Tour Offers Peek Inside Restored Grain Mill

Henry Fischer would be proud.

A miller by trade, he came to the United States from Germany and, in 1947, bought an old mill on Lower State Road near Doylestown.

Fischer didn't live to see his dream come true, his dream of restoring the idle mill on the banks of the Neshaminy Creek back to use. His grandson Mark Fischer, though, took that dream and made it a reality.

And visitors will be able to peek inside that mill on a tour Wednesday night.

The Bucks County Foodshed Alliance is sponsoring the tour at Castle Valley Mill. The event closes the Alliance's 2012 Summer Farm Evenings series.

The public is invited to the evening, which includes a potluck supper at 5 p.m. and the tour at 6 p.m., after which the Fischers will answer questions about the mill and its history.

Attendees are expected to bring a potluck dish to share. .

Castle Valley is a rarity, believed to be the only working grain mill in Bucks County. Inside the refurbished mill, which dates to 1730, Mark Fischer has put his grandfather's collection of mill parts to good use.

The mill wheel is turning again, producing stone-ground flours and grains that range from the familiar whole wheat and cornmeal to organically grown spelt and farro. 

Castle Valley flours and grains can be found on plates at Bucks County restaurants such as Doylestown's Duck Deli, New Hope's Triumph Brewery and Perkasie's Down to Earth Cafe and Maize.

They also can be ordered direct from the mill through its website. The cost is $6 per 2 pound bag.