How then, do we move backwards? How does a society, with most of the people having no clue of future events, move from being dependent on a vast and intertwined network of goods and services produced by the indigenous people of whereever, to a local resource and renewable energy based society, and do so in the timeframe available (20-30 years using the most liberal extimates, 10-20 with resonable estimates, 5-10 with worst case scenarios), all the while prices on everything increasing, world politics getting more militaristic, governments continuously reducing civil liberties, shortages of goods on the market and weather patterns resembling bad Hollywood movies?
Joined: Oct 19, 2004 Posts: 108 Location: Carlisle, PA
Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2004 9:48 pm Post subject:
I forgot. Another thing about the grinder... it's quite top-heavy. We bought a cabinet base unit at an auction for $1 and bolted it down to that. Much simpler to use.
We keep it on the porch cause it takes up too much room in the kitchen. Plus, it's messy... flour ends up everywhere. So we also keep it *very* tightly covered so as to keep out bugs and mice and whatnot.
It stays clean better the more often it is used. I msot often "clean" it just by grinding some grain through on a loose setting and feeding that to the chickens.
I simply can't think of any humorous way to tie this into guns though.
Joined: Oct 19, 2004 Posts: 108 Location: Carlisle, PA
Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2004 5:26 pm Post subject:
Chocky wrote:
On the country living grain mill: I'm planning on getting one, but I'm worried about the life of the grinding plates. They say the lifespan is 3-4 years for average daily family use. So what do you do after that? Has anyone worn out the plates on their mill? What happens when you do (loss of performance, quality of flour etc)
I'm not sure if they can be reground or no.
However, our average" use is every 10 days rather than daily, as that's how often I bake bread (there's only 2 of us here). I expect mine to last a lot longer than average. 2 or 3 spares ought to well outlive me.
When they are no longer in peak condition, you don't get really fine *flour* anymore. They sitll grind, but not as wlel.
However, in comparison to other grinders... I keep hearing people on homesteading boards talk about sifting out your bran to make soft flour into a better pastry flour. The thing is... I have no bran when I grind. Everything sifts the same... it's just soft, powdery flour.
So... if the plates wear down to where I can't grind as well and have to sift my flour, I'll be pretty much where other folks already are with inferior grinders.
The mill is one of the few things I felt I *really* had to get the best. I feel similarly about the wood stove I lust after (Pioneer Maid) and the James Handwasher.
Normally, we're cheap... but when you're talking a once-in-a-lifetime purcahse for something you're going to use regularly, I think the frugal thing to do is buy quality.
Joined: Sep 29, 2004 Posts: 2326 Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 9:04 am Post subject: Re: Grain mills
Pops wrote:
{Split from the gun thread}
I'm a liberal and I have guns as well.
Thanks, Pops, I thought I was the only gun toting liberal. Actually, I've noticed that most of us are similar mind here,.pragmatic, literal, conservative. The labels have to be reassessed. You can be conservative and liberal at the same time. There is no conflict. The truth of the matter is that right wing extremists, sometimes called neoconservatives claim the conservative label. They are anything but conservative. They are fiscally irresponsible and very "liberal" in their use of military and other government power (such as the patriot act.)
I use a Corona flour mill for my grain milling. These are cheap, human powered and made in Mexico where they are used for daily bread.
Joined: Oct 04, 2004 Posts: 5032 Location: Oklahoma
Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 10:04 am Post subject:
I am also a liberal with guns - although currently I have no use for them in the city. We got our guns when living in the countrty, because we had a big problem with the dogs all the local idiots dumped near us going feral, becoming aggressive and going after my chickens. We never had to shoot a dog, thankfully, but we did have to scare a few off.
I am planning to get a mill, and after my research had decided on the Country Living one. I'll look into the Corona first, too. Thanks for all the good info regarding the plates, and for the Corona suggestion.
Joined: Apr 03, 2004 Posts: 6371 Location: My Grandkids' Farm
Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 6:53 pm Post subject:
No offence, but I was trying to make a topic about something other than guns. My main objective is to have something to eat other than the barrel. _________________ Make a plan and work it:
Joined: Oct 04, 2004 Posts: 5032 Location: Oklahoma
Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 6:56 pm Post subject:
LOL, sorry Pops.
I researched the Corona and I think I'm still going to go with the Country Living mill, although it's twice the cost (assuming you get the stones with the Corona to make a finer flour, it goes for about $150 while you can find a Country Living mill for about $300).
Joined: Sep 28, 2004 Posts: 216 Location: Hillsboro, West Virginia
Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 8:37 pm Post subject:
I have a Retsel hand operated wheat mill that I picked up cheap on eBay. It works much better than any of the other grinders I've used. You need to bolt it down to a heavy table, but if you do this it can really grind up a pile of wheat flour in a hurry.
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