there - not for storage, just to use.

You can store "feed" grains. But you will need to clean them some, either before packing or before use. I have not done that, but I have been thinking about it.

[Maid Marion]

Thanks a bunch......always open to suggestions and had no idea at all where to go for this stuff. Hugs!

[MustangGal]

You can order it online. Cons: It isn't terribly expensive, but shipping can be cost prohibitive. Pros: It should be properly stored and you shouldn't have to do anything besides store it appropriatly.

[Pearl]

You could order from Wheat Montana (Montana of course) or Azur Standard (Oregon) if you want bulk grains.

They both offer reasonable delivery though you would do better if you could pick it up at one of their drop-off locations.
You can get the grains in buckets, bags and sacks.

You should also check your local LDS canning kitchen.

[610Alpha]

Depending on what grain you are wanting I would try finding a local Feed Store (Grain Elevator). You can buy feed wheat and use a fan to clean the wheat (for the most part), then pack it in buckets like you see on some of the videos. Costco, Sams, Grain Elevator, and Online with JRH Enterprises. A previous post mentioned wally world for 25 lb. bag of wheat, I have only found this at Super Walmarts and not every super center carries it, it is pretty reasonably prices ~$14/25lb bag.

I tried a health food store and it was cost prohibitive. They wanted over a $1/lb on wheat...I got 50 lbs from Grain Elevator for $14 unclean. Be sure to stress FEED before the grain to make sure they understand something is going to eat this so they don't give you SEED grain.

[JethroBodine]

@ Goatlady - That was exactly what I was going to post. We may even use the same health food store! :D I know the last time I ordered it was less than $30 for a 50 lb bag. Of course, then you have to pack it.

I get my white rice from Sam's Club. I also buy 25lb bags of flour there - not for storage, just to use.

You can store "feed" grains. But you will need to clean them some, either before packing or before use. I have not done that, but I have been thinking about it.

How do you clean feed grain? Alpha says with a fan?

[610Alpha]

How do you clean feed grain? Alpha says with a fan?

Yep...I need to upload that video still.

I set a fan on a bucket...then in front of the fan I place an empty bucket which I pour grain into SLOWLY so that as the grain falls the fan is blowing the chaff away from the empty bucket and the grain falls down into the empty bucket. It takes a little tweaking on the speed of the fan and how high you pour, I poured higher than the fan so that the air flow had more time to act upon the chaff and blow it away from the empty bucket. Do a couple of passes and you can clean out most of the chaff.

I will try to make it a priority to complete that video and get it uploaded.

[JethroBodine]

Can you buy grain direct from a farmer or would the moisture content be too high?

[610Alpha]

Can you buy grain direct from a farmer or would the moisture content be too high?

You can buy direct from a farmer...the moisture content will depend on if they are loading semi's to haul grain to the elevator, if they are then that would be the time to buy from them because the grain gets tested at the elevator for moisture content so its in their best interest to have it as dry as possible when they take it to the elevator. You could ask them about the moisture level or bring a sampling unit with you. Or you can buy from a grain elevator, just make sure you ask for FEED grain.

[SCinPNW]

I love Montana Wheat, however, despite the wheat berries being so affordable it is cost prohibitive to ship to Washington state so I would think shipping to New Hampshire would be as well. The best luck I have had with purchasing wheat berries in bulk has been to go to the local health food store and order the 50 lbs. bags. But check around, our local co-op includes the shipping cost into the total cost of the 50 lb. bag, however, Whole Foods was very reasonable. Although the last time I ordered from Whole Foods I was not able to get my entire order and the guy had no reason to give me as to why I was not able to get it. I am sure it is because WF is not making money on the deal.

Whatever you do, look around at all the places that sell the grains in bulk and check the prices plus shipping. After I did not receive my entire order from WF's, I found that the Urban Homemaker (http://www.urbanhomemaker.com/productcart/pc/home.asp) had their wheat berries on sale and with the sale price plus shipping it was very reasonable so I made a large purchase.

As for other grains, as it has already been said Costco and other big-box type stores are a good place to go for rice, flour, salt, spices, etc.

I hope this helps.
SC

[Gus14]

If there is a wine/beer making supply store in your area, they can usually hook you up.

[NewHampshireLady]

I'm interested in this as well but have found the local health food store would not be able to get the amounts I want without charging a fortune. No graineries anywhere near and our local bulk stores carry rice/flour and sugar but no grains. One beer company in the state that doesn't talk to humans. Hmmmmm may have to resort to one of the regular emergency food companies.