Chapter 22

Joy said, “We weren’t doing too well over there.”

Grandpa sort of smiled. “I guess it’s for the best that you’re all here. We can use the extra hands. For example, I grow various grains here. One thousand square feet—the size of an average backyard—is enough space to grow a bushel of wheat. A bushel of wheat equals sixty pounds of grain, which is enough to bake ninety loaves of bread. Even devoting a row in your vegetable garden to a grain will yield enough to make it worthwhile.” He grinned. “And you don’t need special equipment to harvest grains. Traditionally, grains are harvested with a scythe, which I have, but you can also cut the stalks down with pair of pruning shears or a hedge trimmer. Threshing—removing the grain from the seed heads—is as simple as beating the stalks with a stick. Winnowing—removing the chaff, the papery covering around the grain, is easily accomplished with a small household fan.” He patted his own head. “Not bad for an old man, huh?”