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  • From: <eureka AT hctc.net>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] Grain was: Alas, Garden planning
  • Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:17:59 -0600

I'm open to suggestions, as I've never grown grain before. According to historical records wheat was once grown here, and the grist mill was across the street (the stone is in the local history museum which keeps such odd hours I have yet to visit). Our favorites to eat are: wheat, oats, rice, quinoa, millet & teff. I know amaranth grows well in the southwest but every time I cook it the stuff becomes gruel. We have recently discovered teff as a breakfast grain and since it grows in Africa it might do well here.

Although Fukuoka is able to grow rice without a paddy I'm reluctant to try in this semi-desert. He says the only reason rice is flooded is to cut down on competitive weeds. Rice is grown in Texas, but closer to the Gulf Coast. I have an oddball 15 foot round metal stock tank like swimming pool cut down by the previous owners into a pond in the middle of my back yard that might make a good paddy. As it is, it's just an eyesore in full sun.

Across the creek I probably have 3 or 4 sunny areas in speargrass I don't particularly care about preserving that could become grain beds. These areas would be about 200-250 sq. ft. Is this enough space to grow grain for two people?

I read a lot online about grain but it's all from a northern perspective. I need some information for Zone 8a. Unless you are managing for white tailed deer, the local extension agency is useless.

We have a rogue sorghum plant that comes up in our garden every year. Has anyone ever grown it and made their own molasses?

--Sage
Way Out in Texas

On Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:19:03 -0400
EarthNSky <erthnsky AT bellsouth.net> wrote:
I just took a cursory look, but that's cool. Tonight I will look at it a bit closer..thanks for the link.
How much and what type of grain are you thinking of? I know we touched on this a few weeks back.

B




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