An Amish Adventure for Hard White Wheat

A few years ago Matt bought me a wheat grinder in addition to my Bosch for my birthday. Since then I have endeavored to make and master homemade bread with my own freshly ground wheat, which I am told has more protein and fiber than even week-old wheat flour. This sends me in search of wheat. I am surprised at just how hard it is to find wheat berries. In the past I've purchased it from the LDS church, or have had it given me from my mother, but in my current living conditions, neither of these options are very practical. I figured living in the middle of so many farms would make this easier but after calling around to the country stores I know of, only one had any idea of where I might procure it. She wasn't sure of the name but told me what town it was in. I tried finding it online, finding it in the yellow pages, but no luck. The town of Allensville has only two phone numbers that can be obtained through modern technology. I called one of them and asked a very kind woman if she knew the name and number of the store in question and, heavens be blessed, she did. I called and verified that my needs could be met for a decent price and, with my excitement about me, put off for my hour drive into the heart of Amish farmland, PA. Coming into Allensville, I passed a horse-drawn buggy, complete with it's slow moving sign. The parking lots of this super tiny town had two types of parking accommodations - painted lines for the cars and hitching posts for the horse buggies. One store I patronized had an Amish man and woman (full beard and bonnet) purchasing supplies. How very fun!! I didn't think to take my own picture (sorry NicHole) so the picture below will have to suffice. I made it to the sought-after store and procured 100 lbs of Hard White Wheat (my current favorite for making very tasty yet completely healthy bread). Hopefully this will last me for the time being. As I drove into State College I thought, hmmm back to civilization. But not with a sense of relief, rather with a sense of disappointment. I think it could be fun to live off the grid - no taxes, no bills, no commutes, no worry about finding and keeping a job. I realize I can't give up the life I lead, but it is nice to escape for a few hours from time to time. I also realized that when all said in done, it would have been much cheaper for me to work the two hours spent driving and pay the extra money to buy the wheat online, but I would have lost out on a very valuable adventure! A look into another life where one realizes that material possessions and wild earthly ambitions can be very silly indeed.