Date: October 04, 1997 07:50 AM
Author: G Olman (golman@usa.net)
Subject: grinding corn without a grinder ?

Ok, I've got a source of good clean whole dried corn. $199 a ton in bags. I can store it without a problem, safe and sound. No problem there.

HERE'S the problem: We have no grinder capable of turning this great corn into readily usable corn meal. I've tried our meat grinder and I get a rough meal that looks good but it makes a REAL gritty bread. I have yet to try making corn mush with it.

Question: How can I grind this corn into a good meal without 'shelling' out $150 for a grain grinder ? I am not adverse to buying a good grinder, in fact I would love to have one. The fact is that our family income just took a 40% hit and we are buying NOTHING extra at the moment. I need help in imrovising.

Before someone says anything about garage sales or flea markets, we live in Amish country (you ought to try it !) and NOBODY around here sells things like that. They get passed down thru the family forever.

Thoughts ?

(http://garynorth.entrewave.com/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=16&Message_ID=3540)

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Date: October 04, 1997 10:07 AM
Author: Will Richards
Subject: Grinding


Large rock, small rock and a full time rock pounding, corn grinding wife(or husband depending on your gender). One thing though, and you really need to think about this, she is going to get strong really fast, and you may end up out there pounding rocks.

Save your dollars and buy the best mill you can find.

(http://garynorth.entrewave.com/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=16&Message_ID=3546)

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Date: October 04, 1997 10:24 AM
Author: Bea Richards
Subject: Will's grinding


I've got him out pounding rocks, to find one suitable for grinding, being how he's so smart and all. Great place to look for a grinder is The Lehman's Non-Electric Catalog. They have a great selection, from the most expensive, to their least, at about $50. They are online at www.lehmans.com. They don't have any pictures, But you can e-mail them from that site, for a paper catalog, or write them for one. Their web site is secure, so not to worry about a credit card number. If your not familiar with Lehman's. They've been serving the Amish community in Ohio since 1919. They carry just about everything under the sun. Except grinding rocks. I'll have Will find a couple extra and send them to you if you'd like. I prefer the paper catalog, cause I like to look at the pictures, it's a great wish book, and as I said they carry most things, we'll all need in the coming years after y2k. In Christ, Bea

(http://garynorth.entrewave.com/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=16&Message_ID=3547)

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Date: October 05, 1997 07:51 PM
Author: libby Spieth (Outnorth@aol.com)
Subject: milling corn


Bea,

Check to see if there is a Mormon church nearby. Contact the Bishop of the Ward and/or the Relief Society President. Some wards have a community grinder that can be used at the buiding . If not, some members may own grinders and might grind it for you.

A member of the church groun d my wheat for me for several years until I was able to get my own grinder.

Being a member of the church is not a requirement to having a need filled.

(http://garynorth.entrewave.com/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=16&Message_ID=3592)

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Date: October 05, 1997 08:26 PM
Author: Bea Richards (Will_richards@hotmail>com)
Subject: Mormans make good nieghbors


Dear Libby, We have a small, but growing Morman community here. while I do not agree with their theological point of veiw, I find that they make good nieghbors. They work to see that thier children behave and that there houses are in order. We can learn alot from them. I guess they refer to this area as a stake and we therefore do not have a cannery or store house. We are working together to start a bulk purchase co-op and I expect will work together in the future.

(http://garynorth.entrewave.com/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=16&Message_ID=3594)

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Date: October 06, 1997 10:30 AM
Author: Lilly (lillyroberts@usa.net)


Bea, I must agree with you. Although I am not a member of the Mormon Church, when I contacted them about bulk foodstuff, they offered to help me out. I am still in awe of how kind and helpful the lady on the phone was. She offered their tin canning equipment for my use and has compiled a price list for me. I only hope to be as useful to someone else. Lilly

(http://garynorth.entrewave.com/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=16&Message_ID=3626)

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Date: October 06, 1997 08:23 PM
Author: Monica George (monicageorge@usa.net)
Subject: Price of grinders


Grinders aren't that much I do not think. Walton's has a strong one for about $80 I think....it has both burrs and stones...I am shopping around too trying to decide. Monica George

(http://garynorth.entrewave.com/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=16&Message_ID=3671)

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Date: October 06, 1997 09:28 PM
Author: Art Welling (artw@lancnews.infi.net)
Subject: Thanks for the thoughts


As above,

Waltons is about $100 plus, $80 with just stones and no burrs. Two weeks ago $100 was no big deal, just skip eating out a few times. This week $100 is REAL hard to come by. We have lost about 40% of our family income and have gone to 'skimp' mode !

I think this is a valueable chance to practice some of these skills. We really don't HAVE to grind our own corn. In fact the local feed mill will grind it to meal for $25 a ton. For that matter we could just go to the grocery store and buy what we want. BUT......... We are taking the present circumstances as a great excuse to try some of this stuff out. We pinch every penny and 'imagine' that much of what we want simply cannot be bought (not far from the truth right now!)

We have a source of free live chickens, and we are 'scrounging' fence material to build a pen and coop. We are buying food supplies that include far more 'raw' foods ( rice, beans, grains, flour, fresh vegies, etc etc). We look for ways to use less/no electricity. We look for ways to cut water use just for practice. The list goes on and on.

Basicly we are taking the forced opportunity to change our lifestyles. My wife thinks it's Ok because we are in Gods hands. Myself, I tend to agree. We are being forced to do what we KNOW we should be doing but are just too lazy to do.

Seems strange to be conversing on the most modern possible medium while discussing how to become more primitive on purpose ! Lifes entertaining, I'll give you that !

(http://garynorth.entrewave.com/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=16&Message_ID=3679)

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Date: October 07, 1997 01:07 AM
Author: Jim (ndos@hotmail.com)
Subject: Raw Materials


Dr. Welling,

One of the best places to get the materials is from a construction site.

I estimated that in one year of business I could build another house with the scraps left over from all of the other projects. Hauling that scrap away for the contractor(s), is also a good way to earn some extra money. I have paid for the service and will again.

There are very few building contractors who have the space to store those scraps in or the time to sort it out and catalog it all. At least I don't.

Bent concrete (or forming) stakes, stucco wire, forming boards, and lumber scraps will make just about any small project you have.

My wife and I built a small play house for the children in her daycare with the scraps from various jobs. 2 X 4 studs, plywood floor, sidding, and shingles. Left over plexi-glass for the door and windows and a few old door hinges from some demolitions. And we took the left overs from that back into the garage.

It is also a good way to meet some possible friends with needed skills to weather the hard times with.

Its Not Just A Job, Its A Mess. Call That $#@&*% Garbage Guy Again.

Jim

(http://garynorth.entrewave.com/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=16&Message_ID=3709)

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Date: October 07, 1997 07:31 AM
Author: G Olman (golman@usa.net)
Subject: Good tips


Jim, Thanks for the tips. All good ones. We live in the country and have lots of friends. Scrounging IS NOT a problem for us. Nobody throws out anything of value and most of it is available just for the asking. That's how friends work. My neighbor has given me enough pressure treated wood so far that I will be able to double our deck size soon, all left overs from his decking contracts. In return my sons dog sit for them and we give them leftover produce and plants from the garden. We all win.

Scrounging is an art. The art of sniffing out a commodity in a place where it can be had cheaply. Aside from that it sure helps to have friends ! Out here neighbors take care of each other.

Thanks, Art

(http://garynorth.entrewave.com/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=16&Message_ID=3721)

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Date: November 24, 1997 09:35 PM
Author: Bob Wilson (wilsonbb@usa.net)
Subject: Pressure treated wood


I heard through Organic Gardening magazine that much of the pressure treated wood is a rich source of hazardous materials, such as arsenic.

(http://garynorth.entrewave.com/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=16&Message_ID=6246)

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Date: December 14, 1997 06:47 PM
Author: B Good (beariam@hotmail.com)
Subject: Grinding corn


I just read somewhere that they used a blender to grind corn, try it, maybe it'll work good enough for awhile.

(http://garynorth.entrewave.com/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=16&Message_ID=7493)

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Date: December 15, 1997 03:16 AM
Author: Lynn (hope1@breeze.net)
Subject: why


Why wouldn't you want a grinder if you have ANY grain, and want to eat it? I'm sorry, but I guess I don't understand your problem. Seems like buying food to cook when you have no pot to cook it in.

(http://garynorth.entrewave.com/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=16&Message_ID=7530)

Date: December 16, 1997 08:35 AM
Author: robert (robert@avicom.net)
Subject: grinding

A cooffe grinder or blender will work in a pinch, or the stone age way with just two hard flat stones. This methods is still emplyed in some countries today.

Ready Made Resources 1-800-627-3809

(http://garynorth.entrewave.com/forums/Index.cfm?CFApp=16&Message_ID=7630)