Tips on Storing Bulk Grain

Great tips on homesteading, frugal living, and self reliance.
	Storing Bulk Grain Storing bulk grain is one of the smartest things you can do to be prepared for an emergency - as well as save money on your grocery bills. Each golden kernel of wheat is loaded with nutrition, including protein, calcium, niacin, riboflavin and thiamin. Plus, the ways you can cook them are endless. Grind them to make your own fresh flours, or crack them slightly for your own, fresh bulgur. You can even sprout them and have fresh greens that are loaded with vitamins A and C. Better still, wheat and other wonderful grains - if stored properly - will last longer than any other food item you have. Archeologists have crawled into pyramids and discovered grain that was still edible after thousands of years. The secret to storing grains - and keeping them fresh - is to keep out the oxygen, the high temperatures and the moisture. What to Store Them In When storing bulk grain, you will want to keep it in containers that will keep out the moisture and that are crushproof. The absolute best container you can use is a round, 5-gallon bucket. Round containers are the best. With square containers, there is too great a temptation to stack them tightly together to save room. With no circulation around the containers, the wheat gets hot and will sweat. Always use a round container. I store my grains in new, 5-gallon polyethylene buckets. These are available for sale at paint supply stores. Always store your grains in new containers! You can also buy wheat that is already sealed in five-gallon containers. This wheat will remain fresh for at least two years, if not more. Where Should You Store It? Consider the temperature of the room where you plan on storing bulk grain. The ideal temperature range is between 45 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Because most of us don't have a storage room that stays in this temperature range, you should always rotate your grain. Eat up the older grain first and then replace it at harvest time, when prices should be lower. Also try to keep your grain away from areas that are high in humidity. If you plan on storing your grains in the garage or a shed, set your containers on boards so they won't be in direct contact with concrete or the ground. Also, keep your grains away from bright lights. Keeping the Bugs Out Sorry, but it's true: All wheat has tiny insect eggs that - if left untreated - will eventually hatch into insects that will eat you out of your food supply. When storing bulk grain, you will need to keep the oxygen out to keep the insects from growing. Store your grain in buckets with new lids and seals. It will keep the insects from growing. You will also need to take further steps to kill all insect life in your grain. There are three good ways to do this: Dry Ice Before storing bulk grain, first fill most of your 5-gallon container and place a section of a brown paper bag on the grain. On top of that, set one fourth of a pound of dry ice. Press the lid gently down on the container so that some of the air can escape. When the dry ice has completely evaporated, remove the brown paper and seal the container. The carbon dioxide released from the dry ice should kill all animal life in the container. Freeze It When storing bulk grain, keep it in your freezer and it will kill all the live insects. Unfortunately, it won't kill the eggs, so freeze your wheat and then leave it out at room temperature for 30 days. Then refreeze your wheat. This should kill any insects that have hatched since the last freeze. Diatomaceous Earth I love this stuff. It's simply amazing to use when storing bulk grain. Diatomaceous earth won't hurt people or animals who ingest it, but for bugs it's like eating a steady diet razor blades. The little guys internally bleed to death and die. Okay, let's hear one loud, collective ewww! But heck, the little critters are so small, you'll never notice them anyway, and this is a safe, simple and organic way to get rid of bugs when storing bulk grain. It's also a good way to clear your system of parasites, so eating a little of it not only won't hurt you, it might also be good for you! For each 5-gallon container, put one and one fourth cup of diatomaceous earth. Then seal the container and roll it around until the dust is evenly distributed. Other Preparedness Links Build Your Own Emergency Supply Kit Dealing With an Unwanted Houseguest in an Emergency Fast Emergency Preparation A Delicious, Wholesome Soup Recipe Using Cooked Wheat Berries Learn to Cook Wheat Berries for a Variety of Dishes Tips on buying bulk grains Tips on Storing Water Return from Storing Bulk Grain to the Home Page	Build Your Own Chicken Tractor! *You Can Build a Chicken Tractor* Provides you with step-by-step instructions on how to build a chicken tractor and also provides helpful information on how to get free wood and how your chickens can pay for themselves. Click Here learn more. Search This Site: Subscribe to my free ezine! Successful Homesteading is a bi-weekly e-zine covering everything about self-reliance and the healthy, frugal life. Imagine! Great tips on organic gardening, self reliance, frugal living and frugal recipes on a regular basis and sent straight to your ebox! Click here to subscribe. Build Your Own Chicken Tractor! *You Can Build a Chicken Tractor* Provides you with step-by-step instructions on how to build a chicken tractor and also provides helpful information on how to get free wood and how your chickens can pay for themselves. Click Here learn more. Search This Site: Subscribe to my free ezine! Successful Homesteading is a bi-weekly e-zine covering everything about self-reliance and the healthy, frugal life. Imagine! Great tips on organic gardening, self reliance, frugal living and frugal recipes on a regular basis and sent straight to your ebox! Click here to subscribe.
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