Before I got my stone mill I borrowed a Back to Basic hand mill from a friend. It took a very long time to just grind one cup of flour. I swore that I would never buy a hand crank mill. When I bought my 1/4 HP stone mill it came with an option for an hand crank attachment (just in case of power outage). I changed my mind and paid for the attachment as well. So far, I have not use the crank and I hope I will never have to! ;^)
I started out with a small Retsel Hand Mill, which I later put a motor on. I then bought an 12 Inch Mill, which recently broke down, so we are back to the Retsel with no motor (at the moment). We must have milled several tons over the past 9 years with the little Retsel, we completely wore out a set of stones.
We take it turns to grind the flour, so it does not seem too onerous a job.
Wish you well with your mill. When out big mill broke down I started buying Organic Wholemeal flour, but the quality or our baked goods just went down. Thats why I dragged the Retsel out. We grind Demeter Wheat and it makes the tenderest biscuits and bread.
OK...I'll bite...where do you get these mills?? I am more interested in the electric one, but wouldn't mind trying my hand at the hand crank type. We are trying to get back to basics in the next 2 years and are going to buy a farm and raise goats, rabbits and make alot of our own cheese and soaps as well as growing our own foods and making our own breads has already begun.
I am loving this website and look forward to ANY hints!!!
They also carry the Country Living mill - which is a hand cranked mill that can be motorized.
If you are interested in a hand cranked mill and have no fear of spending vast amounts of money, try the Diamant mill at www.lehmans.com (I love mine - you may have heard this. You can read about my adventures with it in my blog on these pages) Lehmans used to have a "find your perfect mill" interview, but since they have "improved" their website, it no longer works...
A new contender in the hand turned mill area is the Grain Maker mill. www.grainmaker.com
I provide all of the resources (and I am sure there are others) because buying a good mill is an investment and as my momma told me - you'd better shop around.
Before I got my stone mill I borrowed a Back to Basic hand mill from a friend. It took a very long time to just grind one cup of flour. I swore that I would never buy a hand crank mill. When I bought my 1/4 HP stone mill it came with an option for an hand crank attachment (just in case of power outage). I changed my mind and paid for the attachment as well. So far, I have not use the crank and I hope I will never have to! ;^)
I started out with a small Retsel Hand Mill, which I later put a motor on. I then bought an 12 Inch Mill, which recently broke down, so we are back to the Retsel with no motor (at the moment). We must have milled several tons over the past 9 years with the little Retsel, we completely wore out a set of stones.
We take it turns to grind the flour, so it does not seem too onerous a job.
Wish you well with your mill. When out big mill broke down I started buying Organic Wholemeal flour, but the quality or our baked goods just went down. Thats why I dragged the Retsel out. We grind Demeter Wheat and it makes the tenderest biscuits and bread.
regards
Martin Prior
OK...I'll bite...where do you get these mills?? I am more interested in the electric one, but wouldn't mind trying my hand at the hand crank type. We are trying to get back to basics in the next 2 years and are going to buy a farm and raise goats, rabbits and make alot of our own cheese and soaps as well as growing our own foods and making our own breads has already begun.
I am loving this website and look forward to ANY hints!!!
Thanks so much!!!!
Jann
www.pleasanthillgrain.com carries the Meadows mill as well as other motorized mills.
They also carry the Country Living mill - which is a hand cranked mill that can be motorized.
If you are interested in a hand cranked mill and have no fear of spending vast amounts of money, try the Diamant mill at www.lehmans.com (I love mine - you may have heard this. You can read about my adventures with it in my blog on these pages) Lehmans used to have a "find your perfect mill" interview, but since they have "improved" their website, it no longer works...
A new contender in the hand turned mill area is the Grain Maker mill. www.grainmaker.com
I provide all of the resources (and I am sure there are others) because buying a good mill is an investment and as my momma told me - you'd better shop around.
Hope this helps.