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Friday, January 9, 2015

Growing Sprouts on the Kitchen Sink

Off and on for years we have grown alfalfa sprouts to eat. It's very simple, really. Take a quart jar, add some seeds, put on the lid, cover them with water to soak, drain off the water, rinse them a couple of times a day, and watch them grow. With very little effort, you have a fresh, nutritious addition to your diet any time of year. I could just end the post there, but it would be pretty short, huh? Okay, a few more details and some pictures.



We haven't grown sprouts for a number of years, but we used to regularly. I bought a batch of mixed sprouting seeds somewhere along the way that have been around for quite some time. I don't remember how long, but I figure it's long enough that some of them may no longer be viable. When I started growing sprouts again, I started off with one tablespoon of these seeds just to see if any of them would grow. They did okay, but one tablespoon of seeds didn't grow enough sprouts for the time and effort, so the next time, I mixed in two teaspoons of alfalfa. They are also a number of years old as well, but appear to remain viable for a long time. Once we have a jar sprouted and ready to eat it goes in the refrigerator, and we start another jar so it will be ready when we run out.





We bought these sprouting lids about 15 years ago, to use on wide mouth jars. We've also tried sprouting trays, but much prefer the jars. About 8 to 10 years ago I looked for more lids and couldn't find any, but now they appear to be readily available.


Fresh sprouts are a great, nutritious treat in the dark, dreary days of winter. Alfalfa sprouts are high in vitamins A, C, and K; phosphorus, potassium and calcium. And sometimes growing sprouts provides just a bit of gardening in the midst of the cold winter days, minus the dirt, of course. Growing the sprouts, plus all of the seed catalogs coming in the mail, have me thinking of starting garden seedlings. I know it's too early yet, so I'll see if I can hold off until at least the first of February.


The mixed batch of sprouts had some mung beans, but very few of them sprouted, which is good, since Frank doesn't like them anyway. Sometimes it's very difficult to get Frank the Carnivore to eat anything green, but he will eat alfalfa sprouts if I put them on something like a salad. The cold winter winds are upon us, but spring is just around the corner. In the meantime, while we wait for the warm spring breezes, we'll be growing and enjoying the sprouts on the kitchen sink.

Until next time - Fern



P.S. About the "I am Charlie" picture on the header. We are saddened and very disturbed about the turn many events in our country and world are taking. There is a great evil abounding in our midst that if left unchecked will soon devour everything in it's path. The question is, who and how will it be checked? Or will it? It appears that many different groups of people have had enough, and are willing to speak out against some of the atrocities of our times, like these folks in the picture. The clock is ticking ever louder. People are getting more restless and desperate every day, and whether it is by chance or by design, it doesn't matter. There will come a day when the cup will overflow. What happens then is anyone's guess. Be ready.

12 comments:

  1. I use the same lids as you do. Over the years I've tried a variety of 'sprouting mixes' with some success and some failures. The successes always contained seed of approximately the same size - mung and lentils, alfalfa and radish for example. For those mixes that didn't work I either put them in my oatmeal or added to my bread. The soaking and rinse water I always use either for soup or watering plants.

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    1. Interesting use of the soaking and rinse water, Bellen. Thank you. We will probably just stick with alfalfa sprouts after I use up this old mix. Either that, or throw in some of my garden seeds and make our own mix. Thank you for sharing.

      Fern

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  2. I feel that all of this has been foretold, and while we shouldn't sit idly by, there is also nothing we can do to prevent it, just as nothing could (or should) have been done to prevent the crucifixion. It all must happen. We've all been warned in the Bible of what is coming. We can only do our best to have our house in order, trust in Him (and NOTHING else) and be as ready as we can be for what is coming.

    I think I'm going to have to try growing some sprouts, as they look delicious!

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    1. We have been warned, Goodwife. So now, we feel like our obligation is to warn our neighbors. And you're right, even though many don't see it that way, it all must happen. I just pray for strength and courage to withstand the days that come.

      Sprouts are great, nutritious and don't take but a few minutes a day. You'll like them.

      Fern

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  3. I remember cheese, sprout & tomato sandwiches that were good enough to remember how they tasted 40 years later.

    I was reading that France is about 10% Muslim and there are neighborhoods that they control and it's all over France, not just in Paris. What will the world look like in 20 years?

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    1. We'll have to try your variety of sandwich when we have fresh tomatoes again, Rob.

      I think the world will be a very different place 20 years from now and wonder how many people will still be around to see it. Interesting thought.

      Fern

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  4. Thanks for the info on the sprouts . We have never grown them but now we will soon start, it looks easy, nutritious and great for salads .
    The recent murders in France by Muslim terrorists is a real tragedy. The outcry from the Muslim community leaders about this atrocity was really something wasn't it ? Yeah, I missed it too . The U.S.A. has over 2,000 mosques at this time , Americans need to wake up to what is going on about them . I agree with the goodwife that we have been forewarned , trust in the Lord .

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    1. In this day and age of tolerance, we have been led to think we need to accept just about anything that comes along. Historically, there have been many practices that were common place, that today we find abhorrent. I wonder how long we will continue to find them so?

      Thank you for the comment and sharing your perspective.

      Fern

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  5. The best site I have found for sprouts is SproutPeople.com . The have such interesting mixes. I started out by buying their sampler and that lasted me a very long time. Now I just bought a pound each of the mixes we like. I particularly like the spicy ones with radish. They also have a great little sprouter where one only has to water the sprouts morning and evening. We go thru tons of these little veggies. I figured that if worse comes to worse, sprouts are the greens that we will be eating. They will grow in the garden, too. And....they are organic. Americans are waking up.....but our leadership are not on our side.

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    1. Thank you for the resource for sprouting seeds and accessories, Tewshooz.

      I wonder what kind of alarm will have to sound, and how long and loud it will have to be, to get folks to wake up?

      Thank you for sharing,

      Fern

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  6. I bought a sprouter about 25 years ago. I finally took it out this fall and used it for the first time. Just sprouting wheat grass for smoothies, for the cats to eat and for the chickens. I never knew wheat grass was so sweet.

    As for the plight of our world, never stop praying. When we're overwhelmed and discouraged God will still move in the prayers and praise of His people.

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    1. We haven't tried wheat grass, Odiie. I think it is interesting you are using it for human, feline and fowl.

      We pray each and every day for our neighborhood, country and world. And for wisdom and guidance in all that we do. Thank you for the reminder.

      Fern

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