Grinding 5 cups of hard white winter wheat in a grain mill, human arm powered: 45 minutes. It’s easiest to run it through the mill twice. First time through, cracking the grains, takes about 15 minutes. Then run it through again to grind finely for bread, 30 minutes. Makes about 6 cups of flour. This would be about right for one loaf in a 9x5x3 bread pan, including the flour on the surface you knead on, but I made two loaves today and used white flour for the rest.

Mixing, kneading for two loaves of bread: about 45 minutes or so. It would be less if I hadn’t made it in two separate batches so I had to mix and knead twice, but I find it hard to separate one large mass of dough into two equal-sized masses for the bread pans.

The only remaining hands-on time totals about 10 minutes to punch down each dough mass twice and grease and fill the bread pans. You can do other things while the loaves rise and bake; I’ve been doing computer work.

I’m in awe of everyone here–sewing, butchering turkeys, milking goats! Wow!Kudos to everyone!

So far, I’m working as a newspaper editor and trying to expand a freelance writing career. (I write for Hobby Farm Home and Urban Farm magazines.) ~8 hours per assignment. Haven’t had time to cultivate more than those two opportunities yet.

My husband and I built a chicken coop this summer and fall (HOURS!) and built a big run for them (lots more hours). Neither of us had ever designed or built a thing before. The project started in mid-July and finally finished in mid-October!

Then we acquired 8 pullets, and I’m still in learning mode about them. (So far, fairly easy. 10 minutes a day to collect eggs, refresh the outdoor waterers, and prepare goodies for the ladies in the morning when I let them out; and 20-30 minutes twice a week to clean the droppings board, refresh food and water, spot-scoop and refresh the litter.)

We have a big garden, and our goal is to grow and preserve as much of our own food as possible. During garden season, I probably spend 6-8 hours a week in the garden. We’re still learning about how much to grow and what to do with it.

I’m president of a localization/sustainability group I started in my town. (3+hours/week.)

I’m a beginning knitter, working on prayer shawls. (They go slowly for me.)

I’m also grandma to 5 kids, and have them frequently for overnights. (There goes the weekend!)

Not complaining about any of it. Just acknowledging that the skill-building effort is no small challenge.

I can do 500 words in 20 minutes, again, if I am energized or inspired. Some days it takes me all day to do as much .

Sharon

How long to first draft a chapter in a book? Depends on the book – I have finished Nation and I’m half way through Independence Days, I’d like your answer, Sharon. I have two books in the oven, one of them is coming along swimmingly because it’s about gardening in the land of no frosts – a rough draft chapter is about four hours, once a month. I’ve got two more chapters to go and then I get to find out how long second drafts take!

Anyway – this is really useful data! I love it and thanks for this post! I loved the dissection of the seamstresses as to equipment/styles and the time each involved. Having proven absolute incompetence at knitting, in order to contribute to that part of our lives, I am contemplating sewing. I actually sewed a few things as a child – showed some promise.

david