Cricket Song Farm

Cricket Song Farm
Showing posts with label sprouts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sprouts. Show all posts

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Grow your own Micro Greens


Micro Greens are very simple to grow.  The necessary equipment can be as simple as a plastic container with a lid.  I use the containers I purchase organic lettuce in during the winter months when I am unable to grow my own.



Punch several holes in the bottom of the container.  Fill with good organic potting soil.  Set container on a  baking sheet to catch the water as it drains out from the bottom.


Here's a great tip.  You can purchase seeds specifically packaged for micro greens, or you can do what I do and save yourself a lot of money.  I always have seeds left over from planting the garden, sometimes I don't used them all even after several years.  I gather all my old seeds (3 to 4 years old) and combine them into a single packet to use for my micro greens.  Because the seeds are older I do not want to plant them in the fields as the germination rate is lower.  It will not matter if the rate is lower if you are using them for greens because of the volume of seeds you will be planting.  Seed the container heavily and cover with a thin layer of soil.  I use a spray bottle to water the seeds in well.

USE ONLY ORGANIC OR UNTREATED SEEDS!!!!!!!


Put the lid on the container and keep evenly moist until the seeds begin to sprout.  Place in a warm southern window and water often.  By using seeds that sprout at different times you can have a harvest for a couple of weeks.

Try using seeds of radishes, cabbage, cauliflower, beets, chard, lettuce, sunflowers, peas, legumes, broccoli, alfalfa, wheat, clover, amaranth, etc.  (check out your local health food store for sprouting seeds) these usually come in bigger containers and are very cost efficient.


Using a sharp pair of scissors, trim off the amount desired.  Turn the tray often for even growth.  Use the greens over salads, soups, sandwiches and wraps.


Saturday, April 21, 2012

Sprouts 101


Purchase sprouting grains, seeds, or beans of choice.  This is my favorite mix.  It can be purchased at your local Health Food Store.  Any organic seeds can be used.  Radish, wheat, broccoli, clover, sunflower, alfalfa, beet, etc.  Try mung or garbanzo beans.  I like this mix because it gives you a good variety of seeds and beans. 





Scoop 1/4 to 1/2 cup of beans or seeds into a bowl of cool water.  Let soak for 24 hours.  I use this amount for 2 people.  You can do more at a time because the sprouts will refridgerate well up to 7 days.






                                               Beans and grains beginning to ferment.


     

   After soaking 24 hours drain off water and put seeds in a sprouter container or use a glass jar with a screen, nylon, or a cheese cloth stretched over the opening.


  I like these sprouter boxes.  You can stack as many high as you wish.  There are also dividers included so several different kinds of seeds can be sprouted at once.   This sprouter allows you to rinse easily, draining the water through  holes in the bottom. 





Rinse seeds 3 or 4 times a day.  I am lucky if I remember to do it just once.


Drain off the water and lay the jar on it's side.





                                                                     DAY 1




                                                                    DAY 2





                                                                       DAY 3


      
   DAY 4----   rinse a final time.  Use the sprouts in salads, stir-frys, sandwiches, add to your home-made bread.  I like to just eat them right our of the jar.  This is one of my favorite ways to eat the sprouts.  Place sprouts on a spinach wrap, add some avacado, tomato and sea salt.




                          

                       NOW  REFRIDGERATE TO INHIBIT MORE GROWTH and to keep sprouts fresh.

Sprouts are an extremely good source of vitamins and minerals.  The nutritional value of the grain or seed is greatly increased through sprouting.  The seed is alive and provides your body with a true source of wellness, health, and long life.