Whenever I buy fresh fruits and vegetables, it seems like they get eaten very quickly. Salad is a treat for us. I don't buy it very often because for the price and how long it lasts, it seems to be somewhat of a luxury. Russ and I have been trying to find ways to have fresh, live food around without always having to get it from the store. He came up with this very simple idea for a wintertime "greenhouse." 
It is just some old moldy bales of hay with an old sliding glass door on top of it. 
We planted it with spinach and some kind of lettuce that I can't remember. That was last fall. Here's how it's doing now. 
We have eaten some already, and what is left is growing like crazy now that it is a little warmer. During the winter it grew, but very slowly. We found once it snowed, we didn't have to water it at all. The soil was always moist even though the snow wasn't falling directly on it. 
It looks so good to see that green garden growing in the snow! By the way, it's snowing today. It was windy earlier. I guess the wind blew the storm in. 
It is just some old moldy bales of hay with an old sliding glass door on top of it. We planted it with spinach and some kind of lettuce that I can't remember. That was last fall. Here's how it's doing now. We have eaten some already, and what is left is growing like crazy now that it is a little warmer. During the winter it grew, but very slowly. We found once it snowed, we didn't have to water it at all. The soil was always moist even though the snow wasn't falling directly on it. It looks so good to see that green garden growing in the snow! By the way, it's snowing today. It was windy earlier. I guess the wind blew the storm in. In addition to the "greenhouse garden," we have been regularly growing alfalfa sprouts in the house. I start some every three days or so. My kids love them!
When Russ goes out of town for work, he takes a quart-size freezer bag full of sprouts. He eats them plain or puts them on his Wendy's crispy chicken sandwich or whatever he gets to eat while he's on the road. 
Yesterday, he told me that he and Caleb had tried the alfalfa sprouts on tacos. I was skeptical because I didn't think alfalfa sprouts went with salsa and all the other things I put on tacos. I was wrong! I put some on my tacos because we didn't have any lettuce. They were crunchy and good and didn't seem at all out of place. Most of the kids ate them on their tacos, and those that didn't ate them plain with gusto. They're cheap and good for us, too. I got my alfalfa seeds from a lady in my ward whose son-in-law has a sprout business. He sells them to the health food store where I shop in Provo. I can't remember the price, but it seemed quite reasonable. The great thing about sprouting is that you can turn 2 tablespoons of something into a quart of something, and all it takes is a jar, a little water, and some time.
When Russ goes out of town for work, he takes a quart-size freezer bag full of sprouts. He eats them plain or puts them on his Wendy's crispy chicken sandwich or whatever he gets to eat while he's on the road. Yesterday, he told me that he and Caleb had tried the alfalfa sprouts on tacos. I was skeptical because I didn't think alfalfa sprouts went with salsa and all the other things I put on tacos. I was wrong! I put some on my tacos because we didn't have any lettuce. They were crunchy and good and didn't seem at all out of place. Most of the kids ate them on their tacos, and those that didn't ate them plain with gusto. They're cheap and good for us, too. I got my alfalfa seeds from a lady in my ward whose son-in-law has a sprout business. He sells them to the health food store where I shop in Provo. I can't remember the price, but it seemed quite reasonable. The great thing about sprouting is that you can turn 2 tablespoons of something into a quart of something, and all it takes is a jar, a little water, and some time.
5 comments:
I need to sprout again. I used to sprout white wheat that was really good. So you buy what kind of seeds and where?
WOW! You guys are so innovative!
Will you tell me how to grow my own sprouts? I'd love to do that. (email me) :)
That is seriously amazing! Whoever thought something like that could be possible. Wow!
That garden is so cool!!What a great idea!
I love sprouts too. Try sprouting Lentils. They sprout very fast and they taste a little like fresh peas. Let the tails get about 1.5 the size of the lentil Just add a little salt!! They keep growing in the fridge, but they are still good for quite a few days!
We got our seeds from a lady in our ward, but there is a wholesale seed place in Salt Lake City called Mountain Valley Seeds (www.mvseeds.com).
Sprouting is so easy. On the alfalfa sprouts, I soak them in water in the jar for 24 hours, then I drain and rinse them, and rinse them once or twice a day, and that's it! In four days or so, they are ready to go. I keep them in a place away from direct light. Thanks for the tips on sprouting lentils, Noelle!
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