Wednesday

Homespun Alchemy ™: Creative Re~Use and Garden Magic...Sort of...


" We're sprouting new ideas all the time...."

-Richard Cook



I was wandering through the Blogosphere...looking for inspirations and happened upon a great site called Sprout People ...they generously offer an abundance of knowledge regarding the basics of "growing everything"...a veritable font of ideas, information and inspiration on the art of growing...thus...I made the decision to take action and cultivated some magic of my own!


Here's how:

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I gathered my sprouting seeds...an old canning jar with lid...a fry~screen bought at the 99~cent store to make the screened lid (so that I could wash and strain the sprouts each day)...along with a pair of scissors and a marker.




Using the canning~jar~lid~insert as a pattern...I traced circles atop the new fry~screen and then cut them out using the scissors. Hint: I cut out as many as I could from the screen at one time and saved them in an envelope for future use...reserving one for this project of course. :)




I tucked the circle of screen inside the lid.


Here's what it looks like.




I measured a tablespoon of mixed sprouting seeds into the jar...


...added about three inches of water and let it soak overnight...the next day I poured off the water and left the jar upside down to drain.


To prop it up for drainage, I snipped about 3 inches from a recycled plastic drinking straw and tucked it underneath the upside down jar (screen side down). After that I rinsed the beans daily, always leaving them upside down once I finished...I think next time I'll lie the jar on its side to get a better yield.




After five days of rinsing and draining!



Sending love and good thoughts to all...as always!
Warmly,
Tracey and Family x0x


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Here's some good advice from the lovely Sprout People:


The Basics of Sprouting


  • Seed Storage: Keeping your dormant seeds happy.
  • Soaking: Turning a dormant seed into a nutritional powerhouse.
  • Rinsing: Water is the key ingredient in sprouts. Use it liberally.
  • Draining: It is essential that sprouts be drained thoroughly after rinsing. Sitting in a puddle is the most common cause of crop failure.
  • Air Circulation: If your sprouts can’t breathe while growing - they can die. Don’t put them in a closed cabinet.
  • Greening: Photosynthesis is cool, and so is Chlorophyll, but not all sprouts are into it, nor is it necessary. Sprouts of all colors are packed with flavor and nutrition!
  • Cleanliness: Your seed should be clean and your sprouting device should be sterile. Wash your sprouter well between crops. Sterilize when necessary.
  • Storage: Properly stored, fresh sprouts will keep for up to 6 weeks in your refrigerator but fresher is better. Never refrigerate wet sprouts.
  • Eat More Sprouts! Grow More Often!


P.S. For the record, I am NOT affiliated with the Sprout People in any way!

20 comments:

La Table De Nana said...

What fun..you did a great job..I needed sprouts last week..and a big chain..said they will not carry them anymore..I'll grow my own too:)

Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries® said...

Thank you for the kind words Monique! They are so incredibly easy to grow...truly almost magic!
Love,
Tracey
x0x
P.S. I so enjoyed your favorite things post!

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

So cool! I've always wanted to try sprouting for myself. It's a great way to have "fresh greens" in the winter.

Unknown said...

We don't see sprouts in the grocery stores much here any more either. And when they are they are outrageously priced! Thanks for sharing. I needed the reminder to start sprouting again! (sheesh, with the economy and sprouts -- why it's just like the 70's all over again -- good thing I learned "frugal" then - it's a cinch the second time around).

Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries® said...

You are so right Manuela...They are a great addition to winter salads and stir~fry! I used to grow them all the time (for us and also sprouted older beans for kitty grass ;-). Sadly...got out of the habit...we used to sprout them on paper towels of all things (think I wrote about this in my first book somewhere...)! Can't believe how easy they are. :)))
Love your new blog BTW!!!
Love,
Tracey
x0x

Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries® said...

Hahahah...so funny Diana! Yes...I love that all the seventies stuff is coming back...from the wide leg jeans to the sprouting...to the philosophy of self~sufficiency and freedom!!! Reminds me of when I was a kid. :)))
Warmly,
Tracey
x0x
P.S. Love your blog...also...how did your girls like LM Alcott's "An Old Fashioned Girl"? I LOVE her works.

Unknown said...

Really a neat way to sprout. I love how everything comes back around...GROOVY MAN!

Peace

Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries® said...

Good to see your name here FD!!! Yes...good ideas never die...that is the truth...especially time~honored classics like sprouting! Frugal, easy, health~building free food that you grow yourself...don't think we can can get much better than that!
Sending good thoughts to you!
Love,
Tracey
x0x

Janina said...

That's great. I learned a lot. Thanks for sharing.

garage

Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries® said...

So glad it was insightful Janina!
Warmly,
Tracey
x0x

Anonymous said...

How cool and I must say you have a lot of GREAT pins on pinterest today! Be blessed :)

Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries® said...

Awww...thanks so much...glad you're enjoying the Pins! Blessings to you as well. :)))
Love,
Tracey
x0x

Anonymous said...

Sprouting was really popular years ago. When I worked for an alternative doctor he advocated spouting- even oatmeal and corn before eating. I still sprout oatmeal but putting 1/2 of the water indicated to cook it in with the oatmeal and a bit of whey if I have some then soak it overnight. Next morning I place the rest of the water and spices in and cook it up.I do seem to digest it better this way. I cannot seem to make this thing make a new paragraph so sound like I am running on and on... sorry. Miss seeing you as much in blogland. I am never sure which of your blogs to go to to see if you have a new post- is this the right one? Also am enjoying pinning some of your pins lately! bee blessed mary

Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries® said...

Awww...thanks so much for the kind words Mary Ellen. Seems like Pinterest is all I have time for lately (a quick browse and pinning for later). Why? Well, I've been sooo busy these past few months as Mike's been off work with a broken leg since January and I'm sharing the computer with him and we spend a lot of time together! It's been so fun but my normal routines have been set aside temporarily. :) He's slowly healing, thank the good Lord!

I love your point about soaking the grains. I don't use a lot of grains in our house as it is hard on the belly but evidently soaking eliminates the phytic~acid in grains and legumes which is why they may be hard to digest. Also soaking nuts is recommended too! I learned a lot about it on thenourishinggourmet.com. She has a ton of information on this and other healthy cooking/eating info, much of it stemming from the "Nourishing Traditions" cookbook, which I love. :)

Well, I'm off now! More soon my sweet friend. Thanks so much for checking in. Have a blessed Easter. Sending love and good thoughts, as always.

Warmly,
Tracey
x0x

Debora said...

Hello Tracy! Thanks for the nice comment you left on my blog. I had no idea that my post title was so close to the name of your blog...it was totally unintentional! Your sprouting idea is so fun, and looks pretty. I'm in the process of trying to sprout green onions from the root ends that I cut off when making a salad. I'm told it works, we'll see...

Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries® said...

Hello Debora! It was a pleasure to visit you...we are definitely kindred spirits! Thanks so much for the kind words about the sprouts...I have sprouted the green onion roots and they work well! I simply pop them in a shallow glass and add water to the roots and the greens regrow! Thanks again for the nice visit and good words.
Warmly,
Tracey
x0x

Kimberly said...

I love sprouts! I have done the green onions, too with success. Have a lovely day!

Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries® said...

Hi Kimberly! x0x

Solange Honorato said...

Olá Tracey, I loved the idea! it is very creative!

Beijos!

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~~~


"FRUGAL LUXURIES: Simple Pleasures to Enhance Your Life and Comfort Your Soul" was written by Tracey McBride and published by Bantam Books, NY, in 1997. It was the first of its genre to synergize the elements of simplicity, frugality and gracious living.

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