Spread The Word About Sprouting!!!
Melba Rabinowitz, M.Sc., Home Economics

Perhaps you are already sprouting but haven't explored a wide range of seeds or tried sprouting in soil. Perhaps you are not yet a member of the sprouting movement, where you earn membership by adding sprouts to egg salad sandwiches for church gatherings, giving sprouting kits as wedding gifts or introducing the miracle of sprouting to kindergarten children at your local school.

Important Source of Nutrients.
In our province and especially Labrador, we struggle with lack of access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Sprouts are a relatively untapped source of vitamins, minerals, proteins and enzymes. In addition to providing the greatest amount of these nutrients, sprouts deliver them in a form that is easily digested and assimilated. In fact, they improve the efficiency of digestion.

"Through the miracle of germination, thiamin increase five-fold and niacin content doubles. Vitamin C, E and carotene increases. In fact, the vitamin C content becomes as rich as that in tomatoes. Sprouting breaks down the stored protein into amino acids which is a basic building blocks for our bodies.

In l940, the United States Army sponsored a full investigation on sprouted seeds, studying their usefulness as food. During World War I, the British Army sprouted beans to ward off scurvy in the trenches.

When building the trenches, they calculated the sprouting area needed to feed a battalion. In fact, some believe alfalfa to be the most nutritious food in the world. Alfalfa sprouts are high in protein, chlorophyll, calcium, potassium, Vitamin A and Vitamin K. The best time to eat the sprouts is when the roots are l l/2 inches and the tiny green leaves begin to develop. Raw alfalfa sprouts are delicious in stuffing pita, adding to sandwiches or as topping for tacos." (Excerpt from: Whole Foods and Healing Recipes.)

Earth Sprouting.
A young woman from Quebec, who worked on the Organic Farm a few years ago, introduced us to growing sunflower sprouts in a few inches of soil. In 7 to 10 days, the sprouts were 3 to 5 inches high. We cut the sprouts with scissors, put the roots in the compost and used the soil to start over. Now, we grow in soil exclusively with very reliable results.

Instructions for sprouting:
We use plastic quart containers, with hinged lids, similar to those used for packaging commercial strawberries. If you do not have containers with lids, any flat container with drainage and 3 inch sides will serve the purpose. Fill bottom tray with about 2 inches of potting soil, (the kind you can buy in the blue bags at Canadian Tire). After soaking most seeds for 8 hours, (buckwheat or sunflowers 12 - 18 hours), spread on soil surface and sprinkle a thin layer of soil over the seeds. Water the soil well.

If there is no lid, cover with plastic wrap and leave one side slightly open for ventilation. Mist or sprinkle daily. Uncover after three days. Put the container(s) in sunlight or bright light for 5-8 days, until the crop is 5-6"tall. Keep moist and cut as needed.

Sprouting with Children.
My children were introduced to sprouting and alfalfa sprout sandwiches as toddlers. At Daybreak Parent Child Centre, where I was Executive Director for many years, children learned to manage regular sprouting activities using yogurt containers, with cheesecloth fastened over the top by rubber bands, placed inside the art closet for darkness. (I have since learned that keeping sprouts in the dark is not necessary.) The children soaked the seeds, then rinsed and watched over the sprouts until they were finally ready to eat. Today, we give away inexpensive sprout kits to children at Open Farm Day and sell earth growing kits at the Avalon Mall Flea Market. My dream is that growing sprouts will be introduced into family resource centre, child care centres and kindergarten programs across the province and through this effort, the practice of sprouting will make its way into every household as a source of inexpensive, nutritious food, not only for children but also family members.

Types of Seeds.
We order our sprouting seeds in bulk from organic seed suppliers. However, most seeds and beans sold in food stores will sprout. Avoid seeds packaged for gardening. Unless they are labeled as organic, they have been treated with pesticides. If the seeds do not germinate, perhaps they weren't soaked long enough or the seeds may be too old. Try again with different seeds!

While we still grow some sunflower sprouts, we are more enthusiastic about pea sprouts which actually taste like fresh peas; also Daikon radish, alfalfa, broccoli and quinoa because they are more tasty and tender than sunflower.

Ideas For Using Sprouts.
In addition to salads, soups and stir frys, sprouts can replace lettuce and/or relish in many kinds of sandwiches, including peanut butter sandwiches Try adding to tuna, egg or ham salads, grilled cheeses, tacos, burritos, subs and pita. Add a half-cup of sprouts to omelets, just before folding, or l/2 cup per loaf to homemade bread or tuck into sushi..

New Year's Salad.
In mid-December, we joined friends for dinner at a restaurants that buys sprouts from the Organic Farm. The menu included a sprout salad made with a medley of sprouts, tossed with tiny cubes of cucumber. It was served inside a crunchy baked Parmesan shell with a very light, perhaps fresh lime and pepper dressing. We shared it around the table and are still smacking our lips at the thought of it. Every dish, including dessert was garnished with sprouts. I created this salad for the New Year. It was delicious and shall I bother to say, healthy?

Directions for New Year's Salad
Using the three cup salad idea, start with l cup clementines, peeled, cut crosswise and broken into small pieces, 1 large apple, (peeled unless it is organic) and ½ C. pine nuts. Mix fruit and nuts in bowl and scattered the sprouts over the top. Dribbled with 1 1/2 T. of spiced, rice vinegar and juice of l/2 lemon.

Toss lightly to avoid tangling sprouts, refrigerate and serve cold. (Or use your own favorite light dressing.)

Nature's Gift.
Introducing sprouting can be a gift to the children in your community. Don't hesitate to get in touch with me for help with making sprout kits for your local kindergarten class or Scout Troop.

References:
Braunstein, The Sprout Book. The Book Publishing Company, Summertown, TN Lagerquist, Ron. Whole Foods and Healing Recipes. Publisher: Renewed Health. 2003.
Mumm, Jim. Sprouting at Home.200. Mumm's Sprouting Seeds. Hazelridge Farm. SK
Raw Sprouting for Health and Enjoyment. Happy Cow's Vegetarian Guide.www.happycow.net
Wigmore, The Sprouting Book. Avery Publishing Group, Inc., Wayne N J.

Melba Rabinowitz, M.Sc., Home Economics
Co-Owner, Organic Farm.
organicfarm@nl.rogers.com
www.TheOrganicFarm

 

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