I just rotated my stored flour and am restocking with the sales. Sugar, I don't worry about rotating. Stopped storing brown sugar, just store molasses. Anybody store whole wheat and a grinder? I do, but I don't use it. I do buy 50 lb bags of animal grade whole wheat because I sprout them for the chickens. Same with sunflower. Why is animal grade so much cheaper than people grade? I think I'll price check in Kansas. Cousins were surprised I had to pay $7 a bale for straw. They throw a couple of bales in our truck when we leave.
I store wheat. I have red and white, but mostly red. Most of it is from the LDS Bishop's warehouse in #10 cans. I have also gotten some from feed stores. It is labeled grade B. I think the most important difference is that the grade B, which is for feed, has not been cleaned as thoroughly. There may be other factors that have put it into a lower grade. I have ground up wheat into flour and used it. I prefer whole grains, but they are not as easy to use as highly processed white flour. White flour doesn't have a very long shelf life.
A challenge for me is my daughter's celiac. Because of that, I have more rice and other gluten free grains that can be used for flours. I keep corn starch, potato starch, potato flakes, rice flour and all the alternatives that I can find. I keep Pamela's gluten free flour, but since we don't bake much, it doesn't get rotated much.
1. I have a few grinders. I have an electric Retsel. It is heavy duty and I got a super deal on it, $24 on a Craigslist ad. It was like new. I had to drive a few miles to pick it up, but it was well worth the drive. I think someone was having a life crisis, either a divorce or job loss.
2. The first grinder I purchased was a manual Victorio. I have had it for more than 30 years. It has had little use.
3. I have a cheap grinder that is a corn grinder. It was $5 at a yard sale. I haven't used it yet.
4. I have a couple electric coffee grinders that I think would work for grinding up various grains if needed, if there is power. I use one mostly for herbs and flax seeds, the other one for grinding coffee. I wish I had an antique coffee mill/grinder. I keep watching for one (or two).
5. I have an antique grain grinder that is red, with a wheel like crank. I don't remember what I paid for it, maybe $10 or $20.
Things like grinders can be found used if you watch and keep them in mind. Craigslist is a good source for things like that. It is a good way to get them for less than new prices.
6. I just remembered that there was an exhibit at the art museum and then many items were donated to a teacher store. I was able to buy a two stone set up for grinding grain from those donated exhibit items. I have no idea how old it is, and grinding grain with it would be a real pain, but it has worked for centuries to grind grain with two stones. The larger one has a good indent where grain has been ground. Yes, two rocks are the original grain grinders.
Besides wheat and other gluten free grains, I also have dried corn that I was able to can in #10 cans when the LDS warehouse allowed us to check out canners and buy cans. I have 5 gallon buckets of popcorn. These could possibly be sprouted or ground.
When it comes to having a deep pantry, it takes being mindful when shopping. It is better to stock up when things are on sale. Certain things are on sale at particular times of the year. Fall is a time when canned vegetables have been discounted. November and December are good months for baking supplies such as flour, sugar, chocolate and nuts.
I worked on building up my stock by planning and tracking. I have a notebook that has pages for wheat, oatmeal, powdered milk, sugar, beans, rice, salt, etc. It has been a way for me to plan for amounts desired, and then to track what and when purchased.
What I am not as good at is tracking what I have used in my notebook. That is more of a visual for me, seeing what I have or don't have. The deep pantry doesn't get used much. It is the kitchen pantry where most of the rotation goes on.
There are many places online that have detailed lists of things to stock up on.