In my last blog, I mentioned growing and malting my own barley as a project for 2008. And, thanks to a run of nice weather, I had the time to plant two 5' by 9' (1.5 x 2.7 m) blocks of barley. I also got one 5' by 9' block of spring wheat planted. I planted the first blocks of barley and wheat on Thursday and the second block of barley on Saturday -- and the first two blocks are already up! (Yes, I am excited about watching grass grow.)

I also planted a row of hops next to my house. I planted a big Mt Hood rhizome, two big Cascade rhizomes and "regular-sized" Centennial, Chinook, Zeus and Newport rhizomes. These sprouted within a few days and I now need to get the trellis strings to them in the next couple days. I also have my hops in containers that I've had for a few years now.

I'll update my blog regularly to update you on my progress through growing, harvesting, winnowing, malting and mashing the grains I grow. And, hopefully, by this fall I'll have a beer brewed "from scratch" (although I will be using commercial yeast).