Before I got the bulk bin and set it up, it was rather a pain to get grain. Every week and then almost more frequently than every week Mom or I would go pick up six bags of corn. We’d get it, and I’d carry all the bags to the barn and put them in the tubs to store. It was almost impossible to keep up. I had to do this no matter the weather or what else was going on in life.
Now, I make a phone call, and in a couple of days, the grain truck rolls in the driveway.
He centers the thing (great technical term, huh) over the bulk bin.
Fire it up and the machinery fills the bin. I still carry it over to the barn and store it in tubs to feed the animals from there, but I can do it at my leisure.
Right now, I’m just taking a couple of buckets about every day. If there is rain in the forecast, I can take more over beforehand, so I’m not carrying it in the mud.
I only need to make that phone call to get the bulk bin refilled about every six months. I love this bulk bin! And as a bonus, I gave a bag of strawberries to the driver!
Teresa
Jun 17, 2011 @ 20:14:55
I now get my grain in giant one tonne tote bags. Next step is definitely a nice bulk bin like yours.
Jun 17, 2011 @ 20:20:01
That is a big bag. You will definitely love a bulk bin. I just got to the point of so many animals I had to have it.
Jun 17, 2011 @ 20:25:01
How nice to have the bulk bin. I bet the driver was happy!
Jun 17, 2011 @ 20:43:44
He was happy to have them. Of course, in the small town, I know everyone–he is my ex-brother-in-law’s brother.
Jun 17, 2011 @ 20:31:23
We still get bags at the farm, but they deliver. I like your way better. Less waste.
Jun 17, 2011 @ 20:44:19
I love that I don’t have to deal with the waste of the bags. That is almost as nice as not having to haul them.
Jun 17, 2011 @ 21:25:22
If you are curious, the “thing” is an auger.
Our bulk bin is called The Chop Bin at our place and it is a wooden granary built by my dad’s dad and family of the time, over 50 yrs ago. In the fall it is filled with about 3 truckloads of ground barley (grown not-quite-certifiably organic) on the farm.
Jun 17, 2011 @ 21:46:34
I was going to type auger, and then I doubted myself for some reason. Millie would not be happy with me.
It’s nice to know the history behind your bulk bin. Definitely a lot larger than mine! It would also be nice to fill it in the fall from your own crop. I thought about filling it with my corn in the fall, but I wanted to make sure it was dry enough that it wouldn’t mold.
Jun 17, 2011 @ 22:17:38
i see you found a use for those extra strawberries! that can’t hurt! with your amount of animals, you needed this bulk bin. greatness…
Jun 18, 2011 @ 07:40:35
It really has been wonderful, and it came at the perfect time!
Jun 17, 2011 @ 23:22:02
It’s great that you are finding a home for those extra strawberries!
Jun 18, 2011 @ 07:41:08
I’ve recruited my mom to be the “Giver of the Strawberries.” I don’t know how many people she’s given them to!
Jun 18, 2011 @ 07:52:56
At my old house when I was really little like, 6 or 7 we had a grainery because we raised chickens. My dad would have me shovel all the old grain to one side and say that if I didn’t hurry up, the grain truck would come and pour corn all over me. I knew he was joking of course.
Jun 18, 2011 @ 07:56:14
Gee, thanks Dad. Sounds like you must have had a lot of chickens!
Jun 19, 2011 @ 14:37:52
Do you feed all your animals the same feed mix?
http://www.littlehomesteadinthevalley.blogspot.com
Jun 19, 2011 @ 14:40:49
I feed pretty much everyone straight corn. Just a little. Then they get all the grass/pasture/hay they want. I don’t do different mixes because I’d never be able to get them to eat the one they were supposed to!