Grain Prep
Facts oats wheat rye grass seed bird seed
grams / quart 675 800 813 406 800
lb / bag 50 50 25 50 20
$ / bag 15.20 13.25 9.75 96.65 6.52
expand ratio 2.42 2.56 2.40 2.00 1.15
dry cups 9.5 9 10 1 26
wet cups 23 23 24 2 30
$ / lb 0.30 0.26 0.39 1.93 0.33
grams / cup 169 200 203 102 200
grams / wet cup 70 78 85 51 173
cups / bag 135 114 56 224 45
Prep oats wheat rye grass seed bird seed
method boil boil RR boil soak
water 2.6X 2.6X 3X 4X 3X
soak – – 12-24 hr – 12-24 hr
boil 25 min 20 min 10 min 2 min –
simmer – – – 10 bring to
gypsum 1 tsp 1 tsp 1 Tbsp – 1 Tbsp
coffee – – – 6 cups
PC 90 min 90 min 90 min 90 min 90 min
Recipes oats wheat rye grass seed bird seed

Whole Oats

10 quarts whole oats at 2/3 fill

  • add 12 -1/2 cups oats to a pot
  • cover with 8 quarts water
  • bring to a boil on high heat
  • cut heat back to medium
  • continue slow boil for 30 minutes
  • strain
  • allow to drain 30 minutes to 4 hours (partially dry)
  • —
  • load 2 -2/3 cups into quart jars (66% loading)
  • PC 120 minutes

12 whole oat pp5 pints at 1/2 fill

  • 5 -1/2 cups oats
  • 3 -1/2 quarts water
  • load 1 cup
  • PC 100 minutes

12 whole oat pp5 pints at 3/4 fill

  • 8 cups oats
  • 5 quarts water
  • load 1 -1/2 cups
  • PC 100 minutes

Grass Seed

12 “grass seed petri”

  • 18 Tbsp (9 oz = 1 -1/8 cup) grass seed in a pan
  • cover with 4 cups water
  • bring to a boil
  • reduce heat, continue slow boil for 20 minutes
  • strain
  • allow to drain 30 minutes to 4 hours (partially dry)
  • —
  • load 3 Tbsp into pp5 pints
  • loosely tighten lid
  • PC 60 minutes

12 grass seed pp5 pints (1/2 fill)

  • 6 cups grass seed
  • 4 quarts water
  • load 1 cup

12 grass seed pp5 pints (3/4 fill)

  • 9 cups grass seed
  • 6 quarts water
  • load 1 -1/2 cups

Wheat Berries

10 quarts wheat berries at 2/3 fill

  • add 8 -1/2 cups wheat berries to a pot
  • cover with 7 quarts water
  • bring to a boil on high heat
  • cut heat back to medium
  • continue slow boil for 15-25 minutes (watch for completeness)
  • strain
  • allow to drain 30 minutes to 4 hours (partially dry)
  • —
  • load 2 -2/3 cups into quart jars (66% loading)
  • PC 90 minutes

12 wheat berry pp5 pints at 1/2 fill

  • 3 -2/3 cups wheat berries
  • 3 quarts water
  • load 1 cup

12 wheat berry pp5 pints at 3/4 fill

  • 5.5 cups wheat berries
  • 4.5 quarts water
  • load 1 -1/2 cups

Rye Berries

Roger Rabbit’s Method

10 quarts rye berries at 2/3 fill

  • add 11 cups rye berries to a pot
  • rinse 3-5 X with water until clear
  • fill pot with hot water (not boiling)
  • add 2 Tbsp gypsum
  • soak 12-24 hours
  • —
  • bring to a full boil for 10 minutes
  • strain
  • allow to drain 30 minutes to 4 hours (partially dry)
  • —
  • load 2 -2/3 cups into quart jars (66% loading)
  • PC 90 minutes

12 rye berry pp5 pints at 1/2 fill

  • 4 -3/4 cups rye berries
  • 5 quarts water
  • load 1 cup

12 rye berry pp5 pints at 3/4 fill

  • 7 -1/4 cups rye berries
  • 7 quarts water
  • load 1 -1/2 cups

SpitballJedi’s Quick Rye Prep

10 quarts rye berries at 2/3 fill

  • bring 6 quarts water to 195 degrees F (91 C)
  • remove from heat
  • add 3 dry quarts rye berries
  • spread 1.5 Tbsp gypsum on top, do not stir
  • cover and let sit 45 minutes
  • —
  • drain and rinse with cold water
  • let sit 30 minutes
  • —
  • load jars evenly (approximately half full)
  • PC 90 minutes

Wild Bird Seed

How Frank Prepares Wild Bird Seed

10 quarts wild bird seed at 2/3 fill

  • add 23 -1/2 cups wild bird seed to a pot
  • rinse 3-5 X with water until clear, remove floaters
  • cover with 10 quarts water
  • add 6 cups brewed coffee
  • add 2 Tbsp gypsum
  • soak 12-24 hours
  • —
  • on medium heat, bring to a simmer (180 degrees)
  • stirring frequently – DO NOT LET IT BOIL
  • strain
  • allow to drain 30 – 60 minutes
  • —
  • load 2 -2/3 cups into quart jars (66% loading)
  • PC 90 minutes

12 wild bird seed pp5 pints at 1/2 fill

  • 10 -1/2 cups wild bird seed
  • 5 quarts water
  • 3 cups coffee
  • 1 Tbsp gypsum
  • load 1 cup

12 wild bird seed pp5 pints at 3/4 fill

  • 15 -1/2 cups wild bird seed
  • 7 quarts water
  • 4 cups coffee
  • 1 Tbsp gypsum
  • load 1 -1/2 cups

How Foo Prepares Wild Bird Seed

  • fill pot 1/2 full with water
  • set on high heat to bring to a boil
  • measure out app 400 ml (1/2 full) bird seed per quart jar
  • —
  • when the water is at a ROLLING boil, remove from heat and quickly add the bird seed
  • cover, let sit 20 minutes
  • —
  • pour off any floaters
  • strain and rinse remaining seed until rinse water is clear
  • let sit at least 30 minutes to completely drain
  • —
  • load jars evenly
  • PC 45 – 60 minutes