How Do You Harvest Wheat By Hand?
Before tractors, threshers and combines, people harvested wheat with a scythe or a sickle. In many parts of the world, wheat is still harvested by hand. For the small-time grower, heavy machinery is not a necessity. Read on to learn how to harvest wheat by hand. Watch for the signs that the wheat is ready to be harvested. It should have a large, brushy top full of grain seeds and beginning to turn golden yellow. The seed is ready when the grain is hard, but you can still dent the seed with your thumbnail. Use the scythe or sickle to cut the stalks of wheat close to the ground. Bundle the wheat into large stacks and tie each stack with a length of heavy string. Stack the bundles upright in an area where they are protected from moisture. Allow the wheat to cure thoroughly before attempting to thresh and winnow. The wheat will be hard and you will no longer be able to dent the kernel with your thumbnail.
