growing wheat grass

Ah, wheat grass. I love it for the health benefits and am now happy to discover how easy and fun and it is to grow! 

 I've been drinking powdered wheat grass for a few years and didn't know much more than it has alkaline, detoxifying and regenerative properties. Simply, it makes me feel amazing, soothes my acidic stomach, energizes me and reduces recovery time after climbing or surfing. It doesn't make much sense to buy it regularly if I can grow it myself and I'm all over anything to bring the source of what I consume closer to home. While researching how to grow it I also want to know exactly why it makes me feel so good and why I'm bothering to take the time to do this. Time is valuable around here!  Unfortunately it's difficult to find unbiased information on this topic with so many sites selling something, some leaning heavily in the benefits direction while their opponents feel strongly against it. So the search for information continues... meanwhile I'm following my intuition and greening it up!

   Regardless of the details it's fun to grow. So juice it, feed it to your cats, do a science project with the kiddo's, or just to add a little green sparkle to your house during the dark winter months.  

How to grow wheat grass...

You will need:

-1 pound of hard red wheat berries (found in the bulk bin in the grocery store or see resources below)

-2 planting trays about 2 inches deep. 1 with holes and one without. If you can find one with small drainage holes, that's best. Trays with large drainage holes should be lined with a sheet of newspaper before adding soil.

-1 bag of soil (organic if you'll be juicing) 

-sand (if you are growing without drainage)

-plastic bag or another planting tray to create a dark environment while sprouting

-watering can or kitchen sink sprayer 

Now the fun stuff...

-rinse and soak the seeds for 8-12 hours. rinse again

-spread about 2 inches of soil in your tray. (lay about an inch of sand down first if you have no drainage)

-sprinkle about 1/2 inch of seeds over the soil (too many and they will get moldy) spraying with a mixture of baking soda and kelp extract can prevent mold as will constant airflow.

 -water well

 -cover and keep moist-  I used a recycled plastic bag but another growing flat works great too. water twice a day.

-in about two days you'll see the roots begin to grow and little green shoots. it's time to uncover and give them a little sun!  water about twice a day.

-if you are growing to juice (you need a juicer specific for wheatgrass) cut about 3/4 of it's length when it's about 8-10 inches tall or right before it parts (grows two shoots) juice away and enjoy!

soaking

loving...

sand in the house was too irresistible

our setup

yup...there were seeds everywhere

Ryder was in charge of his own jar. It was great watching how excited he was to water it every morning and evening. He did drown the first batch, but has been very careful with the second. 

It's fun watching the roots extend down into the soil through the glass jars and a great way to teach about plant science.

Day four
It grows about an inch a day!

books  (please consider your local bookstore or library first...keep it local :)


Wheatgrass Nature's Finest Medicine by Steve Meyerowitz


The Wheatgrass Book by Ann Wigmore


web - 
http://sproutpeople.org/


http://wheatgrassgrower.blogspot.com/2009/10/why-wheatgrass.html


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheatgrass