THE OMER WAS TOSSED IN THE WIND

Midrash Rabbah - Leviticus 28:2

R. Abin said: Come and observe how much anxiety Israel experienced on account of the commandment of the sheaf! For we have learned elsewhere [Menachot 66a]: They cut it down, placed it in a basket, brought it to the Temple courtyard and parched it at the fire, in order to comply with the law requiring it to be offered parched. These are the words of R. Meir.

The Sages, however, say: They used to thresh it first with reeds and stalks of plants so that it might not be reduced in quantity. It was placed in a tube. This tube had holes in it so that the fire could get at it. Then they spread it out in the Temple courtyard and the wind blew upon it, and then they brought it to the grist-grinders’ mill.