By Kay Sexton •
April 18, 2009
In the UK, this is a period in the garden and yard that’s called ‘The Hungry Gap’. The last of the overwintered veggies are coming to an end and the spring sowings are not yet ready to be harvested. If you want healthy food that doesn’t cost the earth either in money or in food miles, it can be difficult to find a way to eat that balances your budget and excites your taste-buds. Enter the sprouting seed!
The system for sprouting seeds couldn’t be easier – you just soak seeds, preferably organic ones, for eight hours in lots of water to get them started. If you’re a big fan of the sprouted seed, you can invest in specialised sprouting equipment, but if you want to try the system out for free, all you need is a jar or tray with a paper or cloth cover, water, and some suitable seeds or grains. Keep the seeds moist and clean by rinsing them well twice a day and maintain a temperature of between 55 and 70°F. Seeds grown in the dark tend to be crisper.
Sprouting seeds are full of valuable nutrients like minerals as well as containing high amounts of protein and fibre. Above all, they taste crisp, fresh and delicious.
By Leslie Quigley •
March 11, 2009
It took awhile before I became okay with the idea of drinking wheatgrass juice. In realizing the benefits of wheatgrass it was something I didn’t want to miss out on. Wheatgrass shots at your local health food store can be very pricey. So, last spring we started to grow our own wheatgrass for it’s health benefits.
Currently, I take wheatgrass shots about once a week to boost the Vitamin K in my system (did this w first pregnancy, too). This way we can opt out of our son receiving the Vitamin K shot after birth -unless there are visible signs of bruising. Be sure to consult your midwife or physician if your are pregnant or nursing before consuming wheatgrass. In any case, we set up a seed starter tray with soil and planted wheatgrass.
Growing wheatgrass, otherwise known as, “Liquid Sunshine” is very easy to do. Wheatgrass grows quickly. It only takes 3-5 days to emerge in soil 1/8 of inch deep. You can grow it all year round but the preferred temps for wheatgrass to grow is between 50-80 degrees. In warmer climates where I live it will grow too fast and turn yellow quickly and wilt. Therefore, wheatgrass is great to grow in a window box which is what we did after a few attempts in the high heat. Wheatgrass is a uniform green foliage that it gives off a beautiful look when planted into a small pot or tray. It’s vibrant green color is the beholder of it’s many advantages.
