The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: Fleecewife on May 05, 2020, 01:14:06 am
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I've searched every mill and site I can think of, googled for hours, but no-one seems to have any wholemeal bread flour. I am now down to my last bag. We are getting our groceries from Sainsburys but they've had none for weeks, just occasionally brown flour. I used to get my flour supplies from our local small grocers in town, but they can't get any more in from the mill either. Even wholemeal bread is difficult to get from Sainsburys, depending on collection time, and there's just nothing like homemade bread.
I know the mills claim they have plenty of flour milled, but just no 'colleagues' to fill the bags.
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I read the other day that Morrison’s and I think Asda are now selling flour from their instore bakeries, which doesn’t help for those self isolating.
Also try looking for the wee local village takeaway cafes/bakers that are still operating as some may be selling flour in kilo bags.
Peeking at their Facebook pages will provide information needed (or not!)
HTH
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I have had flour (stoneground wholemeal) from Heatherslaw Mill (via Healthfood shop in Kelso) recently, but also couldn't find any online. Only 1.5kg bags though. Not been able to get spelt (our favourite) from Doves since March now...
Fortunately OH got some white bread flour in Lidl yesterday, so eeking out my wholemeal a bit longer by mixing. I am making sourdough though.
Bread Matters doesn't seem to have anything either - but maybe they re-open their online shop every so often - you could try and see if you can collect, they are just up the road from you?
When we go back to some kind of normality I will start to buy 15kg bags, so this faffing about can stop!
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Try Scotland the Bread. But like many, they're only opening the shop periodically so that they can cope with demand. It's great news for the project - hope demand continues after lockdown.
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Thanks all :thumbsup: The mill at Etal, Heatherslaw, says 'the shop is in maintenance'. Scotland the Bread is at Macbiehill which is about 15 miles from us to collect, which would be fine as we go there for engineering too, but it is doing the 'opening at occasional times' thing, as are most of the other millers.
Shipton Mill opens at 1000, briefly, but only with certain products - not wholemeal today.
I've been watering down my loaves with white and 'brown' about as far as I can go, but I now have so little wholemeal left that I'm starting to panic.
Yes we are in guarding isolation, so really collection is out, and searching round shops on the offchance is also out, hence online to be delivered to the door.
They say the problem is caused by people doing lots of home baking where they didn't before. I've made my own bread all my life (since I was about 4)...oh stop moaning woman :roflanim:
I'll just keep checking on all the mills every day then and hope to get lucky.
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It's quite funny - I am now beginning to convert my OH successfully to "East German" shopping habits - you don't buy what you want when you want it - you buy what you want when it is available (even if you don't need it for a while) or you buy what's available when whatever you want is not available.... so we are buying whatever flour (suitable for breadmaking, but I have used 00 flour as well in combination with wholemeal) is available. My sourdough starter has been very understanding and the loaves still turn out great.
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Have you tried Mungo Wells Mill, Fleecewife - they have been providing flour to our health shop - I can't eat wholemeal but hubby needs it and have only now been able to get some since March.
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Have you tried Mungo Wells Mill, Fleecewife - they have been providing flour to our health shop - I can't eat wholemeal but hubby needs it and have only now been able to get some since March.
The totally frustrating thing Polyanya is that Mungoes wells has what I need - 16kg wholemeal organic bread flour, available and in stock - but when I try to put it in my basket up pops a sign saying " this store has not been completely set up" and nothing moves from that point. Otherwise they seem to be functioning well ???
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http://www.nabim.org.uk/news/article/1926/where-can-i-buy-flour (http://www.nabim.org.uk/news/article/1926/where-can-i-buy-flour)
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I have ordered a 16kg bag on eBay. Its due to arrive tomorrow. A 16kg bag of white flour also from eBay was successfully delivered yesterday. They each cost about £25.
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Try Scotland the Bread. But like many, they're only opening the shop periodically so that they can cope with demand. It's great news for the project - hope demand continues after lockdown.
Online shop clsoed
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http://www.nabim.org.uk/news/article/1926/where-can-i-buy-flour (http://www.nabim.org.uk/news/article/1926/where-can-i-buy-flour)
Thanks for this. Unfortunately the only places vaguely near here required the flour to be picked up from the store. As we are in strict guarding isolation it rules them out. Unless places have a click and collect system or will deliver then we cannot use them.
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I have ordered a 16kg bag on eBay. Its due to arrive tomorrow. A 16kg bag of white flour also from eBay was successfully delivered yesterday. They each cost about £25.
I looked on ebay and repeat frequently, but I balk at £13 delivery, and no mnetion of expiry dates or even the source. I shall be interested in how your purchase pans out [member=28376]wayfarer[/member], so please let us know.
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Try Scotland the Bread. But like many, they're only opening the shop periodically so that they can cope with demand. It's great news for the project - hope demand continues after lockdown.
Online shop clsoed
It usually opens every Monday morning for a few hours.
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I'll check then thanks Dan.
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Thats a shame Fleecewife, I suppose you've tried ringing Mungo Well Mills? ???
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Thats a shame Fleecewife, I suppose you've tried ringing Mungo Well Mills? ???
All the mills ask that people don't phone or email because they have no-one to answer, so no, I haven't tried. I'll just persevere with trying to catch websites when they are open. Even then it can apparently take up to 3 weeks for the flour to arrive. I have though started searching before I have totally run out of flour, so I have a little leeway :)
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Fair point re reduced staffing levels. We finally got suma wholemeal via the health shop. Hope you manage to track some down :fc:
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An update on my flour delivery. It arrived as promised 5 days after ordering. We baked a loaf overnight and it looks good.
This is the link to it on eBay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/184278841296?ViewItem=&item=184278841296 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/184278841296?ViewItem=&item=184278841296) - £24.50 for 16kg bag or cheaper if you order 2 bags
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Thanks [member=28376]wayfarer[/member] . I checked on ebay again and found this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bradshaws-Wholemeal-Strong-Bread-Flour-16kg/264724631949?hash=item3da2d1518d:g:8aMAAOSwdPRetUnA (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bradshaws-Wholemeal-Strong-Bread-Flour-16kg/264724631949?hash=item3da2d1518d:g:8aMAAOSwdPRetUnA) which I've sent off for. It looks good although it's not organic. Use by date is September this year so we'll need to eat plenty of bread between now and then :yum: or freeze loaves. I find that older flour does tend to make poorer bread, so I was wary of flour with no use by date on ebay.
I shall still pursue Mungoes Wells and Scotland the Bread.
I'll let you know if this bag of flour works out well.
Thank you to everyone who has helped in my search :bouquet:
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I was recommended Shipton Mill .. not tried yet.
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I was recommended Shipton Mill .. not tried yet.
With Shipton Mill you have to have a delivery slot before you can order. Apparently new delivery slots pop up at various times of the day. So far I haven't found one. I think searching round the mills can become a bit of a part time job :D
As I have a sack of flour on order, as long as it turns up my search is no longer urgent. Perhaps the situation will start to get better soon anyway :fc:
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I spent a week trying all the various mills to get some flour and had pretty much given up but found that mungowells were the only ones to have stock I could buy. Bought a sack each of white and wholemeal and it was delivered 2 days later. Shipping is pricey but it's the best option I could find.
Oh and Mole Valley Farmers had tins of dried yeast on the shelf yesterday. I had one tin already but picked up another in case anyone in the family runs out and I can post them some.
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Scotland The Bread re-opened this morning and is still taking orders:
https://scotlandthebread.org/
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Scotland The Bread re-opened this morning and is still taking orders:
https://scotlandthebread.org/ (https://scotlandthebread.org/)
My hopes were raised; my hopes were dashed :( I thought I could collect from Macbiehill which is just a few miles away, but it apparently has to be from St Monans - I don't think we'd get away with the trip, even for food, maybe up to 150 miles round trip......
But thank you Dan - I think I'm getting closer.
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Just got an email reply from Mungoes Wells which says their website is open from 2130 to 2230 most nights, as that's when they can man (woman) it.
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The Orchard, Biggar has 16kg bulk bags, place order via email, pay via BACS and collect.
A recent posting on their facebook page details what they have. They are also open to sourcing what you are looking for.
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The Orchard, Biggar has 16kg bulk bags, place order via email, pay via BACS and collect.
A recent posting on their facebook page details what they have. They are also open to sourcing what you are looking for.
Oh, we spoke to them today to ask what they have and there was no mention of 16kg sacks. We ordered some small bags which our good friend will collect for us, as we are in guarding isolation. Thanks for the info Willow
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Thanks [member=28376]wayfarer[/member] . I checked on ebay again and found this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bradshaws-Wholemeal-Strong-Bread-Flour-16kg/264724631949?hash=item3da2d1518d:g:8aMAAOSwdPRetUnA (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bradshaws-Wholemeal-Strong-Bread-Flour-16kg/264724631949?hash=item3da2d1518d:g:8aMAAOSwdPRetUnA) which I've sent off for. It looks good although it's not organic. Use by date is September this year so we'll need to eat plenty of bread between now and then :yum: or freeze loaves. I find that older flour does tend to make poorer bread, so I was wary of flour with no use by date on ebay.
I shall still pursue Mungoes Wells and Scotland the Bread.
I'll let you know if this bag of flour works out well.
Thank you to everyone who has helped in my search :bouquet:
Well, my 16kg sack of Bradshaws flour bought on ebay arrived yesterday and overnight I made a loaf in the breadmaker, using 80% wholemeal and 20% Wessex Mill 6 seeded flour. The loaf waiting for us this morning was truly delicious, with plenty of texture and taste, but not a solid brick. I am really impressed with the flour, which is just as well with another 15.5 kgs to go :thumbsup: :hungry: Thank you [member=28376]wayfarer[/member] for pointing me towards ebay.
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The Orchard, Biggar has 16kg bulk bags, place order via email, pay via BACS and collect.
A recent posting on their facebook page details what they have. They are also open to sourcing what you are looking for.
Thanks [member=2257]Willow[/member] , we have spoken with them again and they are ordering up bulk sacks for us :thumbsup:. We shall soon have so much flour it will take 6 months to use up.
Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions. I hope this thread has helped anyone else searching for bread flour. It has let me realise that there are other sources than I had thought, and I had not previously heard of the 'Scotland the bread' project :trophy:
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Thank you Scarlet Dragon, that's really kind of you to offer :bouquet: . My local grocer has come up trumps though, so as well as the Bradshaws flour from Ebay, I now have 2 small bags of Shipton Mill organic stoneground wholemeal bread flour and one bag of Wessex Mill cobber white (malted) plus a promise of bulk sacks as needed and a tin of yeast - pure gold that. The Shipton Mill stoneground is good, nice and nutty (this morning's loaf was largely that) so I am sorted. I hadn't realised how stressed I had become during my search, as our diet is very bread based - we don't really go for pasta, and last year's potatoes are finished. So now in the nick of time it's all worked out. Everyone has been so helpful - thank you :sunshine:
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and a tin of yeast - pure gold that.
Yeast? It's in abundance in your wholemeal flour, waiting for you to nurture it! Time to get your sourdough starter started Fleecewife... :)
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and a tin of yeast - pure gold that.
Yeast? It's in abundance in your wholemeal flour, waiting for you to nurture it! Time to get your sourdough starter started Fleecewife... :)
Oh I know Dan, and I love sourdough bread, but it's the thought of feeding and nurturing the mother (no I'm not swearing) every day til it's grown before I can use it - all that planning ahead :o. Basically, I'm bone idle! Since I bought my first bread maker about 24 years ago I haven't made proper bread (my excuse is that we don't have anywhere warm here to set it to rise). When I was a child, my Mum and I used to make our bread with real yeast from the baker's in the village, which meant a cycle down to get it, so as soon as I discovered dried yeast I pounced and I haven't looked back. Sourdough is a whole extra dimension, but I shall have a go one day just to prove I can do it, before the stuff I bought goes out of date. Mmm a sourdough loaf with chilli and cheese :yum:
I'll just pop into You Tube to see how it's done.