Grow Your Own Grains, Part 2: Harvesting and Threshing -- Low Tech Video, No. 25

In Part 2, we show how we harvest wheat and rye with sickle and scythe, as well as binding and drying in the field. We then move on to four methods of threshing as well as testing the harvested berries for moisture content.
Part 1 covered planting.
Part 3 will be about grinding and using our grain.
One Scythe Revolution:
www.onescytherevolution.com/i...
Anarchy Acres:
anarchyacres.blogspot.com/2020...
Steven's Book of the Farm:
www.google.com/books/edition/...
Farm Hack Thresher:
farmhack.org/tools/bicycle-po...
Low Tech Institute Events:
lowtechinstitute.org/workshops/
If you enjoy this content, and want to see more, join our community and support us on Patreon, if you're in a position to do so. Thanks: / lowtechinstitute

[@stephseckold4324]

very thorough, excellent presentation, subscribed

[@nathanclay682]

Fantastic video! Thanks for the great step by step and multitude of methods.

[@user-gb9vt5pz5u]

I really do appreciate your explanation of using a cradle on your scythe. You suggested Anarchy Acres for more info but didn't find any reference about a scythe cradle. If you could create a video how to create on for a scythe like yours, it would be GREAT! About a month ago I planted a patch of "Glenn Hard Spring Wheat" from Johnny's Seeds. I planted it 8 inches between rows as demonstrated in your Part 1 video, and it is doing well. I'm able to keep the weed under control thanks to your suggestion of 8" spacing. I will be using a lidded 5 gal. bucket with a hole in the lid that allows me to thresh with a 3/6 in. rebar rod and light duty lamp chain welded to it and powered by an electric drill. That combination has been working for me well for a couple of years. The rest of the process is a piece of cake. I also am going to use your idea of cutting of the wheat head into a large trash can but I will be lining the trash can using LARGE plastic bags for storage for thrashing later. Thanks.

[@jenvotruba1308]

I've been watching a lot of wheat videos. I just planted my winter wheat a week ago in 5a. The best part is him teaching the ergonomics or wheat harvesting!

[@LowTechInstitute]

Thanks for watching!

[@andrewmcdonald7077]

Wow what a gem of a video! Thank you.

[@LowTechInstitute]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@bonniebon7335]

My wheat turned out great, but it rained during pollination and had a serious mold issue. Chickens love it.

[@LowTechInstitute]

Thanks for watching. Were the heads spotted black with mold? That's probably sooty head mold and is largely superficial. If really bad, it can affect germination, but generally, it isn't a big deal if it can be harvested soon, threshed, and dried fully. I get it on the outside of the heads sometimes, but the seeds are fine. www.sunflower.k-state.edu/agronomy/wheat/sooty_head_molds_black_point.html

[@jcmustian]

Great thorough video, thank you!

[@LowTechInstitute]

Thanks!

[@andrewmcdonald7077]

Bill Mollison (RIP) said that stooks of harvested small grains were fermented in the field thus increasing their nutrition for humans. Can you speak to this with maybe another video on this very important topic of small homestead small grains

[@allseriousness]

That was the original old world technique to dry wheat? And how did they test the moisture content without scales or other tech?

[@carolewarner101]

Hmmm...there's an awful lot of grain on the floor there. Is there a way to avoid that? Do you just sweep that up to save it and put it through the winnower?

[@xyooj96]

without pesticide.herbercide, how long will the crop overshadow (win out) the weeds?

[@thecurrentmoment]

Where is part 3?

[@treyjohnson8620]

Hey Scott, will germination be lower when harvested early? Is it wise to leave a small area standing until dead ripe for next year’s seed?

[@LowTechInstitute]

I haven't tested it, but I get good germination doing it this way. I think it'd be worth testing out and my guess is it is a little better, but not enough to bother with. Just a guess.

[@treyjohnson8620]

thanks!@@LowTechInstitute

[@kensearle4892]

Thank you! Q: What do you need to do with an existing grass lawn before planting grains?

[@zedmeinhardt3404]

If not opposed to plastic, I would stake down some black plastic over it. Once the grass dies it is built in fertilizer.

[@kensearle4892]

I actually do have a 30'x50' silage tarp I used to get my garden started. For that, I put the tarp on in the fall to give it more time to kill the grass. When I wanted to add another row in the spring, even a month or two of Silage tarp was too short as the grass came back. I added weed fabric over the garden to solve that but not feasible with wheat. So... what do I do if my Silage tarp is not prepped in the fall and I don't have a clear plot planned yet? When I decide... maybe cut the grass as low as possible to weaken it, then add the tarp as soon as I can to weaken it further. Then about 2 weeks before planting, remove the tarp and water to see if any grass grows back and flame torch it just before planting. Tricky but if anyone has a better plan, I am all ears. @@zedmeinhardt3404

[@LowTechInstitute]

Depends on the scale. As others have said, solarizing with black plastic is great for small scale. I have to do three passes (1-2 weeks apart) with a cultivator to kill weeds. A lawn can be pretty tough, since it is also made of grasses, so more might be needed.

[@farmerwayne1404]

Great vid! How many square feet of wheat will give you a bushel of berries. Ty.

[@LowTechInstitute]

I reckon with 25 bushels an acre, so 1/25 an acre is 1,742 sq. ft. or so.

[@farmerwayne1404]

@@LowTechInstitute i was guessing 1000 sft for a bushel. But yield can vary. Ty... carry on.

[@user-cj4zr3cz1i]

Hi There, we discovered your channel a few days ago. We are in New Zealand , working to future proof ourselves. We find your work inspirational and have our own ideas to add. Have you considered setting up an international community?

[@andrewmcdonald7077]

I don’t think we’ll be able to help each other much when what is coming, comes. HF radio to say hello and exchange ideas maybe?

[@LowTechInstitute]

Thanks for reaching out! That's great and New Zealand seems like a friendly place to do it although I freely admit my view is not first hand. 🙂 I do hope you share any ideas that have been working well for you. I'm always glad to promote useful ideas, inventions, systems, etc., on our blog. And yes, one initial thought was starting an intentional community. We have a loose group in the area that are generally aligned, but nothing formal (lowtechinstitute.org/moshav/). I am starting a book right now that envisions our community in 2100. Who knows, perhaps something will grow out of it, as it is basically a strategic plan for a locally sustained community in the future. Thanks again for saying hello!

[@user-cj4zr3cz1i]

@@LowTechInstitute . Community is the answer, I reckon. We live in Christchurch New Zealand. We have earthquakes here, big ones that wreck the place. We are working to grow our own food on our 1/3 acre urban property. We are doing pretty well. You have snow, Snow here is a rare thing-every few years. It is a major disaster!! So, our growing season is longer than yours appears to be.

[@wildmanargo]

At soft dough stage how long does it store. And do you have to dry it?

[@LowTechInstitute]

Thanks for watching and the question. I do not know, but it is not recommended. Also, you can't grind it efficiently at soft dough because the moisture will gum up the mill. Do you have a food dehydrator? I've used that to dry the grain, too, if I have a smaller amount. Good luck!

[@sheilamclaughlin963]

U need an old combine

[@sheilamclaughlin963]

That weed is food and a natural pain killer

[@sheilamclaughlin963]

10-12 moisture will keep over that it wont