Low Impact

Its really easy to do. Its really quick to do. It helps (in a small way!) to reduce your impact on the environment. Sounds pretty good, right?

The pictures show my last batch of sprouts a) on the day I poured the seeds into the jar, and b) 3 days later - when I said it was quick, I meant it!

All you’re going to need is some sprouting seeds, a jar, and some sort of draining filter.

I bought alfalfa seeds at my local health food store. It cost $5, and will make probably 20-30 containers worth of alfalfa. Other possibilities for sprouting include radish, and mung beans.

For the draining filter I use a bit of old stocking pulled over the mouth of the jar, but I’ve heard of people using wire mesh or old T-shirts held over the opening of the jar by a rubber band - as long as its clean and hygienic, go crazy!.

For a jar, I’m using an old pasta sauce jar which holds enough sprouts to last a couple of days. For preference, go for wide-mouthed jar - it makes it a lot easier to get the sprouts out when they’re ready.

Have a look on the Net for other advice, but what I do is:

1. Add a couple of tablespoons of seed to the jar, and fill it with water.
2. Give them a good soak for a few hours, then drain it.
3. Each morning and evening for the next few days, fill the jar with water, give it a swirl, then drain it (leave the jar upside down to drain fully in between times - you don’t want the sprouts sitting in water in case bacteria get started)
4. After 3-4 days, your sprouts should be ready.

Not only is this cheaper than buying your own sprouts, but it is good for the environment. For one thing, you can be sure that no herbicides or fertilisers have been used. Most importantly, your sprouts haven’t had to be packaged into a new plastic container that ends up getting thrown out, nor have those sprouts had to be trucked in from potentially hundreds of kilometres away, with all the resultant CO2 emissions.

Tastes all the better, doesn’t it!

Categories: DIY, environment, green