Information & Resources

If you know of a useful resource to add to this page, please let us know!

Grains 101

Information on different kinds of grains is available here.

Frequently Asked Questions

We're always adding to this page, especially now that the busy summer season is over and we have time to update it with everything we've learned! If you have a question about how to grow your own grains, it's probably answered here.

Grain Seed Suppliers

Salt Spring Seeds
Johnny's Seeds
Prairie Garden Seeds
Full Circle Seeds
Sunshine Farm
Your local baker/miller
Your local organic store (Caution: you may not be able to tell if you're getting winter/spring varieties, or seed that's been heat-treated and therefore won't germinate. Avoid "groats" and anything that's been "pearled," "flaked" or "rolled.")

Books About Growing Grains

Small-Scale Grain Raising, by Gene Logsdon (2nd edition now available via Chelsea Green publishing)
The Encyclopedia of Country Living, by Carla Emery
Demeter's Wheats, by Sharon Rempel (with a spiritual/political angle)

Books About Cooking Grains

Super Breakfast Cereals: Whole grains for good health and great taste, by Katharina Gustavs
Amazing Grains, by Joanne Saltzman

Grains on the Web

Deconstructing Dinner podcasts re: grain CSA in the Kootenays
100-Mile Diet column in The Tyee re: grains
Small-scale grain & pulse production blog (thanks to Tom Henry for forwarding!)
Website re: the life-cycle of wheat (thanks to Sharon Rempel for forwarding!)
"Ancient Grains" article by Av Singh, published in Canadian Organic Grower magazine, Winter 2007 issue
"Grain in the Garden" article by Dan Jason, published in Canadian Organic Grower magazine, Winter 2007 issue

Grain Tips & Tricks

"Roasting grains before dehulling greatly increases the efficiency of any method you choose."
- Gene Logsdon, Small-Scale Grain Raising

Small-Scale Grain Machinery

Ferrari Tractor

Island Grains In the News

Sowing the Seeds Series
"Growing Grain in Cowichan" by Sarah Simpson (Island Grains member), Cowichan Valley Citizen, January 7, 2009
"Following an Historic Path" by Sarah Simpson, Cowichan Valley Citizen, February 13, 2009
"Choosing Your Crop" by Sarah Simpson, Cowichan Valley Citizen, March 25, 2009
"Local Seed vs. Big Guns" by Sarah Simpson, Cowichan Valley Citizen, May 20, 2009
"Growing a Crop Heritage" by Sarah Simpson, Cowichan Valley Citizen, June 5, 2009
"Preparing the Harvest for the Plate" by Sarah Simpson, Cowichan Valley Citizen, July 24, 2009
"Getting My Hands Dirty" by Sarah Simpson, Cowichan Valley Citizen, August 5, 2009
"The Harvest: What's the Shoe For?" by Sarah Simpson, Cowichan Valley Citizen, October 2, 2009
"Last Stop: The Stomach" by Sarah Simpson, Cowichan Valley Citizen, December 11, 2009

"Going with the Grain" by Jason Brown, Monday Magazine, January 14, 2009
"Grow Your Own Bread" by James Glave, The Tyee, February 10, 2009
"Killing Worms" by Rick Juliusson (Island Grains member), April 19, 2009
"Zero-Mile Bread" by Rick Juliusson (Island Grains member), November 11, 2009

This Website's Background Photo

By jurassicjim via Flickr