Saturday morning – I simply do not understand why there is a run on flour – it started way before the Shelter at Home order. Are all these people baking?
They must be I suppose.
But how does a big company like Bob’s Mill who say they mill local wheat – how do they run out of flour so fast and we have not. They are a huge conglomerate- with massive mills and I would imagine a huge supply of wheat. America grows lots of wheat. In fact America grows lots of food – the virus has not affected that – so what is going on.
At Janie’s Mill we turn out freshly milled flour every day. We have flour. There is a space for notes in your order form so do tell me it is you so I can expedite your order.
We are running out of everything but we are getting flour out. Tape. Boxes. Bags. All on back order but we stream along!
Anyway – as you can see my time is consumed by the mill. I have a huge retail order to bag and box and get out today then tomorrow I hope to have my first Sunday off in ages. I don’t even know how long it has been since I had a day off.
I will start late today so I hope to take some photos for you before I go in. Maybe I will get some dough started and bake tonight. Though the sooner I go in to work the sooner I will be back. One of my families is holed up at a beach in New Zealand 
Sunday: Are you all safe in your houses? Tell me how you are doing – talk amongst yourselves until I am done. I want to know from as many countries as possible so we can all get a big view. Everyone on lock down dims the big picture.
This picture is from my son in Canada. He said since the ski fields are closed and the people were forced to stay away – the animals are out in droves. I feel awful that I cannot get to my children if I need to.
In NZ, anyone coming into the country must self isolate for 14 days, plus NZ is on full lock down now – the borders are closed. And the plane journey would be deadly. That knowledge is making me fractious and anxious. I can go home but I choose not to, in case I bring illness to my families.
Best to stay in my own mill to home to mill bubble. We really cannot be complacent. 
Tuesday evening : Take care now – chin up – hold the line. This is new territory for us all.
We shipped 217 boxes today. A new record!
Wednesday morning already? I fell asleep last night with you on my hand.
Good morning!
Talk amongst yourselves- I will be back in a few hours I hope!
Lots of love
Cecilia
The Kitchen's Garden 
87 responses to “WE HAVE FLOUR”
Hi, from Austin, Texas! My family started isolating three weeks ago. My husband had been tracking the news on the virus since the New Year and wanted to be extra cautious. School closed and then the cities and counties around us followed all in the next little bit.
I’ve made a few new garden beds, my first successful sourdough loaf!, and we’re getting outside as much as we can between spring thunderstorms before the heat settles in for the summer.
It’s my son’s fourth birthday today and while he wished he could have a party and see his grandparents in person, he got a lot of birthday wishes via videos and we still had party hats, noise-makers, streamers, etc from past parties so all was made special. We’ll plan to do similarly in another four weeks for our daughter’s birthday.
I live close to Miss C. I work for the post office. We are all still working. We have a sneeze guard on our counter now and masks came yesterday. So far I haven’t worn the mask but this COVID virus is sneaking into our county so even small rural communities are not totally safe. I usually help other offices but that has stopped until May 1..then I will review the state of this thing and decide if I want to venture out again..my sisters grandson and wife live in ny city. She is a nurse at mount Sinai hospital. They have watched the tent go up in Central Park. She has seen things I can’t even begin to comprehend. May 1 can’t come soon enough.
Here in east central Wisconsin my life isn’t too terribly different than normal but the whole state has closed all non essential businesses. Here, too, it seems flour is the coveted item, I managed to get one of the last two bags on the shelf today. I have been making masks, a granddaughter is a nurse at the large teaching hospital here and requested some. I was in the Galapagos and returned March 6th just before everything hit the fan, I am grateful for that! While the virus for the vulnerable is frightening I believe the general slow down is a good thing.
Here is Australia NSW has just announced our lockdown will run for 90 days, ending on 30 June, I imagine the other states will follow suit. The message is stay at home except for essentials like food shopping, medical, work if necessary and exercise but limit to gatherings of 1 other person and social distance of minimum 1.5 m or 4 sqm person. At risk groups told to isolate at home. Despite many businesses being closed or trading constrained and other measures to add in uptake of the restrictions some people have been slow to accept the message so fines of $11000 and 6 months in prison applicable for non-compliance. The Covid19 numbers are at present flattening but the scope of testing has been widened and it’s quite possible there will be a second wave, hence the extension. Personally, out here in the village we’re fine, day-to-day life is pretty much normal, we always have spare supplies on hand in case of emergency, flood, bushfire, had done our big grocery shop beforehand, and the G.O. at the moment is doing a weekly shop for and visit to his 86 year old mum in town. But that’s it, we’re at home and not accepting visitors. Keeping busy with study, projects, garden and keeping ourselves well fed and healthy, and exercise with an active dog. Take care. Be well.
Dale, you posted whilst I wrote ! Agree with all 100% but agree with our Police Minister the fines have to be far more stiff . . . Ha! NO !! As for the backpackers who will never be brought to account on Bondi Beach !! A totally sexist comment I do not normally make – thank the blessed Lord the housekeeping is being done by the distaff side !! Both gals are working their bloody butts off . . . thank you !!
Hello from the Southern Highlands south of Sydney, Australia ! So glad you are busy but coping ! Posts like yours will be part of modern history for many centuries ! Glad your microcosm works !! Having been totally but happily encompassed by the on-line shopping experience for some twenty years I find the current almost non-productive, experience totally weird but trying to manage ! At the moment I live courtesy of a food delivery service awaiting from a major retailer allowing me to pass an eighty dollar order for a ‘care’ package’ to stay afloat . . . to each their own . . .
Hi Cecilia. All well here except somewhat lonely. But we have refound facetime, messenger, zoom et al. And G & T helps move on the day.
Take care. Stay home and keep safe. New Zealand will still be here when you are ready to come home again.
Hi. We are off grid in the gulf islands off the west coast of Canada. There aren’t many of us but those who are here are taking it very seriously and staying on their properties. If someone is going to town for groceries they pick up items for their neighbours. The bags are left on boats for pick up.
I
Miss my kids but like everyone, so glad they are all staying home and safe.
Crazy times….
Fascinating to read all the comments and where everyone is from. I am from Alberta Canada and we too are in lockdown. I am still working in my office though because I am an insurance broker and deemed essential. Soon I will be working from home as soon as tech issues are worked out. People here are indeed taking this seriously as they should. I find the hardest is to convince my 91 year old mom not to go buy groceries and have them delivered! For her she loves to go buy groceries and be social with the clerks. She has now agreed to order them instead thank goodness! It is very quiet and still winters here. I am looking forward to spring and being able to get outside and ride my bike for exercise. All the gyms are closed here. Every thing is closed except grocery stores and pharmacies. I think the run on essentials like flour is because people are cooking at home instead of going out to eat. Stay home everyone and together we can beat this.
Hi C, there are so many things one can’t buy……… that’s ok we make do and grow what I can.
I was hoping this year would be an improvement on the last. We were menaced by a bushfire for 8 weeks the size of a small country, then the largest flood since the 1980s and now isolation.
In between these events, I passed my final exam hurdle and graduated in March one of a select group of 8. The best part was my best friend flew over from Amsterdam to be with me on my graduation day.
Dear Cecilia, thank you so much for the link to the Mill. Have ordered some flour. We are doing well here in northern CA. Worried about family and friends like everyone.
Being older we find that we resent not being able to help out more. Worked in the medical field and husband a retired fireman. So many heroes out there. Have always raised all our food. Have enjoyed your blog for many years. We celebrate our 59th wedding anniversary this month. We are counting our blessings.and there are many. To everyone out there, stay safe. Thank you Cecilia for all that you do! There is so much love and kindness all around us. Thankful for being able to communicate so easily in this day and age!
Hi, again. Forgot, If you have space in your freezer you can freeze flour. Double wrap in plastic bag to keep moisture out.
I work for an essential business and since they’ve laid off nearly everyone, those who are left are run off our legs doing all the things. Its strange. We’ve lost 90 percent of the business due to the virus but we can’t just shut down for the duration because what’s left is the essential part.
I continually check and no there is no flour anywhere to be had. I would like some to try to make some proper bread.
While I am in lockdown in inner city Melbourne, Australia, I have a garden to give me space outside, and a wetland area that is great for my daily exercise. I am finally settling into a quarantine routine, but it has taken time to quieten my jumpy mind. Now I am able to carry on with some of my creative projects, and I have begun to sew masks. I am intrigued by the way that people are coping, and how businesses are being flexible. I am having both yoga and ciliates classes via Zoom, and my partner is having physio and dietician appointments over the phone.
Stay well everyone!
That’s a good question-where is all the flour? I ventured into our local grocers last week and was very surprised at the empty shelves that normally hold flour. I need only sugar, and was a bit lucky there too. A young man asked me if I knew where the flour was in the store..I unfortunately had to point to the empty shelves. It’s weird.