Scatter The Seeds and Stand Back!
(Page 3 of 4)
When the pieces of seed head are completely dry, you can
thresh them. Because my amaranth operation is still a
relatively small one, I handle the job by simply shoving
all our dried amaranth heads through a wire-mesh screen (to
break them up and knock the seeds loose). If you have a
large crop, you may want to throw all the pieces down on a
clean floor . . and then dance a jig on 'em, or flail them
to bits with a large stick.
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Winnowing the seeds from the chaff is always a lot of fun.
First I clean all the dirt or manure or whatever out of my
trusty old wheelbarrow. Then I load the barrow with buckets
of broken-up seed heads and trundle 'em off to "just the
right" spot. (Winnowing is best done out in the open in a
steady light breeze . . . any stronger wind will blow the
tiny seeds away.) When I've found exactly the conditions I
want, 1 grab a handful of the pulverized mixture, hold it
about shoulder-high, and slowly release it. The lighter
chaff is blown away, while the heavier seeds fall down into
the wheelbarrow . . . an elegant and totally satisfying
process when everything is working right.
(Of course, the wind doesn't always cooperate. In
fact, if you ever need to put up aluminum siding, or work
on a windmill, or do any other job that would be far easier
accomplished in a dead calm, try this: FIRST, start
winnowing. Even a freshening breeze will die away
—guaranteed!—the instant the first handful of
mixture leaves a bucket. THEN you can amble over and put up
the siding. That's on the good days. On the bad ones the
wind won't quite drop to zero . . . but will keep
blowing just enough to sucker you into starting
your seed sorting. Then it'll quickly whip around and blow
a mouthful of chaff into your face!)
When the wind and I have finally reached enough of a
Mexican standoff to actually winnow my grain—and
there's nothing left in the wheelbarrow but amaranth
seeds—I pour the harvest into jars, store the
containers away in a cool and dry place, comb the chaff out
of my hair, and get ready for some good eating.
