Milled for more: a local grain producer’s story

Peace Country Milling and Grains has been producing fresh milled flour since the 1980s. In 2019, the farm was acquired by Lyle and Starla Toews.

“It seemed like a good opportunity, a family business right on the farm and we were in the same community the mill had been in since the early 1980s. Besides, we loved the flour it produced,” says Starla Toews.

The couple has been milling and bagging grains since spring of 2019.

“Organic isn’t easy,” Toews says. “It’s a massive learning curve from conventional and though you save dollars by not spraying chemicals and pesticides, and spreading synthetic fertilizers, an organic farmer is constantly trying to control the weeds by a more hands-on approach.”

For the Toews, this means picking weeds, mowing thistles, cultivating large weed areas, mowing borders and cover cropping. She says there is also paperwork for the organic certification and yearly audits.

Toews advice for aspiring farmers is to keep it simple growing different kinds of grains until you understand what each one can do for you and how it will react to your area and farmland.

To Toews, flour isn’t just flour.

“There are so many kinds of grains and each one has its own unique way of adding something special to your baker’s pantry,” she says. “For instance, hard red spring wheat, with its higher protein content, makes the best yeast breads and sourdoughs. Soft white wheat has a lower protein and makes fantastic muffins, scones, cookies and cakes.”

Red Fife is a hard red wheat, a heritage grain, and called Canada’s oldest wheat. This under used grain is slowly making a comeback with bakers for a very good reason. Toews says its flavour is second to none, and it works great as an all purpose flour.

Toews says that despite the hard work, it is truly their customers that keep them going.

“They are one of the big reasons we keep on with the process of organic. Not only are they loyal, but they are also willing to share ideas and encourage us to try different grains and milling equipment,” Toews says.

Editor’s note: This is the eighth article in a series on local farming and agriculture. If you know a local farmer with a story to tell or who may be interested in being featured, please reach out to sara@lakesideleader.com.

Sara Driedger
South Peace News