How to Thresh and Winnow Harvested Wheat by Hand

Once hand-harvested wheat has cured, it is ready to be threshed and winnowed. This will separate the wheat from the chaff. This should be done on a clear, sunny day when there is a light, but not gusting, wind. Read on to learn how to thresh and winnow harvested wheat by hand.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bundles of dried wheat
• Old bed sheets (preferably white)
• Heavy string
• Four or more people

1. Spread an old bed sheet on the ground. Without stepping on the sheet, lay a bundle of wheat near the center of the sheet.

2. Gather up the corners of the sheet and wrap the sheet loosely around the wheat stalks.

3. Tie the sheet around the stalks making a bag over the seed heads.

4. Use both hands to pound the seed heads against the ground or a rock to knock loose the kernels from the plant.

5. Untie the sheet and carefully spread it out. Check to make sure the wheat kernels have been separated from the stalks. If not, retie and repeat Step 4.

6. Remove the stalks, leaving the wheat kernels on the sheet.

7. Have each person pick up a corner of the sheet. Carefully make the wheat kernels bounce on the sheet by moving the sheet up and down.

8. Continue winnowing until nothing is left on the sheet but the wheat kernels. The chaff is light and should be blown away by the wind as you winnow.

9. Store your wheat in food grade containers or buckets until needed.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful when winnowing your wheat on the sheet. If it goes too high, the wind could blow it off the sheet also. Small amounts of wheat can be ground in many blenders and food processors.
• The leftover stalks can be used for animal bedding, tilled back into the garden or thrown in the compost.

[passiontolearn]

on 9/19/2009 Very interesting.
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