BACKYARD BUCKWHEAT

(Page 3 of 3)

May/June 1986
Greg and Pat Williams 
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Threshing buckwheat is fun-our kids love it! We simply lay some plants on a sheet and beat them several times with a clean broom, turning the stalks over frequently. Conveniently, the unripe green seeds remain attached to the stalks, while the ripe ones fall onto the sheet. Then we transfer the separated seeds—plus a considerable amount of chaff and other debris—to a container and use the stalks as organic mulch.

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The next step is cleaning the seed. We've had excellent results by simply pouring it slowly in front of a window fan that's running at high speed. This must be repeated several times.

Buckwheat in the Kitchen

We grind buckwheat in a small stone-burr mill, but a blender could be used to process small quantities. The seed hulls (pericarps) slip off during grinding and are easily sifted out of the ground flour.

Making buckwheat pancakes—from a 50:50 mix of buckwheat and whole wheat flour—is our favorite use for the finished product. However, adding up to 20% buckwheat flour to a whole wheat bread recipe is rewarding, too, and boosts—the nutritional quality of the bread considerably. As several studies have shown, the amino acid composition of buckwheat flour is on a par with that of animal protein. And buckwheat contains a high level of protein, up to 12%. Furthermore, while most cereal grains have limited amounts of the essential amino acid lysine, buckwheat has abundant lysine, so it complements cereal proteins well.

Regardless of the nutritional advantages of buckwheat, though, we're sold on its unique flavor! Buckwheat pancakes, bread, and even noodles, (made with a crank-type noodle maker) are here to stay in our household. And since this grain is so easy to grow and harvest, it's here to stay in our garden, as well!

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  • Caryn 3/29/2009 11:52:57 AM

    Thanks for the informative article about growing Buckwheat. I think we will give it a go this year, after the peas as you suggested. We have a little boy with Celiac at our house and Buckwheat is a good alternative grain.
    Caryn

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