Post Script: A peasant loaf

I must comment that although the task is complete the bread (as an art form) is average. It is a firm and very rough peasant loaf but, a success in the fact that it is only comparable to a bag of bouncy white 'bread' in name alone. People will eat a slice to celebrate the accomplishment but might not be asking for seconds. Taste wise- it is a bit coarse, very raw and nutty. My wife and I had a piece each last night and I had three slices with Jam this morning. I imagined it eaten by more people but my family is community enough... The art needs to be developed further with more practice harvesting and processing. But there is time for all I dreamed the process would be. Communion bread, free bread with soup for the hungry, maybe not even a bread at all. Cereals, pancakes, pie crusts. The future holds many things. But I think I'll go have a slice now. It is too much of a symbol to be wasted. We must consume that symbol despite its coarse nuttiness....

Chris Hergesheimer signing over and out

The moment of truth

One golden whole wheat loaf of bread, grown, harvested, processed and baked by my own hands. One week shy of last years planting date, the epic loaf is steaming on my counter ready to be eaten. Not only was there enough flour for one, but another loaf is rising beside this one. Local grain triumphs at this moment in time. As far as I am concerned, this bread blog is complete. A new site I have begun will focus more on the experiences of others- participatory research into where local grain fits into social life- can be found at http://localgrainchain.wordpress.com/

It was a pleasure dragging this out over the last year and my thanks to those who checked in now and then to see if a loaf would ever appear. If internet archaeologists ever uncover this record of history, they will probably ask " what kind of a man keeps 1 kilogram of wheat for a year and brandishes it about like some sort of trophy? Is this compulsive behavior or the beginning of some revolution? Take from this story what you may but the moral remains the same: Local grain has triumphed at this moment. Now excuse me, I've got a loaf of bread to eat....

The next level

The local grain initiative is taking it to the next level. Beginning this saturday, I will be providing hand milled flour blends at the local farmers market. Since I anticipate this venture will not be a money-maker (since I am using an hand grinder thus negating any notions of large market driven efficiency) I look forward to it as a chance to use this social environment and the symbol of grain to navigate a collective dialogue about the hidden magic of grain and its offering to us at this time when we need it.

April 7th, 2007 and most saturdays after that through the summer
Sechelt, B.C. Farmers Market
8:30 Am to 1PM

The Local Grain Initiative: Hand milled flour blends

See you in the community