Easy Guide to Growing your own Sprouts!
Sprouting is a fun and simple way to grow your own food! Even better, homegrown sprouts are delicious and good for you! Sprouting seeds makes them more easily digestible and their nutrients more accessible. It also allows you to have fresh, local foods all year long!
Below are simple steps for sprouting alfalfa seeds, but it's just as easy to sprout beans and other kinds of seeds. Different seeds and beans require various amounts of water during the sprouting process, so make sure you research what's best before experimenting something other than alfalfa sprouts. The co-op has all the materials you need to start sprouting! Most items can be found in the produce section near the bulk water and canning supplies.
What you'll need:
Quart size mason jar
Cheese cloth and a rubber band or a sprouting screen and a corresponding mason jar ring
2 tablespoons of alfalfa seeds. The co-op sells them in bulk.
Begin by putting your alfalfa seeds in the mason jar and covering them with a few inches of cool water. Cover the jar with cheesecloth or your sprout screen and let them soak overnight (or 12 hours) on your countertop.
After your 12 hours is up, dump the excess water and rinse the seeds. The easiest way to do this is to leave the cheese cloth or sprout screen on; they are porous enough to let water flow in and out. Cover the seeds with a couple inches of new water, swish, and dump the water again. There should be no standing water left in your sprouting jar when you're done. I like to tilt my jar downward and let it sit that way on the counter, so that excess water can drain out and the sprouts can grow up.
Rinse your seeds again later that evening. Continue to rinse your seeds twice a day and leave your seeds on your counter out of direct sunlight.
I usually like how my sprouts taste after 6 days or so, but feel free to taste them and find the times that work for you.