[Lizt]

I am keen to grow crops for flour making (small scale)- anyone have any experience here? I've successfully made maize flour (yummy corn bread) but it is really hard to remove the kernels from the cobs - do they need to dry out more maybe? Please help!
Liz

[rustyme]

hello Liz,
           
 
         the link above describes one way of removing corn from the cob. I think they used to dry it well before use to.  Somewhere on the web is a discription of how to make a little oojamaflip thingummybob that removes them from the cob , I will try to find it but don't hold your breath. I do remember reading about 'The Old Days' somewhere, and the person said when asked what they remembered most about the old days, they said "sore thumbs form removing corn " . So it would seem to be an age old problem  . I can't offer any advice first hand ,as I haven't done it . I have grown small amounts of wheat though , that is pretty much just like growing grass. Sow it and let it be....it does all the work ...till harvest time . Then it is your turn , small amounts are very easy to harvest by hand ,upto say 1/2 an acre . Any bigger than that and you need to be very determined and FIT.  You should be able to get somewere between about 1/2lb-1lb per square yard of wheat  .

cheers

Russ

[rustyme]

http://www.americanartifacts.com/smma/sheller/shellpic.htm
 
https://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/corn-sheller-zmaz83jfzraw
 
there are plenty of other sites with roughly the same type of ideas . The plank and nail jobby seems like a nice cheap easy one to go with .
 
cheers

Russ

[Lizt]

Many thanks - very helpful! Thankyou
liz