Everything You Need to Know About Our Hard Red Wheat Berries (Now on Sale!)

We’ve recently been getting lots of questions regarding our farm grown hard red wheat berries and I thought why not address them all in one place! If you don’t know we’re running a rare grain storage clean out promotion —60lb bags of our farm-grown Hard Red Wheat Berries for just $45 from April 21–30! Whether you’re already grinding your own flour or just curious about how to use wheat berries, we’ve gathered some of the most frequently asked questions to help you get the most from this super-versatile, shelf-stable grain.

What exactly are wheat berries?

Wheat berries are the whole, unprocessed kernels of wheat—what flour is made from before it’s milled. Each kernel contains the bran, germ, and endosperm, making them a whole grain that’s packed with nutrition and flavor. Our wheat berries are grown right here on our farm and are cleaned, dried, and ready for use.

What makes Hard Red Wheat special?

Hard red wheat is known for its high protein content and robust flavor, which makes it ideal for bread baking. It’s the wheat we grow specifically for our sourdough loaves—it has the strength and gluten structure needed for beautiful rise and hearty crumb, whether you’re using a sourdough starter or commercial yeast.

Why mill your own flour?

So glad you asked. Milling your own flour at home is one of the most empowering (and delicious) ways to bake:

Superior Nutrition: Freshly milled flour retains the bran and germ—where most of the nutrients live. Store-bought flour is often stripped and shelf-stabilized, losing flavor and fiber in the process. It’s a whole food just as nature intended it to be, we have customers who have gluten sensitivities that can tolerate baked goods made with whole, fresh ground flour.
Incredible Flavor: Fresh flour has a nutty, earthy depth that gives your breads, cookies, and muffins a richness you can’t get from anything pre-bagged. I actually prefer the taste of whole wheat flour vs baking with white.
Custom Texture: Whether you want fine flour for sandwich loaves or something coarser for rustic bakes, milling at home lets you control the grind.
Shelf Life: Whole wheat flour starts losing nutrients after it’s milled. But wheat berries? They’ll last for years. Grind what you need, when you need it.

We hear from so many customers that once they start baking with fresh flour, they can never go back.

How does baking with whole wheat flour differ from all-purpose?

Whole wheat flour behaves a little differently in recipes than all-purpose flour—mainly because of the bran and germ, which absorb more liquid and can slightly weigh down baked goods. Here’s what to keep in mind:

Hydration is key: Whole wheat flour often needs a little more water. Don’t be afraid to add a little extra if your dough feels tight or dry.
Texture will be heartier: You’ll notice a richer, nuttier flavor and a more rustic crumb. This is part of what makes fresh flour so special!
Resting helps: Giving your dough time to rest (like during an autolyse or bulk ferment) allows the flour to fully absorb the water and develop structure.
You can blend flours: If you're just starting out, try using 25–50% whole wheat alongside your usual all-purpose to ease into the transition.

Can I grind these at home?

Yes! You’ll need a grain mill to turn the berries into flour. There are a few options:

Countertop electric mills like the Mockmill make quick work of milling at home and offer a consistent flour texture.
KitchenAid Grain Mill Attachment: Yes, you can use this! Several of our customers do. Just be sure to run smaller amounts at a time, and keep an eye on your mixer—it’s working hard during the process.
Can I use my food processor? This is a great question we recently got from a customer: while a food processor can crack the berries slightly or create a rough grind, it won’t yield a fine flour. It’s great for experimenting, but we recommend investing in a grain mill if you want to bake regularly.

How else can I use wheat berries?

Even without milling, wheat berries can be cooked like rice and added to salads, soups, or grain bowls. They’re chewy, nutty, and a fantastic whole grain to rotate into your meals. Just soak overnight and simmer until tender.

How should I store a 60lb bag?

Wheat berries are one of the most shelf-stable foods you can keep on hand. If stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place, they can last several years. For long-term storage, food-grade buckets with gamma lids or Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers are great options. You can also freeze portions to extend freshness even further.

Do you grow organically?

This is one of the most common questions we get—and for good reason.

While we’re not yet certified organic, we are currently in the certification process. In the meantime, we’ve been farming with organic and regenerative practices for the past three years. We haven’t used any conventional pesticides or herbicides on our crops during that time.

We’ve reverted back to old methods of farming (before there was such a thing as herbicides and pesticides) like swatting our grain to dry before harvesting it, instead of burning it down with chemical. Beyond avoiding synthetic inputs, we’re deeply committed to farming in a way that improves the land over time. That means:

Diverse crop rotations and polycultures to support soil biology and reduce disease pressure
Cover cropping to feed the soil, protect against erosion, and naturally suppress weeds
Leaving organic matter behind—we don’t bale our hay, which allows it to decompose and enrich the soil instead

After we harvest our grains we take them to a local food grain cleaner that uses a color sorter to get rid of anything that isn’t food safe. Our goal is to grow grains that are not only high in quality, but also rooted in a farming system that cares for the earth and those who eat from it.

Why are you offering this sale?

Spring planting season is here—and that means we need to make room in our shipping container for the next harvest. This sale will help us cover the input costs of putting in a new crop and we just purchased a no till seed drill for planting.

If you have more questions or want tips on getting started with home milling or baking with whole grains, reach out! We love sharing what we’ve learned and helping more people reconnect with their food.

👉 Shop the sale now through April 30th—your future bread loaves (and your pantry) will thank you.

Your Guide to Hard Red Wheat Berries: Milling, Baking, and Storing