There is something that nauseates me when I look at the mushy, slimy & stinky sprouts that somehow are passing for saleable food in the regular grocery store. More often times than not, they look awful. Even at the health food specialty stores you often see sprouts that should just be tossed into the compost. The price is also outrageous, since you can grow your own for pennies & that is saying a lot these days with everything costing so much. Now, you can go to Amazon, or a specialty store and buy yourself a fancy 5 layer sprouting machine, or you can follow my simple, low cost directions. Sprouts are amazing to me. There is this tiny little seed just laying there and doing nothing. Once you give it water though, it releases the power of life and starts to grow. A tiny little shoot of green peeks out, then the leaves start to form.You have created something. You feel powerful. You can sprout many things such as seeds, beans, nuts & grains.

According to Sprout People, research shows that sprouts are a veritable fountain of youth. Sprouts abound with antioxidants, they are full of protein, chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Broccoli sprouts have been found to contain 50 times as much of the antioxidant sulfurophane as mature broccoli. Wheat Grass juice is the closest substance to hemoglobin known and is therefore a phenomenal blood purifier and liver de-toxifier. Sprouts contain enzymes, giving your body a much needed rest as they digest themselves - invigorating you while requiring no help from your body to process them. New research indicates that peanut sprouts reduce harmful cholesterol and that sunflower, buckwheat and grain sprouts dramatically improve the quality of life of diabetics. The list goes on and on.

THE BASICS

First, you must have some seeds, beans, nuts or grains. I usually get these in bulk at my local Food Co-Op. However, if you do not have a health food store or local Food Co-Op handy, you can certainly hit the internet. I know that Amazon has many choices available. The only problem with most of it there is that it comes in large quanties. Many gardening catalogs also sell seed in bulk, so those would also be good choices. Organic seed is also important, because you do not want any pesticides on the healthy sprouts you are attempting to grow. Some common seeds include alfalfa, chia, broccoli, radish, onion, fenugreek, mustard & cabbage. Store your seeds in a dark place, or you can refrigerate/freeze them.

Next, you will need a vessel. I recommend that you start with a simple 1 quart or larger wide-mouthed mason jar. Simple, cheap and versatile. For the top, you will need some sort of mesh. I just use simple screening, like you can get at the hardware store by the foot for your screen door. I cut it into squares to cover the top of the jar. Or you can use any sort of mesh bag or screen, just be certain the mesh holes are small enought the seeds won't fall out. To hold this on top, you can either use a rubber band, or one the the mason jar collars to screw on the screen. Later on, if you want to get all fancy and get gadgets for your sprouting, knock yourself out. But this is the simple and cheap way to get started.

Before beginning, find out where you are going to place your sprouts to drain. I just use my dish rack next to the sink. When they are draining, I simply put them at a 45 degree angle in the rack. You do not want them in direct sunlight though. After you get in the swing of things, you will want to have a continuous supply of your yummy sprouts. I try to time each cycle by starting a new batch when I am harvesting the first one.

The first step in your process, is to pick out and measure the seeds, nuts, grains or beans that you want to sprout. Sift through them, add them to your sprouting jar, fill the jar with water, cover with your mesh lid and drain it. Then fill it again and leave the seeds to soak. The following chart will tell you how long to soak and sprout your seeds. After the seeds have soaked for the appropriate time, you will drain your jar and place it in your rack. 2 to 4 times a day you need to simply fill your jar with water just to cover the sprouts, then drain again and place back in rack. Proper drainage is important so that the sprouts do not rot.

Within a couple of days your seeds will begin to sprout. They will continue to grow for 2-7 days, depending on the sprouts, and watch as the miracle of life unfolds before your eyes. Just before harvesting, you can place your sprouts in direct sun for about 15 minutes to "green" them up a bit. Grains, legumes and almonds will not form a green sprout. They are ready to harvest when the tail they have formed is about the size of the seed.

To harvest, remove the sprouts from the jar and place them in a salad spinner if you have one. Or you can use a colander. Gently rinse and drain. Be sure to drain as well as possible before you refrigerate them. I just keep them in a plastic container. If they are dry enough when you put them in the fridge, they will last up to a week, if you don't gobble them up first!