Homegrown Sprouts A Cultural, Horticultural, and Nutritional Perspective

Date of Award

2003

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

McCord, Elzie

Keywords

Wheatgrass, Environmental Studies, Sprouts, Sprouting, Horticulture, Nutrition, Organic

Area of Concentration

Environmental Studies

Abstract

Simply, a sprout is a germinated seed that has started growing into a vegetable. Many sprouts are composed of one or two cotyledon(s), a stem, and a radicle. Sprouts are a very versatile food. They taste good raw, juiced, or cooked. You can eat them alone or put them in salads, soups, and sandwiches. Sprouts vary in texture and taste; some are spicy, some are hardy, and others are more delicate. Sprouts are also a highly nutritious food. They provide many of the vitamins and minerals that our bodies need daily. My main goal is to teach simple methods of growing sprouts at home. In doing so, people will learn to produce healthy, living foods, thus decreasing their need for lab-produced vitamin and mineral supplements. I have tested all of the growing methods described here, and they all work well. There are pictures to illustrate my experiences with different methods, and I've included special notes on sprouting specific vegetables, grains, and beans. Anyone can enjoy this fun and nutritious treat; all it takes is seeds, water, and a few days. My other hope is that the joy of growing sprouts will inspire new gardeners to get their hands dirty growing vegetables outside as well. Organic vegetables are important for health and ecological reasons, but gardening is also good for the soul. Gardeners who value our earthly home and body have a special connection with the plants that they grow. By growing your own sprouts and eventually your own food, you will be assuredthat what you eat is high quality and synthetic chemical-free. It is important to watch each step of the growth process so that we don't take our food for granted. By nurturing the food we eat, we develop attitudes that help us nurture our environment and personal relationships. Gardening makes us become aware of things that might go otherwise ignored, such as weather patterns, soil conditions, or insect populations. By growing sprouts, you will gain insight into temperature, humidity, and seed germination.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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