August 9, 2015

A Gift of Two Grain Mills

Not too long ago I was given a wonderful gift of two different types of grain mills. The first is an electric Wonder Mill.


Actually I've wanted one of these for a long time, but I have my Country Living manual grain mill and couldn't justify buying another, even though it takes 20 minutes to grind enough by hand for a loaf of bread. I have to admit that I sometimes feel pressed for time when it came to making flour. Worse, I would end up buying whole wheat flour to have on hand, just in case I didn't get any grain ground.


The Wonder Mill is a wonderful time saver, plus, it makes beautiful whole grain flour including a fine corn meal.


I'm delighted to have this mill as well as the manual back-up!

The other mill is a Marga Mulino.


It is a hand crank mill which can make flour, but it can also flake grains for cereal! That has been something else on my wish list.


The knob has three settings. One for flour, one for flaking grains...


and one for finer than flakes from harder grains like oats.


This means I can make my own fresh oatmeal and granola!

For these I must express my most heartfelt thanks to Ashley for her generous gifts. They are a blessing indeed.

24 comments:

Dawn said...

I have a manual wondermill, it is a chore sometimes but when the grandchildren visit they love grinding up th grains for flour so i make good use of child labour I like th sound f the one to do flakes very usefull :-)

Unknown said...

Looking forward to breakfast cereal combo's, All those interesting seeds, nuts, dried fruits and grains. How self sufficient you will be.

Leigh said...

Dawn, the Country Living Mill is a chore as well. When my son was at home he did daily grinding for me as one of his chores! Now that it's all on me I tend to grind less, although I like the exercise. :)

Leigh said...

Lynda, it's an exciting prospect! :)

jewlz said...

It is always a pleasure to see your (and Dan's) hard work, stewardship, and integrity be rewarded!! Enjoy those new tools!

Fiona said...

Time becomes such an issue. There is so much to do when you make the choice to live more simply and rely less on processed and pre-packaged and pre-cooked food. The health benefits, both physical and mental make it the right choice.....but again time becomes so valuble. Enjoy your mills!

Leigh said...

It does feel like a reward. :)

Leigh said...

I so agree and have come to realize that it isn't called the "slow life" because it contains more leisure! As long as I have electricity I'll use the Wonder Mill and be grateful for it.

Frank and Fern said...

I really like my Wonder Mill, Leigh. I've used one for years. A manual backup is a must in the event we no longer have power, so it's good you have both. Congratulations.

Fern

Leigh said...

Thanks Fern! Yes, very happy to have both. If I can only get one of a thing, I usually choose manual, but I'm always grateful for a tool that makes a wiser use of my time.

Quinn said...

Good gracious, two FANTASTIC gifts! Wow! Something that is so "far away" for me, not even on my wish list! :)

Donna OShaughnessy said...

I'll be searching out good mills soon for our new grain bin house. Now that we are homesteading full time we have to take the time to find those products that in the end will save us time. Right now I am using a HUGE (5 foot tall) hand operated grinder to grind our corn for our pigs. Takes about 20 minutes to grind a pound of grain but man my arms are better for it. (But not my patience level)

Unknown said...

We love our Wonder Mill. Have used it since about 2010. I would buy an inverter, batteries and solar panels for my manual backup! This is one tool I just wouldn't want to be without. On another front, who say's kids don't like whole wheat bread? When my wife bakes bread, word quickly travels through the neighborhood and the vultures start circling. She usually looses one of the 6 loaves she makes. On rainy days when everyone sticks to their own house, we only loose half a loaf.

RonC

Leigh said...

Quinn, they are indeed fantastic gifts, ones that I honestly never thought I'd have. But, I'm always looking for ways to facilitate our goals. The other big one is some sort of hammer mill to make goat feed. We've been experimenting and I hope to have a post on that soon.

Leigh said...

Now that's the kind of mill I'm talking about. Sounds like a real workout! We need a large scale grinder of some sort, but it will probably have to be something contrived. Hopefully I'll have something to share on that soon.

Leigh said...

Ron, that is so true about kids and whole wheat bread! Once anyone gets a taste for it the white stuff leaves much to be desired. Sounds like you are quite popular in your neighborhood. :)

Kirsty said...

Leigh, what fantastic presents and a lovely surprise for you. A grain mill is on our list of to buy as well, how nice to be able to tick something off your list.

Lynda said...

How lucky for you: 2 Very wonderful gifts. I have a 1940's ? Lee Household Mill...600. It's very nice and really LOUD...I grind my flour out in my new barn/shed.

Leigh said...

Kirsty, it's always a wonderful feeling to find a useful tool. Really thankful for this.

Leigh said...

Noisy certainly goes better in a barn or shed! The Wonder Mill is supposed to be one of the quietest, but it's still pretty noisy.

PioneerPreppy said...

Grain mills are great. We only have two older ones and need to get a serious one if I continue on with the grain planting. With all the rain that crop was completely destroyed this year so not as pressing a need as it once was.

Leigh said...

PP, do you have a thresher? That's what's kept us from using much of our own grain. I'm hoping that with the 861 we can manage something to work off the PTO, although that's a ways down the road.

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Ohhhhh! Lucky you! I am envious of that electric Wonder Mill!!! Nancy

Chickpea said...

How interesting, as I am gluten intolerant it would be really useful to make my own rice flour etc.