Business on the husk: how farmers make money on ancient cereals
Despite the low yield, spelled is quite an expensive product. Farmers in the Khmelnitsky region grow two varieties of spelled and, in addition to selling grain, have found additional uses for the culture.
The progenitor of all modern varieties of wheat in Ukraine has been grown for a long time, but then for a long time it was undeservedly forgotten. And it is very useless, says Nina Velskaya, who, together with her husband, grows spelled on the territory of her family estate "DAR".
“We grow spelled without chemicals and fertilizers. There is evidence that the crop yield may fall from mineral fertilizers. In addition, it grows in a kind of protective "shirt" created by nature. The grain is protected from insects and bacteria by the thickness of this very husk,” says Nina Velskaya.
She adds that the same protective “shirt” makes harvesting and processing spelled slightly more difficult, even modern harvesters cannot thresh it due to the structure of the ear.
Nina Velskaya, owner of the DAR family estate
“If modern wheat yields 50-70 centners/ha, then spelled yields 25-33 centners/ha. And the cost of equipment is the same. In addition, spelled needs to be additionally transported, unloaded onto a special machine that will soak it.”
However, all the extra work more than pays for its benefits. Spelled is not only delicious, but also gluten-free. It contains fully digestible gluten as it is an old variety and the human body has enzymes capable of processing it.
Recently, the Velsky family decided to find a use not only for spelled seeds, but also for its husks. It began to be used as a filler for orthopedic eco-pillows.
“The most spelled husks are strong, voluminous and quite resilient. It has an orthopedic effect. All pillows filled with padding polyester or other material lose volume over time. The husk has its own characteristics - it breaks and crumbles. However, such a pillow is enough for 2-3 years,” says Nina Velskaya.
According to her, the pillows can be "adjusted" for themselves - unfasten and pour out the extra husk if the height seems high. When the old filler cracks a little, the selected husk can be turned back, thereby updating the filler.
For the first time, pillows made from spelt husks Velskie began to be produced in 2017. At first, as usual, they sewed only for themselves and their relatives, but soon the know-how of farmers from the Khmelnitsky region gained considerable demand.
Huge batches are not sewn - craft production, everything is done by hand. If necessary, a new batch is prepared. Up to three hundred such pillows can be ordered and sewn per year.
There is no shortage of husks. By the way, the husks that were not used for pillows also found their use. Spouses use it as mulch in the beds.
“Interest in spelled is growing every year, we have regular customers. Flour, cereals and cereals from it have a special taste. We produce them in small volumes. Now we grow two varieties and continue to revive others. In addition to spelled, there is a desire to revive buckwheat varieties that are pollinated by bees,” Nina Velskaya shares her plans.