Well, I finally took the plunge and got a grain mill. And then I ordered some wheat, rye, and oats, which arrived yesterday. I hadn't really had a chance to hunt up any buckets or other containers, but yesterday I did get two frosting buckets from the supermarket bakery (can get more for the asking, when they have them). So, there I was with 3 25# sacks of grain, and 2 4 gallon buckets. Obviously the buckets are made of food grade plastic (if you call commercial cake frosting food 
), but I still don't like the idea of storing the grain loose in contact with the plastic, and I don't have any mylar bags (and don't think I really need them at this point; these 3x 25# won't last that long). So I found some unbleached muslin in my sewing cupboard, measured both height and circumference of the buckets, and found I had just enough fabric for two bags. I folded the 45" fabric so the selvidges were even, and, measuring along the folded edge, I cut at half the circumference measurement, plus an inch or so. Then I sewed up each long side, and (for strength, and to eliminate stray threads) turned it, and made French seams - zigzag, serger, or pinking shears would have worked too, but the doubled seams are stronger. Then I turned down the top (open) edge 1/4" all the way round, and then again (to make a neat edge) and sewed it down. (I thought about pulling a drawstring through, but it was easier without, and not really necessary) I put them in the buckets, and filled them with grain, pulling up on the bag as I did so so that it all settled nicely at the bottom; folded the top of the bag over, and put the top on. Took me less than half an hour for both of them. When I get more buckets I'll make some more, but they will probably be from more colorful cotton fabric as I am out of the muslin now. Oh, and the third sack of grain is biding its time in a rubbermade tote at present.
It didn't all go in the buckets - some is in the kitchen, beginning to
sprout
. We'll see how DH deals with more whole grains in his diet .
), but I still don't like the idea of storing the grain loose in contact with the plastic, and I don't have any mylar bags (and don't think I really need them at this point; these 3x 25# won't last that long). So I found some unbleached muslin in my sewing cupboard, measured both height and circumference of the buckets, and found I had just enough fabric for two bags. I folded the 45" fabric so the selvidges were even, and, measuring along the folded edge, I cut at half the circumference measurement, plus an inch or so. Then I sewed up each long side, and (for strength, and to eliminate stray threads) turned it, and made French seams - zigzag, serger, or pinking shears would have worked too, but the doubled seams are stronger. Then I turned down the top (open) edge 1/4" all the way round, and then again (to make a neat edge) and sewed it down. (I thought about pulling a drawstring through, but it was easier without, and not really necessary) I put them in the buckets, and filled them with grain, pulling up on the bag as I did so so that it all settled nicely at the bottom; folded the top of the bag over, and put the top on. Took me less than half an hour for both of them. When I get more buckets I'll make some more, but they will probably be from more colorful cotton fabric as I am out of the muslin now. Oh, and the third sack of grain is biding its time in a rubbermade tote at present. It didn't all go in the buckets - some is in the kitchen, beginning to
sprout
. We'll see how DH deals with more whole grains in his diet .
