Worried about food shortages? Grow these greens in 3 days!
If you’ve been paying attention, the media is abuzz with supply chain issues that are now affecting our food supply across North America and other parts of the world.
Farmers are protesting in the Netherlands. People in some countries like Sri Lanka (immersed in political turmoil), are dealing with bare grocery shelves and little to eat.
Farm land is being snapped up across America by Bill Gates.
Food processing plants are burning down. Cattle are mysteriously dying and bird flu is making headlines again. A massive cricket plant has geared up production in London, ON Canada to supply us with an alternative “climate-friendly” meat alternative. Umm, no thanks.
Preppers are aggressively warning us to get ready. Stock 3-6 months of non-perishable food, freeze-dried fruits, vegetables and meats, potable water, and emergency survival gear and anything else you might need in an off-grid scenario that could last a few days, weeks or even longer.
A hydroponic growing system can provide you with green leafy vegetables if your grocery store runs out. But it typically requires electricity to grow. I’ve seen some that don’t require electricity but some handy skills. You can check these out here to see if they’re your cup of tea. I know I prefer something easy to grow because my time is precious.
There is another way to grow some fresh greens that don’t require electricity or soil. They’re easy to grow and ready to eat in just three days!
What am I talking about? Sprouts.
Sprouts are young tender greens from many of our favourite vegetables that are just a few days old. They’re super nutritious and simple to grow. Anyone can grow them, no green thumb required!
There are so many varieties of sprouts: mung bean, lentil, broccoli, pea, radish, clover, sunflower, fenugreek, alfalfa and many more. They can be eaten raw after a light rinse and added to sandwiches and salads, or stir-fried into your favourite dishes.
Sprouts are nutritional powerhouses as they’re rich in vitamins A, C, K and B vitamins like riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, pantothenic acid and folate. Important minerals like calcium, zinc, copper and manganese are also commonly found in sprouts along with essential amino acids.
Numerous sources can be found online citing the health benefits of eating sprouts. They improve digestion and help with weight loss and detoxification. We get much-needed fibre that also keeps us feeling full. Sprouts also boost immunity and have anti-inflammatory properties that support good cardiovascular health. Certain types of sprouts like broccoli have exhibited anti-cancer properties too. When the seeds germinate, they contain an enzyme called glucoraphanin which has been shown to fight and prevent many types of cancers. Broccoli sprouts contain sulforaphane, a super anti-cancer compound, in amounts up to 100 times more than regular broccoli!
So which seeds sprout the fastest?
Mung beans and lentils can begin sprouting in as little as 3-5 days if done correctly.
You don’t need any soil at all. And you don’t need much space; your kitchen counter will work just fine and you’ll need to guard them from direct sunlight with a tea towel. All you need are some clean mason jars, mesh cloth to cover the jar openings, seeds, water to rinse them daily and a tray to drain the jars.
Use good quality, clean, organic whole seeds that are meant for sprouting because you want to avoid common illnesses associated with sprouts like salmonella or e.coli. You can pick them up at a good health food store and online. Always rinse them before consuming and if they smell bad or look slimy, toss them out.
Growing sprouts is a great way to get familiar with growing your own food. They’re 10x more nutritious than store-bought produce. They’re organic. Sprouting connects you to back to Mother Nature and it grounds you. All awesome things not just to survive in these crazy times but to also thrive and have vibrant health each and every day. And that’s a sweet thing J
Cool links to explore:
Serious Eats Gallery: How to Grow Bean Sprouts in a Jar
Sprout Living: The Benefits of Eating Sprouts
Where to Buy High Quality Sprouting Seeds: Rawnutrition.ca
Check out my latest book, The Little Book of Grounding: 75+ simple ways to restore balance to your mind-body-spirit using ancient Ayurvedic teachings for today’s world.
Have an awesome week!