Frequently Asked Questions

Copyright ©2012 by Steve Meyerowitz, Sproutman

USING OUR WEBSITE

WHEATGRASS

AUTOMATIC SPROUTER

SPROUTING

SPROUTING SEEDS

JUICING

How do I get rid of mold?

If you don't stop mold at its inception during days 2-4, it is virtually impossible to arrest. Unfortunately, spraying it with agents such as hydrogen peroxide and grapefruit seed extract, rarely yields positive results. In fact, their overuse burns the grass and ruins the crop. The best thing to do is to harvest early before the mold does more damage. Cut the grass above the mold and wash off the blades. Remember, mold on wheatgrass is similar to mold on bread. Although it is unappetizing, it is not pathogenic. Just cut and wash it off. sink Watering Net.jpgThe best way to deal with mold is to prevent it. Mold spores come in on the seed. Your best bet is to buy seed that is selected and identified for wheatgrass. If stored properly, this seed has the lowest propensity for mold. Try removing the greenhouse cover earlier during days 3-6, and spraying the young shoots twice per day to protect them from drying out. This has the advantage of allowing mold spores to escape from the otherwise enclosed space. A small fan in the growing room (not pointed at the grass) is also very helpful to keep mold spores from concentrating in one location. (For more, read how to eliminate mold  in the book: Wheatgrass Nature's Finest Medicine.)

Image Caption: Washing the young seeds clean with a strong spray is an excellent way of ridding your crop of mold spores.

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I've got more grass than I can juice and it's getting yellow

It is best to cut your grass while it is still vibrant and green and refrigerate it in a plastic container or a non-polyethylene bag. Cut grass can last more than two weeks in a refrigerator at 38 ¬"+F. I use the green anti-ethylene plastic bags. These bags enhance the shelf life of any vegetable. As an alternative, you can juice your grass and freeze it in ice-cube trays. Many grass lovers choose frozen grass over fresh because of its convenience. And they still get the desired results.

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Don't I have to juice and drink the grass immediately?

Not necessarily. You could consider chilling your fresh squeezed juice to just above freezing temperature, say 34 ¬"+F. Then store it in a pre-chilled thermos. This can extend the viability of the juice for two or more days. Also, if you use a Green Star juicer - the gold standard of the juicing industry - its materials influence the longevity of the juice. You must consider the big picture. If drinking it immediately limits you to say...four drinks per week, and storing it properly raises you to eight drinks per week, then which do you think is better? Even if those eight drinks are only 90% as potent as fresh, eight drinks is more beneficial than four. Many folks have stopped juicing because they thought it was too much work. A small compromise that keeps you on the program longterm is the best strategy

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Is grass grown in soil more nutritious than in water?

Actually, they are very close. A study done on the nutrient content concluded that both grasses were equal (read: Wheatgrass Nature's Finest Medicine). Hydroponically grown grass (no soil) can benefit from nutritional products such as liquid kelp and Ocean Grown. Both add a wealth of minerals that the roots absorb by osmosis. Similarly, soil gardeners can add fertilizer to enrich the soil.

Image Caption: Only 1-2 inches of soil is necessary for a successful crop.

Dr. Chiu-Nan Lai, of the University of Texas System Cancer Center, used soil-free wheatgrass in her research and still reported that "the inhibition of activation of potent carcinogens is quite strong at a reasonably low level of extract." And Robert Nees, former director of The Optimum Health Institute, the largest wheatgrass retreat center in the world, served hydroponic wheatgrass to his guests throughout the 1980's and reported there was no discernable difference. Again, the big picture is paramount to your decision - which approach fits best into your lifestyle? For more information about wheatgrass gardening and therapeutic usage, read Sproutman's Wheatgrass Nature's Finest Medicine.

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SPROUTMAN'S WHEATGRASS GROWER. HOW MUCH SEED FOR GROWING WHEATGRASS?

In my 10x16 inch tray, I use 1/2 lb of seed, which is approximately a little over 1 cup. This in turn yields about 12-16 ounces of juice. The actual yield varies depending on blade height, seed quality, and your gardening skills. Those last two items are crucial, so please take care. The growing chapter in my book WHEATGRASS NATURE'S FINEST MEDICINE is brimming with solid hands-on growing help, short cuts, headache solvers, and tips from the world's most successful growers.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FREEZE DRIED WHEATGRASS VS FRESH?

Freeze dried wheatgrass is made from the same grass as fresh, but it is more concentrated so it is nutritionally superior to its liquid self. But the fresh form of the juice is more bioactive so that makes it more therapeutic. Thus, one is a better vitamin and mineral supplement and the other is more appropriate if you are trying to restore your health from disease. That being said, there is some overlap. Both versions of the product will serve both roles to a certain extent. But now you know the strengths of each.

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SPROUT BAG VS. AUTOMATIC SPROUTER

Dear Sproutman: Why do I need to buy a sprout bag? Can't I just use a jar? I'm afraid your fabric sprouter will get moldy. Au Contrair my dear sproutlette, the jars often mold and the hemp is mold resistant! Jars have given sprouting a bad reputation. If you think about it, they were never meant to be used as a gardening tool. Plants need to breathe and jars have very limited air circulation. And they don't have adequate drainage. It's the incomplete drainage, stagnant air and excess water that promotes mold growth in jars. But you are right to be concerned about fabric molding. Many folks attache a cheesecloth with a rubber band to the mouth of the jar and it definitely breeds bacteria.

Jars are of course difficult to transport, are prone to breakage and accidents ruin your whole crop. They take up valuable kitchen space. And they're time consuming---4 steps; you fill up, pour out, tilt at an angle, and then drain. Avid sprouters have more than one variety growing at a time. But it's cumbersome to handle multiple jars and difficult to get hands in and out. Jars take up precious refrigerator and shelf space. Large jars take up gobs of room even though you may have only a few sprouts in them.

Sprout Bags on the other hand....Are Designed for sprouting. All sprouts get air. Good circulation prevents mold. 100% drainage without tilting or waiting. Water never collects. Saves time. Very convenient. Only 2 steps. Dip in water, hang on hook or knob. Or lay in dish rack or bowl. Lightweight, unbreakable. Great for traveling, camping, boating. Hemp fabric won't shrink or mold. Wide opening for easy handling. Holds equivalent to 3/4 gallon jar. Saves counter space. Saves refrigerator space. Bags expand and contract per volume. Sprout bags will sprout all varieties but are especially good for growing all grains, beans, and even gelatinous seeds.

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HOW ARE SPROUT BAGS MADE? ARE THEY ORGANIC? 

I came up with the idea for an alternative to jar sprouting in 1978. That's when I came out with the first ever fabric sprout bag. I view jars as a kind of modern mythology. I can't tell you exactly how this folklore started, but what I can tell you is that jars were never designed to be gardening tools. The problem is that their inadequate air circulation and insufficient drainage create the perfect environment for growing mold. On average, I find that only about 3 or 4 folks out of 10 are able to overcome the limitations of growing sprouts in jars, while 6 or 7 out of 10 quit sprouting altogether because they grow too much mold.

My first sprout bags were cotton. But cotton molded consistently so I switched to linen. Linen comes from the flax plant---a sister plant to hemp. I made flax bags for years until hemp became more fashionable and its price more affordable. Today, my sprout bags are made from hemp.

Some of the land where the hemp is grown is certified organic land. However, because there is not enough of certified land yet in Eastern Europe, some of the hemp fabric we use comes from non-certified land. So the hemp we use is grown on a mixture of organic certified and natural land. Hemp is a weed and weeds need no fertilizer. Never have. Hemp grows robustly as it has for thousands of years. Not only are agricultural chemicals not necessary, local farmers are too poor to spend money on them! The old ways of farming are good enough. But hemp is basically not "grown" by "farmers." It grows "wild" and is harvested.

The process of how the plant fibers are turned into thread is also not certified. This process is called "retting." It does not involve chemicals, anyway. The harvested hemps stalks are submerged in a stream for approximately 2 weeks. The fabric color varies from year to year precisely because of this retting process. The retted stalks or "straw" are then cured in the open air and light. The long woody portions are separated by rollers and by hand. Some of them are suitable for paper manufacturing. Others can be burned and used as fuel or made into wallboard for use in construction.

The warehouse where the bags are sewn is not a certified organic manufacturing facility. Even though the threads are spun and the bags are assembled without chemicals, the building and the work space is not organic. In fact, this section of the world still has very little consciousness about organic. And there is very little money available so changes come very slowly.

Therefore I cannot call this product organic. However, the product can be called "all natural" since there are no agricultural chemicals used in the growing, no chemicals used in the curing, the spinning of the thread, or the sewing of the bags. I don't even allow the use of simple starch during ironing. Hemp is a great agricultural product. It has been grown for thousands of years for fabric, construction, cord, and paper being the main uses. Industrial hemp has only minute amounts of THC, the psychoactive chemical that makes pot famous. It is a shame that fear and politics keep this plant illegal in America. A whole industry can be built around this renewable resource. In addition to the items listed above, hemp can be cultivated for its food value. The seed is deliciously nutty and is rich in protein and has a better balance of omega fatty acids than flaxseed oil. Farmers who used to grow tobacco, could be in business again because they have the perfect land and climate for growing hemp.

It is ironic that this useful crop is politically obnoxious when the U.S. Constitution itself was printed on paper made from hemp.

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WHEATGRASS - SOIL vs. NON-SOIL

Although wheatgrass is normally grown in open fields and during the 1960s was grown indoors using 1-2 inches of soil, grass can grow without soil. During the 1980's, one of the largest wheatgrass clinics in the world, grew their wheatgrass exclusively without soil. The Freshlife Automatic Sprouter allows the addition of additives to the water such as liquid seaweed fertilizer. A comparison between soil grown and soil-free wheatgrass can be found in Wheatgrass Nature's Finest Medicine.

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WHEATGRASS vs. WHEAT

Wheatgrass is a green vegetable. Wheat is a grain. The grain has gluten, the grass does not. Green vegetables do not contain gluten. Although grass was germinated from grain, it undergoes a complete transformation into a vegetable.

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WHICH SEED IN WHICH SPROUTER?

The sprout bag and the Freshlife Sprouters can both grow any seed. But some seeds prefer light. These are the ones to grow in the Freshlife Automatic Sprouter. They include buckwheat, radish, cabbage, broccoli, chives, alfalfa, clover, pea shoots, sunflower. These sprouts all develop green leaves. The sprout bag is ideal for growing bean sprouts which do not develop greens, such as garbanzo, lentils, all grain sprouts, pea sprouts.

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ORGANIC SEEDS

Being organically grown does not make seeds automatically good for sprouting. While we spend quite a bit of time sourcing organic seeds, we still test every batch to find the varieties that are the best sprouters. Organic certification only indicates the growing methods used by the farmer. It does not indicate a seed's germination, rate of growth, size, taste, color, or sproutability. We test for these attributes which are important to the sprout consumer.

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BASKETS


        Baskets are beautiful. I miss sprouting in baskets. They were simple and sublime. I first invented the basket sprouter back in 1977, and I sprouted in them for over 20 years. I used to order 24,000 baskets at a time and they were custom made to my specifications. However, in 1996, I discontinued ordering baskets because their manufacture in China had become fraught with insurmountable problems.

        Don't forget, these are hand crafted items. They are made one at a time and as such, there were numerous "quality control" issues. We were forced to examine every shipment, basket by basket…oy! that's 24,000 checks! We discovered (at great expense) that 3-4 out of every 10 baskets had too many large spaces between the weaves and too many sprouting seeds would fall through the cracks. Customers complained and no matter how many times we tried, we could not get the consistency we needed. If that was not bad enough, the quality of manufacture had also deteriorated and many baskets started to unravel after a few uses. Then there was the issue of fumigants. More and more shipments were gassed and it became too difficult to circumvent this practice. After years of frustration, and losses of thousands of baskets, it became economically unfeasible to continue importing baskets for sprouting.

 If you still want to use baskets for sprouting, you can. You can find them at most Asian food and Oriental supply stores. Or look in oriental furniture and gift stores. Try to obtain bamboo baskets that are free of shellac. Look for bamboo with a bread basket style weave.

NEW AND BETTER ALTERNATIVES
If you want to try something new, may I suggest two alternatives…

Take a look at my "Freshlife Automatic Sprouter". It is currently the best selling automatic sprouter in the world (sold in 13 countries)! It grows every vegetable sprout including wheatgrass, and saves you a lot of time and effort. If you decide to buy one of them, I would like to extend a discount coupon to you, just because you are a basket lover. Take $10 OFF. Just apply this coupon code at checkout CL12FL2.

Don’t want automatic watering? Try my Freshlife Hand Watering Sprouter. You get the same fabulous results and same money because you water it yourself twice per day. Use coupon code CL12FL1 at checkout.

Another great sprouter and super affordable is my "Hemp Sprouting Bag." These bags are the best way to grow all "bean" and "grain" sprouts. They last for years and unlike jars, do not create the conditions that cause mold and mildew.

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SALMONELLA and E-COLI

All our seeds have been diligently spot tested for Salmonella and E-coli with special equipment Every sack of seed has a 25 gram sample drawn and tested. While this is not a fool-proof guarantee, it has a 99% potential to catch contaminated seed. Since the salmonella scares of the late 1990's, all the different players in the seed industry have set in place safeguards and sprouts today are arguably the safest fresh food in the marketplace. Keep in mind, there are 8 million cases of food borne poisoning in the USA each year. In the sprout industry, there have been 1639 cases----not in one year, but over the entire 40 year history of the commercial sprout industry. In addition, it may be of some comfort to know that there has never been a case of salmonella from home-grown sprouts.

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HOME DECONTAMINATION OF SEED

Decontamination of seed is an optional procedure, but in the Freshlife Automatic Sprouter, it is too easy to pass up. Just add a few drops of grapefruit seed extract to the reservoir.

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USES DIRTY RECYCLED WATER?

Does your Freshlife Automatic Sprouter use dirty, recycled water?

No, but it is true that this was also my first concern. In theory, it would seem to be true, but in practice, it is a non-issue. Here's why. We change the water once per day in this machine which keeps it plenty clean, plus the machine is constantly aerating the water which how reservoirs and ozonators naturally clean water. In the Freshlife, dirty water is very visible, so it is an instant reminder signalling you to change it. If this were the case, Freshlife users would see mold, mildew and we'd get lots of returns. But this is definitely not the case. In fact, the Freshlife has become the #1 selling sprouter in the world (now in 16 countries). That success could not be accomplished with a machine producing dirty, moldy water.

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SPROUTING QUINOA

I like Quinoa as a grain. It is a great nutritional seed. But I do not promote it as a sprout for three reasons: 1) It is hard to acquire the right form of the unhulled seed. Health food stores don't sell it. 2) If you are willing to invest the time to track down the right seed, often the germination is too low for successful sprouts. That leads to potential mold and rot problems, which I consider unsafe in the raw state. 3) Lastly, the sprout from 3 day old Qunioa is a relatively insignificant shoot. Not a lot of food or flavor. If you do grow it for 7 days it turns into a red grass which too chewy to eat. This grain is ready to eat with only very light cooking. I feel that this is the most practical way to include the benefits of quinoa in your diet.

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SPROUTING FLAXSEED

Flaxseed sprouts are very high in oxalic acid (which binds calcium) and because of that, they have an extremely bitter taste. If that wasn't discouragement enough, they are also gelatinous, which makes them hard to manage for most home sprouters. Also, one of the main benefits of flax, its soft fiber, which is great for soothing and cleansing the intestinal wall, disappears during germination. Flax is a wonderful seed with many health benefits and I offer many recipes for it in my book Power Juices Super Drinks and Juice Fasting and Detoxification. But for reasons above, I don't recommend sprouting flax.

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HOW TO TEST YOUR SPROUTING SEED

Unfortunately, "organically grown" only defines a method of agriculture. It does not guarantee good sprouts. For that, you need to test your seed. There is no shortcut around this. The best sprouting seeds out there can be bought by companies who are in the sprouting business. They (hopefully) are using the seed they sell. That is usually insurance that you are buying good seed. To test seed yourself.....

1) Sprout the seed in a sprout bag for 3 days.

2) After 3 days, spread the seeds out on a towel and look at how many have sprouted.

3) If virtually all seeds have visible shoots and roots, then the seed is good. If many seeds do not, then this is a bad crop of seed that will generate mold upon sprouting.

It is also possible that this was once a good crop of seeds that was improperly stored or is just too old.

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WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR SEEDS AND HEALTH FOOD STORE SEEDS?

They're both organic, right? Organic is something I am totally dedicated to and always have been. But organic only defines a method of agriculture. Organic oats or organic barley found in the health food stores, for example, are totally useless for sprouting. For the most part, health food stores provide grains and beans for cooking, not for sprouting. After all, it is not a gardening store.

What about when a health food store sells alfalfa or mung? True, they sell these seeds for customers who want to sprout them. But these are just commodities to the large distributors who sell thousands of items to health food and natural grocery stores nationwide. They don't bother to test-sprout the seeds, or check their germination, or run tests for salmonella or e-coli contamination. I know; I've tried to sell to these distributors. Price is their overall purchasing criteria.

On the other hand, a sprouting company must use its seed. It must grow them and sell the grown sprouts to its customers. If those grown sprouts don't look good, taste good, and perform trouble-free during the sprouting process, then a professional sprouter cannot afford to use them. You can probably understand, that all alfalfa seeds are not equal. Some grow taller and faster. Some create mold, others don't. Some have 96% germination, some have 86% germination. Some taste bitter, some sweet. Some are prone to root rot, others are resistant. And some may be contaminated with rodent droppings from the fields! If you are a professional sprouter, you are keen to check for all these conditions.

But that's not all, even if the large distributors happen to get lucky and buy great seed by accident, that seed often lives in bulk bins at health foods stores for months. During that time it is absorbing moisture from the air, and is being exposed to light, heat, and oxidation. Germination is depreciated by all these elements. Good sprouting seed must be protected by sealed packaging for best results. Buy your sprouting seed from a sprouting seed company. It may cost more but you will have a delightful, headache-free experience and your diet will be enriched by some of the worlds finest, living foods.

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HOW DO I STORE MY NEW SPROUTING SEEDS?

Seeds need to be kept cool and dry. Steady temperaturerncontrol is better than large swings of seasonal high and low temps. But somernseeds lose germination more than others even under the best of conditions. Sornunless you are preparing for an around the world boat trip, I recommend yournonly buy enough seeds to last you a few months at a time. Most seeds that yournhave purchased within the past year are likely to be good. Although you mayrnhave heard that some seeds such as alfalfa can last for many years, that isrnonly true under the best of storage conditions. Moisture, air (oxidation),rnheat, and light are the enemies of seed.

rnWhen you receive your seeds, remove them from their package and store them in arnsealed jar. Make sure there is a rubber gasket to create a perfect seal insidernthe lid. Keep moisture out at all costs. Store that jar in a dark, cool place.rnRefrigerator? Yes, if you have the space, but make sure they are placed in a moisturernproof container. Refrigeration is beneficial, but not required. Freezing seedsrnis also okay for most seeds but not for all. For more details, read the storagernsection of¬ Sprouts the Miracle Food.

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Bugs and Sprouting Seeds

Once you enter the world of agriculture sooner or later you will have to deal with the problem of bugs. These could be fruit flies flying around your wheatgrass or grain bugs hatching out of improperly stored grains and beans. No doubt about it; this is a pesky problem! People have been battling bugs since the beginning of civilization and still with all our technology, there is no fast and easy fix. But here are a few things you can do.

If the Bugs Are in Your Seeds

First house your grains and beans in a sealed container with a moisture proof lid and store it in a cool location. The closer you can get to 60 degrees, the longer they will last. Bugs hatch in warm temperatures. You may have larvae in your seeds. You can't see them and you can't screen them out. Don't even think about their existence else you'll never be able to eat anything again. Try freezing a batch of seeds in a thick, moisture proof bag or jar. Leave it in the freezer for 24-48 hours.

If the Bugs Are Flying Around your Kitchen

Wheatgrass can attract fruit flies. First eliminate all openly displayed fruit. Remove all the foods where they congregate including the wheatgrass trays. After you remove the food source for the fruit flies, you have a few choices on how to eradicate them. The easiest is to shop around at your local hardware store for the different commercial products. I like the kind that contain attractants that lure the bugs and trap them. If you are so inclined, you could create your own trap using things like vinegar, beer, and honey. Another, more difficult alternative is to flush out the room cold air and fans. I once chilled, fanned, and refreshed my New York City kitchen for about an hour in the Wintertime. (I was desperate.) But it worked! - Sproutman

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WHAT KIND OF PLASTIC IS USED IN THE FRESHLIFE

The water barrel and sprout barrel are made out of Styrene Acetylonitrile Resin (SAN), and the water tubes and trays are made out of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). Both of these materials are US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for food contact. I don't trust that government agency for much, but I think this plastic is as good as it gets. However, if you search the internet, you can find some negative information on these materials, and also on Polycarbonate which is considered the best of the best (it is the bluish heavy grade plastic water tank you see in office water coolers.)

I have also read that whatever material is used as a container, plastics, paper, fibers, etc &, that they all leach chemicals into the water at some point in time. Is that years? or months? Of course, that does not apply to the Freshlife where the water is changed daily. But I remember reading that SAN leaches 5 - 15 ppb (part per billion) of Styrene. I am told FDA approves materials with a maximum of 30 ppm (parts per million). By that yardstick, we are at a very safe level. When you get into talking at these parts per billion levels, there are so many things in our environment that affect us at that level. Even certified organic food has been found to contain traces of pesticides in parts per billion from ambient air and water pollution. In my opinion, at this level, it is the equivalent to our daily dose of air and water pollution, or the ambient radiation from overhead electrical wires, televisions, x-rays when flying on airliners and ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

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HOW TO PURGE A CLOGGED FRESHLIFE

Is your Freshlife motor not turning? making noise? The motor can get clogged by calcification from hard water or by residue matter from the seeds. If this is the case, you can clear the motor easily yourself. Here is the procedure.

Pour 2 quarts of hot water into the water barrel. Use only the water barrel. No other blue tubes, no lids or any other parts--just the open topped water barrel, only. The temperature of the water is important to the success of this cleaning. The hot water temperature should be approximately 150 degrees. Do not pour in boiling water (210 degrees) because it may harm the plastic. If you do not have a thermometer, then make the water approximately the temperature of a hot cup of coffee or tea---just a little too hot to drink. The hot water dislodges the sediment that clogs the motor.

Pour in the hot water, then immediately plug in the unit and run it for approximately 3 minutes.

If this technique is successful, you will see the water clouding up with released sediment and an increase in the whirlpool of water coming out of the motor. When you see cloudy water, stop and refill the barrel with fresh hot water and repeat the process. Repeat until the water appears clear for full 3 minutes and the motor creates a vigorous whirlpool. That is how you know that you have successfully cleared the obstruction.

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FRESHLIFE WARRANTY REPAIR SERVICE

If this procedure does not result in normal operation, contact the manufacturer for warranty service. Include the serial number on the bottom of the machine. If your unit has to be returned for replacement, you have the option of returning the unit or you can just return the motor itself (a much smaller package). The motor is revealed by unscrewing the three tiny screws around the skirt, about 2.5 inches up from the bottom of the sprouter. Contact Tribest toll-free at 888-254-7336, or 562-623-7150. Or via email at service@Tribest.com and follow their instructions.

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How Much Electricity does the Automatic Sprouter use?

Sproutman's Freshlife Automatic Sprouter operates on a small 8 watt fish tank motor. But it uses an average of 5 watts per hour because its rest time (off) is approximately 20-30 minutes per hour. This is equivalent to a night light. So, electricity consumption is not an issue with these machines. If you do the math, the average Freshlife sprouter uses the equivalent of a single 100 watt light in your house being on for a little more than one hour.

Wouldn't it be nice if the Freshlife's ran on solar energy? Unfortunately, that's not a likelihood. But if you wish your Freshlife was not electric, that is possible right now. Just visit our Hand Watering Freshlife Sprouter page now.

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Sprouter Waters Too Much?

Many folks are concerned that the automatic sprouter waters too much. The ON TIME is usually about 10 minutes and the off time only 5 minutes. But it is NOT on a timer. The motor shuts off when it gets too hot. So the on and off times will vary and can be influenced by the temperature of your water and your kitchen. The machine was modeled after the commercial sprouting machines which water every two minutes for 60 seconds. The effect is to increase the sprouts rate of growth. Too much water would be a worry if the water accumulated and if there was insufficient air circulation. But these machines are designed with excellent drainage and aeration. There is never any risk of mold or mildew and most varieties mature about one day faster than with hand watering.

Nevertheless, if you are NOT COMFORTABLE with the frequency of the watering, just plug it in for an hour say around breakfast time and then another hour at around dinnertime. Or whenever you're in your kitchen, just turn it off and then on again when you think of it. As long as there are two watering periods each day, you're good. Just know that if you leave it plugged in all day, your sprouts will be fine and in fact will grow a little faster. For those of you who don't like the idea of automatic watering at all, check out our "Hand Watering Freshlife Sprouter."

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Basic Instructions for Sprouting in a Sprout Bag

1. Soak your seeds in a jar of pure water overnight. (about 8 hours).

2. Moisten the bag and pour the soaked seeds in. Rinse and hang the bag on a hook or knob or lay in dish rack. Dripping stops in about one minute

3. Rinse sprouts by dipping the bag in water for 30 seconds, twice daily, morning and evening.

Commentary: Sprout bags travel well, they never break and since they drain on all sides and breathe throughout, mold and mildew are rare.

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Basic Instructions for Sprouting in Vertical Sprouter

1. Soak your seeds in a jar of pure water overnight. (about 8 hours).

2. Pour the the soaked seeds onto the sprouting tray. Cover the sprouter so the enclosure provides a greenhouse effect.

3. Rinse by showering the seeds with fresh water twice per day. Try not to dislodge the seeds with the force of the rinse water. Allow the seedlings to root themselves into the small holes of the growing tray.

Commentary: Vertical sprouters are ideal for green leafy sprouts such as vegetable seeds (radish, cabbage, broccoli, sunflower, etc.) Make sure your sprouter has enough vertical space for tall sprouts such as sunflower, which can grow 8-10 inches tall.

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Basic Instructions for Sprouting in a Jar

Commentary from Sproutman I discourage the use the jars for sprouting. While they are cheap and available, they were never designed to be gardening tools. In fact, they are the #1 cause of sprouting problems. This is because they create a perfect environment for the growth of mold. They don't drain adequately, or breath sufficiently. Mold and mildew growth are common in jars because of these limitations. I invented the fabric sprout bag as a substitute for jars.

1. Soak your seeds in a jar of pure water overnight (about 8 hours).

2. Pour out the soaking water through a strainer affixed to the top of the jar.

3. Lay in dish rack or dishwasher rack at an angle with the top of the jar leaning slightly down. 4. Rinse with fresh water twice per day. Jars are ideal for bean and grain sprouts which take 3-5 days to mature.

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How to Choose Between Juicers? The Differences between a Single Gear Juicer (SoloStar) vs. a Twin Gear Juicer (GreenStar).

Both of these are high-end juicers and no one should be disappointed with either of these machines, no matter what the situation. Which one you ultimately choose will be determined by your personal preferences regarding the factors below. Please review them and form your own decision.

Price: SoloStar is approximately $200 less than the price of the GreenStar juicer.

Assembly/Cleanup: SoloStar is easier and faster in assembly and disassembly than the GreenStar but only by a few minutes.

Wheatgrass: The GreenStar juices wheatgrass faster than the SoloStar and produces a little less foam.

Vegetables and Fruits: Both machines do virtually the same good job with a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

Nutrition: It is generally believed that the GreenStar has a slight nutritional advantage over the SoloStar.

Speed: Both machines operate at the same slow, friction and oxidation-free 80 revolutions per minute.

Materials: The GreenStar has two stainless-steel gears while the SoloStar has one melamine gear or auger. The GreenStar also contains magnets and ceramics within its blades that are designed to influence the juice at the molecular level and extends its longevity.

Size: The GreenStar weighs 28 lbs. The SoloStar weighs 22 lbs.

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Sproutman Says TURN YOUR JUICER INTO A MEDICINE CHEST

Hear Sproutman Steve Meyerowitz talk about the healing properties of raw vegetable juice.


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