Everyone loves to get a package in the mail. This was on my porch Saturday when we came home from learning how to tap maple trees and make syrup at a local nature center: 
I haven’t been this excited about a box on my porch since my Biokleen dishwasher detergent came in!
Shhhh! Don’t tell, but there’s a Nutrimill grain mill in this box!
I haven’t even tried it out yet, because I’m just slow at new things and still have plenty of flour on hand, but I’m already plotting what might be first. I’m thinking either spelt raisin cookies (after Easter) or something with brown rice flour as I go gluten-free for Holy Week.
My Big Appliance Sharing Idea
I have been blessed for the past year by a dear friend of mine who lets me borrow her dehydrator for weeks at a time to make my crispy nuts, dried fruit, and other experiments that I’ll tell you about sometime soon. It’s brilliant, really. Most people don’t need a big thing like a dehydrator every day, and we can pass it along within the week through our raw milk group. Her generosity has allowed me to take “dehydrator” off my wish list for now, which is really nice because it’s not only a big ticket item but takes up a lot of space.
I kind of think of a grain mill in the same category. I know a lot of people use theirs daily or at least very often, but I think I’ll be the type who grinds as much as I can in one day, freezes it, and has it handy for quicker baking. I don’t have room in my kitchen to store something this big, so I’d have to trek to the basement anytime I want it anyway. (Apparently freezing the flour will only prevent rancidity but not loss of nutrients. More research needed, but if you can’t afford a mill, you still might as well share with friends and have freshly milled flour one week out of four or something! You could make a freeze all your bread loaves at that time.)
I know a lot of my friends would love the benefit of freshly ground grain, too, and my friend’s dehydrator generosity has inspired an idea that I think any real foodie with a local network should consider:
Form a “large appliance” co-op and share the big items among a group of people.
One person can own the grain mill, another the dehydrator, another the canning equipment or the lacto-fermentation crock, and another the chocolate fondue fountain. 
At least, that’s what MY friends’ co-op will include, because someone already has one. 
You could even include items like a rototiller for the garden in this mix.
It’s almost like getting a big kitchen appliance for half the price! Even less if you’ve got a lot of people and can think of many items you can all use intermittently.
Added Bonus: Not only are you saving money and storage space in your home, but you’re using fewer resources to make appliances, AND you get a good excuse to see your friends more often to negotiate the swaps.
The Big News…Where can YOU get a New Grain Mill?
Can I just say I’m really excited about this little ol’ paragraph here? I’ve been 
bursting to tell you all this news for a week! I get to give away a brand spankin’ new Nutrimill Grain Mill to one of YOU this fall! Can I get a “Woot!” for that one? Pleasant Hill Grain, who sells all sorts of big ticket items like grain mills and home and commercial vacuum sealers (ooo, there’s another possible item for the appliance co-op!) has offered to sponsor a giveaway here to line up with my series on Seeking the Perfect Homemade Whole Wheat Bread.
It’s a big deal.
So what’s the catch, you ask?
There is one tiny little thing. *holding breath* I cut a deal that I had to have 5,000 subscribers by October to give away the grain mill. If not, you’ll get a chance to win a $50 gift certificate for anything at the site instead.
But I think we can do it! It’s only about 100 people per month who need to get into the KS style baby steps. Are you with me?
I want to honor you kitchen stewards who have been with me so far, creating a community of people doing their best to honor God and feed their families well. If you leave a comment ON THIS POST RIGHT NOW saying that you’re a subscriber – that you were subscribed before you read this post – you get an extra entry in the grain mill giveaway in October. That’s right – nepotism. I’m not shy about shouting how much I love my readers from the rooftops, and you deserve to be rewarded for being part of KS.
If you’re thinking about subscribing, don’t worry – I’ll give another one of these “love my readers” opps at least a month before the actual giveaway.
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Don’t miss a thing! Sign up for a free email subscription or grab my reader feed. You can also follow me on Twitter or get KS for Kindle.
If you missed the last Monday Mission, click here.
Kitchen Stewardship is dedicated to balancing God’s gifts of time, health, earth and money. If you feel called to such a mission, read more at Mission, Method, and Mary and Martha Moments.
Disclosure: Pleasant Hill Grain gave me a great deal on a demo mill for myself and is providing a brand new mill for you at no cost. I am not obligated to write a positive review and am not influenced by my affiliation with PHG in any way. I am providing them with a little link love. It’s only fair. 
I’m entered in:
- Real Food Wednesday at Kelly the Kitchen Kop
- Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family
- Things I Love Thursday at The Diaper Diaries.
- Pennywise Platter Thursday at The Nourishing Gourmet
- Finer Things Friday at The Finer Things in Life
- Frugal Friday at Life as MOM
- Kitchen Tip Tuesday
- Festival of Frugality
I’m a googlereader member and have been for awhile! I’m excited for you!
I’m a subscriber!
…and I’ve been drooling over this grain mill for months!!
I am a google reader subscriber !! A grain mill would be so nice to have!!
I’m a google reader subscriber.
I am not a subscriber, but I have been reading you for a while. I wanted to add another appliance to your list. We have a homeschool group that shares a cider press. Usually in the fall, groups of us families will get together and press out all of our apples together. It’s convenient, economical and lots of fun!
Congrats on the grain mill! I would be so excited to get one. It’s definitely on my list. I’ve been a subscriber (via google) for a while now
.-= Angie´s last blog ..Menu Monday (on Tuesday) =-.
I subscribed a while ago!
I’ve been subscribing on my google reader for a few months- I can’t tell you how much you’ve helped me as I’ve gotten into real food!
Winning a grain mill would be exciting- I’ll have to round up a few more subscribers for you
I’ve been a subscriber for a while now. Do I get bonus points for telling you how much I love your blog because I learn so much from it? :0) And that you have become one of my virtual mentors while I’m navigating the road to health set before me? Just thought I’d throw that out there! :0)
.-= Pam´s last blog ..SPRING DINING ROOM UPDATES =-.
What a great idea to share appliances! A friend and I were just talking about how we would love to have a dehydrator. I will have to talk to her about getting it together to share!
And, I am a subscriber!
I just subscribed in the last few weeks & have really been enjoying your blog! What a Great giveaway!
I’ve been a google reader subscriber for about a month now!
I subscribed just a couple days ago! how lucky
I subscribe through bloglines. I’ve learned so much. Thanks!
Genius idea! I am already a subscriber.
Thanks!
.-= stephanie´s last blog ..Better late than never… =-.
I’ve been a subscriber for several months now.
I’m a google reader subscriber and love your blog.
Google reader subscriber.
Excited about the giveaway, but honestly I was hoping for a discount code. Maybe they’ll have one of those too? 
I’ve been subscribing through email for quite awhile. I won’t be able to participate in the whole wheat bread contest, though. Will there be an option to make gluten free whole grain bread if wheat is a problem?
Been following you on twitter for a couple of months, but you have now prompted me to subscribe. Freebies – yay!
I’m a subscriber!! I love your blog and appreciate everything you share. I was just talking to a friend the other day about sharing a dehydrator … great idea!!!
You will LOVE your grain mill – we’ve been milling over 15 years and now have learned about sprouting and soaking in the last year or two. Homemade goodies – yummmm
I’m a subscriber on google reader
I’m a subscriber! I receive your emails all the time. Thanks for all of your hard work!
Stink! I’ve added your site to my most viewed, but never “subscribed” per se. Okay, I have now. I’ll only get one entry- alas! But I LOVE your stuff! Thanks for all your work. Totally excited about the mill idea!
Google reader subscriber here, for the last couple months. LOVE and am so thankful for your site, Katie!!
.-= Carrie´s last blog ..Meet Your Food =-.
Going to subscribe right now and send your site along to get some friends to subscribe – I definitely think you can make it to 5,000!
I “subscribe” via RSS feed. If that doesn’t count toward the number you need, I’ll be glad to subscribe via email.
Hi Katie – Although I’m new to KS, I was a subscriber before this post. I love the work you put into this site; thank you! Also I want you to know how much you’ve lit a necessary fire under me, in many different ways. Thanks for that, as well!!
-Katie
I’m a suscriber!
I subscribed !
.-= Eternal*Voyageur @ Venusian*Glow´s last blog ..An Explorer In My Own Town =-.
I’m a Google Reader subscriber.
.-= Annie´s last blog ..Pre-dinner snack =-.
I grew up in rural Michigan, and remember that on our street, we had one rototiller, and one big tractor for leveling the garden. I have no idea who purchased these items, but at least five families used them. I never really thought about it as a kid — of course we just shared these things. They were expensive!
.-= Llama Momma´s last blog ..God is trying to kill me =-.
How very exciting! I am a subscriber!
I’m also a google reader subscriber and have been subscribed to you before reading this post! Thanks
another subscriber here!
I’ve been a subscriber via GoogleReader for a couple of weeks (since I heard about the “Get the Junk Out” series on another blog).
Awe….I meant to sign up a couple days ago…..but will do it right now!
I am a subscriber! I love your blog! I’m always looking for a way to get back to the basics and you help make that possible for my family!
I have been a subscriber for about a month now and am enjoying all of your columns. Please enter me in the drawing for the grain mill.
Just subscribed, but have followed you for a few weeks. I am just getting into stockpiling, couponing and meal planning and love your site!
RSS Feed. It doesn’t clutter the Inbox and I can read or not as I like. Can’t wait to hear how well the mill works.
I’m a subscriber….love your blog!
Jana
.-= Jana @ Weekend Vintage´s last blog ..Womens blouse-Butterick 2683 =-.
Tasia Surch Reply:
March 24th, 2010 at 4:14 pm
I just subscribed to KS a couple of weeks before the post on the grain mill. I love your blog – it contains all the things I have been trying to implement and learn about for about a year now. I have been thinking about getting a grain mill for some time too, the only problem is $$$. I would love to win the one you are giving away!
I am an email subscriber, signed up a month or so ago. I never, ever considered graining my own flour until I started reading your blog, nor did I ever think I would make a sourdough starter. Thanks for all the research you do.
I’ve been reading for a few months now, and have enjoyed your perspective…been working on eating more nourishing, “real” foods for about a year and a half now.
I did mooch (let’s say co-op) off a few friends’ grain mills in MN, but now I need my own since I don’t have grain-milling friends in our new state. Would love to win!!!
I’m already a subscriber on bloglines! thank you!
I’m a Google Reader subscriber since…I can’t remember when!
And a grain mill?! So exciting! I’ve been drooling over those for a long time.
Me, me! I’m a subscriber – and I even read your posts
I subscribe too!
I have some spelt in the dehydrator now actually. Dreaming of waffles with lots of butter and some eaw honey!
.-= Kate´s last blog ..Average Grocery Spending and Ways to Save on Real Food =-.
I’m an email subscriber and I love your blog! I’ve learned so much in the month I’ve been reading.
Thank you for all you do.
I’m a subscriber!