The Wheatgrass Grower

DAISY CENTERPIECE

2010-07-20T11:09:00.001-04:00

A little something for the summer table. Done up in a 7" glass square, this wheatgrass centerpiece was cut-to-fit and garnished with daisies and baby's breath. Add a taper as a perfect centerpiece for the dinner table, or insert table tags as centerpieces for large events. This one will be on display at our "Free Shots" table for tonight's 6:30pm showing of the movie FRESH at the Waverly Community House in Waverly, PA.

SUMMERTIME WATERING TIPS

2010-07-07T06:11:00.002-04:00

The fact that my sales seem to rise in the summertime reminds me of an issue we all wish didn't exist: mold. Many home-growers just give up the ship and order from professional growers when the summertime hits because they just can't take the heat from moldy crops due to high humidity. Truth be told, even in my climate-controlled growing room, the threat of mold is an issue I still need to deal with due to constant outdoor heat and humidity beating at my door. It taxes the air and dehumidification systems, raises my electric bill and general operating costs, and reminds me that if there's one thing I can do to help make the situation better, that would be to WATER LESS.

Optimal humidity level for growing wheatgrass is between 40 and 60 percent. I tend to shoot for 50 percent. In the wintertime, I actually need to introduce humidification to the room because I cannot even reach 35 percent. In the summertime, without dehumidification, my growing room could easily reach 90 percent. At a 50-55 percent humidity level, I have found that a LIGHT watering once daily is just enough to keep the grass turgid but not produce root rot and its concurrent mold. You'll know you're overwatering if you lift that mat of grass and find brown circles as opposed to a nice clean white root system.

At humidity levels over 60 percent, you may only need to water your grass once every two days. Sometimes if I know I will be away for a couple days in the summer and will have to miss a day of watering, I use this knowledge to my benefit and turn down the dehumidification system to run at about 65 percent room humidity, but I'll never press it beyond that. Generally speaking, room humidity at 70 percent and above for more than 12 hours once the grass has already grown an inch or two high can ultimately result in crop failure, so I try at all costs to make sure that never happens.

If root rot and the mold it attracts seem to be bringing down your summer grass-growing ambitions, why not make a small investment in a hygrometer to help you manage your watering needs? If you grow your grass on tiered racks, invest in several hygrometers--one for each shelf. Remember that each shelf has its own microclimate.

If constant climate problems are not only bringing you down but driving you nuts, you may want to take that next step in your growing career and make a larger investment in a portable all-in-one system for your growing area. Before I made the ultimate investment in a dedicated growing room, this type of unit served me well in all seasons and still serves as a backup for me if anything on my larger units fail.

Good luck and happy growing! Remember, when it comes to summertime watering, sometimes less is more!

THE GREEN BANANA

2010-07-06T18:25:00.005-04:00

Here's a little recipe to put that electric juicer of yours to good use. I used my beloved Omega 8005 all-purpose juicer.

Perfect on a sweltering hot summer day (like today), this green ice cream recipe is about as natural as ice cream gets. It doesn't melt nearly as fast as regular ice cream, and it's so much healthier for you!

THE GREEN BANANA

1/2 ounce fresh wheatgrass juice
4 ounces frozen overripe bananas

Juice wheatgrass and set aside. Remove pulp residue from auger and juicing cups. Swap out strainer piece on juicer for its solid attachment. Press frozen bananas through the juicer into the juicing cup. Gently fold wheatgrass juice into the frozen, pressed bananas with a fork. Place serving dish at the end of the attachment and send the banana-wheatgrass mixture through the juicer again for a smooth, consistent blend. Add a few sprigs of wheatgrass for garnish.

It's a lot easier than it sounds and really only takes a few minutes. The final taste is truly that of a refreshingly cold unripened banana.

WHEATGRASS-LAVENDER CENTERPIECE

2010-04-19T11:16:00.002-04:00

I had the pleasure of providing centerpieces for a USANA Spa Party yesterday afternoon. Easy to grow and decorate, these simple centerpieces provide classic spa ambience to any room. Fill a 10" round glass dish (purchased at Michael's) to 1" from the top with a 3 parts soil/1 part peat moss mix. Sprinkle soil evenly with 2/3 cup Hard Spring Wheat Berries purchased from Wheatgrasskits.com (first soaked in water for 8 hours). Lightly water seeds after sprinkling on the soil. Cover loosely with plastic wrap. Water lightly once daily each morning. Remove plastic wrap when grass reaches the height of the plastic and continue to water lightly once daily each morning. Keep under an even light source, NOT in direct sunlight. Remember that grass will tend to lean toward its light source, so your best bet for centerpieces is to keep them under a flourescent shop light, preferably full spectrum. Grass reaches optimal centerpiece height at around 4-5". A general rule of thumb to know when to start soaking your seeds for your event is to allow one extra day for every inch. For example, if you want your grass to be about 5" high for your event, plan to start soaking your seeds 6 days before the event. If you want your grass to be about 6" high, start your seeds 7 days before the event. Remember that wheatgrass will not start taking on that lush, thick look until around day 5, so you really don't have the option to plan for anything shorter than a 4" grass. It will start to yellow and grow weak past day 10, so it shouldn't be planted too early either. This particular centerpiece was finished off with dried lavender sprigs from last summer's garden.

ORANGE WHEATZINGER RECIPE

2010-04-05T13:18:00.001-04:00

Here's a drink I love at any time of day. Very simple to make, and the energy boost is almost instantaneous. It actually makes my body tingle...but I can only speak for myself. Orange juice alone and wheatgrass juice alone just cannot do for me what these two ingredients can do together. Try it and post back your thoughts on this flavor combo.

ORANGE WHEATZINGER

1 ounce fresh wheatgrass juice
4 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice (pasteurized just does not have the same kick)

Pour orange juice over ice to give it a quick chill, then add the wheatgrass juice. The temperature difference is what separates the color and makes for an attractive drink.

GOT FOAM?

2010-04-01T05:03:00.003-04:00

Foam in your wheatgrass juice is caused by phytonutrients called saponins. Saponins are natural foaming agents that are added to things like beer and root beer to create a stable, frothy head. Your first instinct may be to spoon the foam from your wheatgrass juice, but think twice. Saponins from most plants have beneficial effects on cholesterol, cancer, bone health, and the immune system.

Sunflower Greens Recipe

2010-03-25T20:24:00.001-04:00

In addition to wheatgrass, The Wheatgrass Grower also sells scrumptious sunflower greens. Here is one of my favorite recipes:

THE SUNNY CAESAR
1- 5.5 Oz. package Wheatgrass Grower Sunflower Greens
1 small clove of garlic, pressed
2 Tbsp Cardini's Caesar Salad Dressing
Freshly ground pepper
1 tsp sunflower seeds
Shaved Parmesan cheese

Lightly toss sunflower greens, garlic, and dressing in large bowl. Do not use hands so as not to soften the tender greens. Transfer to serving plate. Add freshly ground pepper and sunflower seeds. Top with shaved Parmesan cheese.

Wheatgrass Grower Sunflower Greens can be purchased online at www.wheatgrassgrower.com or in Clarks Summit, PA, at Caravia Fresh Foods and Everything Natural.

Upcoming Event: Buy Fresh Buy Local Northeast Screening of "FRESH"

2010-01-07T19:00:00.002-05:00

Buy Fresh Buy Local Northeast Region
Presents an Exclusive Screening of the Movie

"FRESH"

"FRESH celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are reinventing our food system."

Friday, January 22, 2010
7:00pm
The University of Scranton
Moskowitz Theater, 4th Floor, The DeNaples Center

WHEATGRASS GROWER products will be showcased along with free wheatgrass shots!

Buy Fresh Buy Local Member Admission $3.00
General Admission $5.00
Student Admission Free

Online Ordering of Fresh Greens Available Again at Wheatgrassgrower.com

2009-12-18T09:50:00.001-05:00

Well, it's been a while since I've tended to the blog, mainly because I've been tending to the business website in preparation for the new year, and I'm happy to announce that ONLINE ORDERING IS AVAILABLE ONCE AGAIN FOR OUR FRESH WHEATGRASS AND SUNFLOWER GREENS. First shipments will not go out until the week of January 11, 2010, but place your order early so that we can carefully plan our growing schedule for that week. When demand exceeds supply, we are forced to delay some shipments until the following week. Our online ordering system is secured by GoDaddy.com for credit card processing, and we take all major credit cards. Credit cards are not processed, however, until your order is ready to be shipped.

One of the exciting new items we have to offer in 2010 is a smaller 5 1/2 ounce option packaged in a clear biodegradable clamshell for retail sale. Visit the main website for more information by clicking on our company logo in the sidebar.

Young Living in Your Wheatgrass Operation

2009-11-20T06:51:00.002-05:00

by Ellen McGlynn

Dear readers, I wanted to give a plug to an organization that was introduced to me several years ago and whose products were of such high quality and so personally effective, I began to incorporate them into my business operating procedures. That company is Young Living, maker of high-quality essential oils and aromatherapy products. In particular, I was blown away by Young Living’s Thieves line of products, which has grown substantially in just a few short years because of its popularity—no doubt because of its EFFECTIVENESS.

The Young Living Thieves blend is an organic mix of clove, cinnamon bark, lemon, eucalyptus, and rosemary that provides enormous anti-viral and anti-bacterial protection. It is also shown to eliminate mold growth. Wheatgrass Growers…you know what I’m talking about! I run the Young Living diffuser in my growing room and even created a power wash system for cleaning my growing trays using an inline fertilizer system containing Thieves Household Cleaner. I use the spray and wipes for cleaning tabletop surfaces, and I keep the foaming soap next to my sinks.

Over the years, I have dabbled with creating my own "Thieves" blend using other less-expensive oils, but there is just no substitute for what Young Living has to offer. The minute you smell their products, you know you are getting the highest quality botanicals you can find. And the proof is in the pudding. Thieves has become the #1 choice of environmentally-safe herbal cleaning and medicinal product in my home and business for years now because it WORKS.

Because I rely so heavily on Thieves, it only made sense to sign on as a distributor of Young Living products to receive the 24% product discount for my business. You may also want to consider doing the same for yours. Visit my Young Living Distributor website at www.youngliving.org/emcglynn and try Thieves for yourself! For future reference, you can find my Young Living link easily in the Favorite Links section of The Wheatgrass Grower sidebar. To order products from Young Living, you will need to provide a referring distributor number. Ours here is 885987, and I would love to be your sponsor. I would also love to hear your experiences using Thieves products!

Planting Your Wheat Berries: To Sprout or Not to Sprout

2009-11-19T13:30:00.006-05:00

by Ellen McGlynn

With your soil all in check now and your HARD RED WINTER WHEAT BERRIES ready to go (you can order them online through our website or find them in your local health food store), there are just a few more simple rules to follow before you start growing your own wheatgrass. While these rules are pretty standard for any wheatgrass growing “how-to,” I do want to elaborate on some of the timing requirements involved in getting your wheat berries from bag to tray. If you start growing wheatgrass with any regular frequency, you’re going to find that sometimes it’s not as easy as it sounds to meet those little 8-12 hour “deadlines,” and it’s nice to know what to expect when you either CAN’T or DON’T meet them.

Guidelines for a successful crop:

1. Measure 1½ cups of wheat berries in a one-quart sprouting jar (sprouting lids are available through our website, or you can use cheesecloth under a threaded ring on a canning jar).

2. Place sprouting lid on your jar before adding water so that the berries won’t spill out as you fill the jar.

3. Fill jar almost completely with water and shake well (with hand over lid) to give those berries a good rinse. Drain, and then fill the jar again right to the top.

4. Let the wheat berries soak for 8 to 12 hours.

5. After 8 to 12 hours, drain your soaked seeds, and fill the jar again with clean water to rinse. I have a high-pressure sink attachment that allows me to really agitate those plump soaked wheat berries and irrigate them well with clean water, so if you have a good hose attachment on your sink, you may find it a real plus when it comes to rinsing seeds at this stage.

6. Drain jar of all water and set in a dark, warm location (at least room temperature) to sprout. If you’re just doing one jar, simply set your jar in a draining position in a large bowl that will keep the jar inclined. Cover the bowl with a towel or plastic sheet so that the seeds do not dry out. If using plastic, do not cover the bowl so tightly that air cannot get in.

7. After 8 -12 hours of sprouting, little white tails will begin to protrude from the berries. Sprinkle your sprouted wheat berries in an even layer on top of (NOT mixed into) approximately 1 inch of soil (roughly two quarts) in your 10” x 20” tray. (See last week's posting on soil amendments).

8. Gently water tray to give it a good initial soak, top with a humidity dome, and then set in a 70-75 degree location out of direct sunlight. If you are also able to manage your room humidity, 40 to 60 percent humidity is the acceptable range.

9. Water your wheat sprouts once daily (preferably in the morning), and you should have a full-grown 9” grass ready to harvest in nine days from the time you first put water to wheat berry.

10. Wheatgrass is most nutritious on Days 9 and 10, so harvest it all at once about 1” from the root, and store it in a bag with a small hole for “breathing” in the crisper bin of your refrigerator. One tray should produce approximately one pound of cut grass. Use as needed. Cut grass should last for one to two weeks in the refrigerator if stored properly.

Now, back to the growing. What happens if you don’t have time to soak your wheat berries, or what if you lose track of time and end up soaking your wheat berries for more than 12 hours? What if you have time to soak your wheat berries, but you don’t have time to sprout them? All good questions. I’ve been forced to “handle the consequences” myself many times and know where it’s okay to cut corners, and where it is not.

First of all, let me state that it’s entirely possible to grow wheatgrass without soaking the wheat berries at all (if you water them well, keep them misted several times a day, and covered), BUT I must make you aware that there are different microclimates even within a single tray, and because of that, not all wheat berries will sprout at exactly the same time. In particular, the ones on the edges of the tray will tend to sprout later and will be affected by cooler temperatures more than the ones in the middle, resulting in delayed or retarded growth. Likewise, not all wheat berries are created equal, and some require just a tad bit of extra soaking time to get them into the sprouting stage. Some wheat berries may not even sprout at all for any number of reasons. Unsprouted wheat berries in moist locations can cause seriously moldy conditions. So, while it is possible to throw dry wheat berrries on the soil and come up with a half-decent crop, you may ultimately not get the best looking end-product.

Next, what if you don’t have time to soak your wheat berries even for 8 hours? Soak it as for as long as you can. Anything is better than not soaking at all. Then either go directly to applying your wheat berries to a nice moist soil, or keep them in the jar for sprouting if time permits. Be forewarned, however, that you will probably have a slightly uneven crop resulting in lower crop yield or an unsightly presentation.

What if you oversoak your wheat berries? DANGER ZONE. Try, try, TRY not to go over the 12-hour mark. Fourteen, tops! The smell of fermentation is the first sign that you’ve oversoaked your wheat berries and are not going to have a good crop. What you’ll get is a little germination and a LOT of mold, so save yourself the time and soil right from the start and consider it a lost crop. [Below top: Top view of mold developing on oversoaked wheat berries on Day 4; Below bottom: Top view of healthy grass planted on same day].

Can you just soak but not sprout your wheat berries in the jar? Yes. And you will still get a nice crop. BUT, keep in mind those little microclimates in the tray I mentioned earlier. Keeping the tray covered with a moisture dome in a nice warm location (even just a higher shelf in a room), will help get all of your wheat berries sprouting at the same time so that you can enjoy a fine, healthy looking, even crop in the end.

In summary, to get the BEST end-product, follow the 10-step process I outlined at the outset of this article. If you have to cut corners, at least soak your seeds for the allotted time and then just let them do their sprouting in the soil. As for not soaking the wheat berries at all or only soaking them for a short time, you’re taking a chance. If you happen to oversoak, START OVER.

As a final note, I highly recommend growing in trays with humidity domes. Humidity domes are cheap, they clean up easily, and they do a great job of helping your wheat berries sprout and grow evenly. Sometimes even a slight draft in the early stages of your wheatgrass development can affect the uniformity of the tray. Many articles and books recommend sprouting your young grass under cover in a dark location, but I have sprouted my wheat berries under the bright clear cover of humidity domes, and the grass not only grows well but greens up as soon as it is able. This is especially desired when using low grass for floral arrangements. When I used to sprout under dark tarps, I would run into the problem of sometimes not making the deadline to uncover my sprouts, and then I’d end up with yellow tinted grass that just never greened up fully.

So, now that you pretty much know all my secrets for growing a high-quality grass, good luck on growing your own wheatgrass, and please feel free to post any questions. That's what I'm here for.

Stop back again next week for some yummy wheatgrass recipes.

Simple Soil Chemistry and Organic Amendments for your Wheatgrass Crop

2009-11-12T10:45:00.002-05:00

by Ellen McGlynn

So you've selected a soil that looks pretty good and now you want to get soaking those wheat berries and growing that wheatgrass. Right? Stop! Chances are, your wheat berries will sprout and grow acceptably well in the soil you've chosen if you've followed the guidelines in my previous post, but it's always a good idea to test your soil first for basic nutrients in order to optimize your wheatgrass' growing and nutritional potential. (Organic soil amendments pictured far left to right: volcanic ash, bone meal, dried blood, lime).

As I’ve mentioned before, when purchasing your soil, make the effort to buy all of your bagged soil from the same pallet. This logic extends now to the second phase of the testing process, where you will want to test for macronutrients only once with a genuine soil testing kit and be pretty sure that the same test results can be applied to all of the soil in your new stock.

Now, with so many basic soil testing kits on the market, which one should you choose? If you recall back in one of my earlier posts, I waxed on about a certain EPA issue in my back yard. Well, I used my time well with those folks and had a nice chat about what they considered to be a good quality soil testing kit for my growing ambitions. Their recommendation was La Motte. La Motte kits are more expensive than the Rapitests you’re likely to find at your local garden center, but an impressive little soil testing kit from La Motte can still be had for under $70 online. I bought mine from the Biocontrol Network website. Complete with two highly informational soil manuals and a companion CD, this little recipe box full of test tubes and solutions to measure your soil’s pH and macronutrients is a must for any serious gardener's greenhouse.

Starting with the pH, a measurement of your soil’s acidity or alkalinity, you will want to make sure that your wheatgrass soil measures on the slightly acid side. Every plant has its optimal growing pH, and wheat’s optimal pH is between 6.0 and 7.0. I once had a client who followed a strictly alkaline diet and was very reactive to even slightly-acidic foods. She was not too pleased to learn that I grew my wheatgrass in a slightly acid soil despite my justifications for doing so. I lost the customer, but my position on soil acidity still stands strong. Wheatgrass grows best in a slightly acid soil measuring around 6.5. I know this from growing thousands of wheatgrass trays. Without a proper soil pH, even the most nutritious soil will not live up to its full potential. This slight acidity is necessary for the grass to assimilate not only the macronutrients in the soil--the potassium, phosphorous, and nitrogen--but also the micronutrients such as iron and zinc. If your soil is too alkaline at 7.0 or greater, you will want to add peat moss to lower the pH. If your soil is too acid, measuring below 6.0, you will want to add pulverized lime to help “sweeten” it. Lime is typically a slow-acting soil amendment, so the more highly pulverized, the more fast-acting it will be, which is what you want since tray-grown wheatgrass only has about nine days of soil contact. One level teaspoon per 10” x 20” tray should be sufficient.

Next on the importance scale is Nitrogen. Nitrogen is responsible for wheatgrass’ notoriously green color. My favorite choice for greening has always been to mix my deficient soil with one part bagged composted manure—NOT fresh manure. Adding fresh manure will “burn” your grass, and it's just not an acceptable practice to add fresh manure to low-lying edible crops in the same growing season. For nitrogen-deficient soil, you may alternately want to consider adding a level teaspoon of dried blood per tray or, if the thought of adding dried beef and pork blood to your wheatgrass turns your stomach (as it does mine), a teaspoon of alfalfa meal. Suffice it to say, simply substituting composted manure for one-fourth of my regular soil mix has always provided an ample nitrogen fix.

Next we move on to Phosphorous. Phosphorous promotes strong root growth in your wheatgrass and helps it grow quickly and with vigor, ultimately resulting in good crop yield in a reliable time. Two words: bone meal. If your soil is deficient in phosphorous, add just a teaspoon per tray to help make the correction.

Potassium. This macronutrient actually has a lot to do with how your wheatgrass tastes. A nice sweet wheatgrass is probably rich in potassium. While potassium is not the only contributing factor toward a wheatgrass crop’s sweetness, it is a major player, so keep your soil levels in check. It’s hard enough to drink wheatgrass juice, let alone bitter wheatgrass juice. Potassium is also responsible for maintaining water pressure within a plant, making for a more plump, strong grass. This is especially important as your crop nears its harvest. Trust me, when you are responsible for harvesting dozens of trays in a single day, you notice how convenient it is to have a crop that isn’t keeling over.

Now, while that is basically it for the major players, I must confess to also giving my wheatgrass a boost in the micronutrient department by adding a teaspoon of volcanic ash per tray. I’ve been lucky enough to find a fairly local bulk supplier, and I happily make that 60-mile pilgrimage to Vestal, New York, every year to stock up on what, to me, has become my own wheatgrass recipe's not-so-secret secret ingredient. I cannot state exactly what volcanic ash does for my grass since I do not have the sort of soil testing capabilities I need to manage that process, though I can say that volcanic ash is known to impart a whole host of micronutrients and trace minerals to soil, and the look of my grass has improved since incorporating it into my soil recipe. While the product I use is not available for retail sale, you may wish to use a volcanic ash product called Azomite to add trace minerals to your soil.

Keep in mind that the organic amendments I’ve mentioned in this article, aside from the volcanic ash, are perhaps the most easily-found organic amendments in your local garden center or hardware store, but there are also many more options out there that can be easily found online at any number of organic gardening websites-- items such as bat guano and fish/sea fertilizers. There are many ways to attack your fertilizing situation organically, and I haven’t even touched on composting yet, so if you have the time to experiment, I highly recommend it. Some organic fertilizers are fast-acting while others may take a whole outdoor growing season (or even years!) to realize maximum soil benefits. Sometimes the amendments I choose only impart modest benefits to my immediate wheatgrass crop but provide tremendous long-term benefits to my overall outdoor compost. You be the judge as to what you are comfortable using and what your ultimate goals are. I have often considered “making soil” to be like making a cake; therefore, I tend only to use ingredients I am mentally comfortable with. I’m not comfortable with the idea of using bat guano. Yet.

5 Rules for High-Quality Soil

2009-11-02T06:00:00.027-05:00

by Ellen McGlynn

This is not going to be a lesson in composting (though that WILL be a topic in future postings) but rather a lesson in selecting high-quality packaged soil at a reasonable price to get you off the ground and running pretty quickly with your new wheatgrass growing venture.

Over my years of growing wheatgrass as a business, I have relied heavily on bagged soil for several reasons: 1) I initially did not have the amount of composted soil I needed to produce the amount of grass I was growing; 2) it was a convenient way for me to store and move soil from place to place as needed; and 3) it provided a practical solution to storing soil indoors during the frozen winter months.

When I first began growing wheatgrass for my own family, I would go to my nearest Lowe's or Home Depot and select their cheapest top soils. Sometimes the products were very clean (meaning free of debris); at other times, the very same packaged products were flat out disturbing. It became a bit of a roller coaster ride. I’d find bottle caps and glass fragments or even shredded plastic gloves. Sometimes the soils would be riddled with large stones (over a half-inch in diameter) or contain too many oversized sticks. Sometimes the anemic look of a soil alone was enough to tell me that it was not in good health. Visibly poor soil quality turned up in lower-end products about 50% of the time. Ultimately I decided it was just too hit-and-miss and not worth the upfront savings (and God only knows what those plastic gloves were used for!). The funny thing is that it had never occurred to me to rip open a bag—even an already damaged bag—and look at the soil before buying 10 more bags. That would have been too much like sampling a grape at the produce counter before buying the whole bunch. Right or wrong, it just doesn’t make sense NOT to!

It wasn’t until I began shopping around for my soil at smaller local hardware stores and talking to small business owners that I realized it was okay for me to sample the soil. Often, without my even asking, a seller would sense my concerns and rip open several bags for the sampling. I felt like a world-class chef scouring the souks of Northern Africa sampling mounds of spices to prepare exotic feasts. Over time, I developed a streamlined set of procedures for buying high-quality bagged soil.

1. PRODUCT LABELING. Examine the soil packaging carefully, and look for product labeling that specifically claims 100% organic content. Bottle caps, plastic gloves, and shards of glass are NOT acceptable and should not be found in bagged soil; therefore, do not even waste time sampling a bag that doesn’t claim to be 100% natural on the label.

2. COLOR. At very first sight, a soil’s color should appear dark and rich like coffee grounds. A soil that is rich in color is a soil that is rich in nutrients.

3. AROMA. Hold a handful of soil to your nose. Foul smelling soil means that it might still be composting and too “hot” for wheatgrass to grow optimally. A good soil should have a pleasant earthy aroma like the smell of spring air on a rainy day.

4. DEBRIS. Sift through a few handfuls of soil to check for synthetic and organic debris. Large stones (no more than ¼” diameter) and long sticks are not acceptable for the purpose of growing wheatgrass.

5. SOIL DENSITY. Soil should be light and crumbly when sifted through the fingers. A soil that does not break apart easily or is too fine-grained and compact should be an immediate indicator that soil amendments (such as mulch or peat moss) will be necessary to allow for soil aeration and promote healthy root growth. An easy way to check for soil density without even touching the soil is to look at how the bags stack together on a pallet. Bags that are unusually flat and uniform (like vacuum-packed coffee bricks) contain very dense soil. NOTE: Dense soil can trigger mold and promote root rot in your wheatgrass.

Once a bag of soil passes this first round of testing and you decide to buy several bags, be sure then that all of the bags you purchase come from the same pallet (usually there are 60 bags of soil per pallet). Soil does differ from shipment to shipment, and buying all of your bags from the same pallet will increase your chances of making a purchase consistent with the product you sampled.

Using these guidelines, there is no reason you should have to pay for expensive “designer label” top soil to grow a top-notch grass. Sometimes the cheapest bag of soil can turn out to be a diamond in the rough.

THE GROWER’S PICK: Jolly Gardener brand top soils (available only in the eastern and mid-western U.S.)

Always ask a store owner or department clerk before ripping open any salable product. If the store representative appears uncooperative, remind him that a larger sale is at stake and that he can always tape up the opening and put the product back on the shelf if you decide not to buy.

NEXT WEEK: Simple Soil Chemistry and Amendments

Certified Organic vs. Regular Top Soil

2009-10-26T12:19:00.015-04:00

by Ellen McGlynn

Let me start by saying that while I am a fan of the organics industry, I am not a fan of Certified Organic or OMRI-approved soil. First of all, it is pricey (pound for pound, it is exponentially more pricey than regular organically-derived top soil); secondly, I am not sufficiently satisfied with the baseline soil standards established by the National Organics Program to want to spend the extra money on Certified Organic or OMRI-approved soil. Here is the reason why:

Several years ago, a situation arose regarding the contamination of well water in the area immediately surrounding my home. This brought out the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Environmental Protection, and any number of government officials to help establish the extent of the problem and come up with solutions for its remediation. Consequently, my own property was tested in every way, shape, and form, including surface soil testing approximately six feet deep in several areas of my three-and-one-half acre property. While the results of this soil test reported none of the contaminants in question, the results were nonetheless SHOCKING. The number of other contaminants found in my soil were enough to make an average person think that my home was built on a nuclear waste site. In actuality, my home stands in a clean, wooded, hilly rural area that had been cleared just six years prior to the environmental scare in order to build the home, and no contaminants had been used on the property since.

At the time of this soil test, I was in the process of applying for organic certification, so you could imagine my distress with these results. After contacting the EPA and Pennsylvania Certified Organic, I was left with the following information: 1) the contaminants in my soil were "typical" and almost ubiquitous; and 2) Pennsylvania Certified Organic does not really have a baseline standard for "clean" soil. Their purpose is just to insure that persons seeking certification have not used non-certified chemicals on their property in the three years prior to making their application.

That was not even nearly enough to ease my mind. It only served to make me acutely aware of how poisoned our environment is and how desensitized our government has become to environmental issues. The only relief I found in speaking to these environmental agencies was knowing that I had never financially taxed my small business with the expense of applying for certification or buying OMRI-approved soil just to be able call my wheatgrass "Certified Organic." In accordance with my own ideals and what I would expect of any certifying organization, I just couldn't fathom how it was possible to even consider labeling soil for Certified Organic use without first establishing baseline limits for soil contamination (and not just the obvious contaminants like heavy metals).

Now, this was several years ago, and there's a chance that maybe things have changed since then, so for that reason, I would happily welcome any return blog posts to help educate us all. But for now my recommendation is to not waste money on expensive Certified Organic or OMRI-approved soil unless you find that that it really helps take the guesswork out of growing your own wheatgrass or improves your mental framework in some way. As an alternative, I'll be back again next week to offer other solutions for growing wheatgrass in a less expensive, high-quality soil base.

"Don't I Need a Special Juicer?"

2009-10-17T20:51:00.005-04:00

by Ellen McGlynn

The number one question customers have asked me over the years as they’ve begun to contemplate their use of wheatgrass is, “Don’t I need a special juicer?” Yes, it’s true, not all juicers are created equal, and wheatgrass does require a special kind of juicer—one with a smooth auger as opposed to a serrated one, and definitely not a centrifugal juicer. The good news is that your options today are far greater than they were 10 years ago, and I personally found my dream juicer about four years ago. I will not bog you down with all the finer points of the many juicers available on the market today; that’s all been done a thousand times over on professional juicing websites. My purpose here is to tell you which product I have recommended to my customers for years with the assurance that I have personally only heard positive things about this juicer’s performance.

The all-purpose Omega 8005 Nutrition Center (sleek in black and chrome but also available in white) has been my ideal kitchen companion in so many ways and has also served me on a commercial level for rigorous juicing events. It is still ticking, I am still in love with it, and I am still finding new uses for it. If this were not a machine, I would marry it! It operates quietly in comparison to other juicers on the market, cleans most easily (a HUGE selling point for me), and assembles/disassembles quickly. When I’m done juicing (which can be up to several times a day), I just rinse the parts and set them to dry in an attractive colander near my sink. When I run my dishwasher, the parts are right there for the grabbing. Cleanup could not be easier!

The 8005 model has now been upgraded to an 8006, though I cannot see any difference in features other than a heavier duty auger and an upgraded warranty (and from what I have read, Omega truly honors their warranties). The downside of the Omega 8005, and now the 8006, is its upscale price. Because of its all-purpose abilities (it can juice fruits, hard vegetables, fibrous greens including wheatgrass, and even make spaghetti), you will be making an investment in a mid-priced juicer (roughly about $250-$300) rather than throwing out cash for a less durable machine with limited capabilities and perhaps even annoying qualities. Trust me; spend the extra money on the Omega Nutrition Center because this gentle workhorse is well worth the price. My other juicers have been banished to the closet ever since this handsome package arrived.

For those of you who are willing to spend above and beyond the middling range, I urge you to seriously consider whether or not bigger is really better. I have had customers who were deeply satisfied and even amazed by their more expensive Green Star products, reporting greater juice extraction than what I was experiencing with my Omega, but the differences were just not enough to make me want to spend a couple hundred dollars more, even for my commercial needs.

So there you have it: the Omega 8005 Nutrition Center.

I hope you have found this endorsement helpful. Good luck and happy juicing!

Return of The Wheatgrass Grower

2009-10-16T11:02:00.020-04:00

by Ellen McGlynn

I have returned!

Halt! Not as a regular grower, but as a writer and for special events. First, my apologies to all who have tapped my website in recent months only to find a dead space. This has been a somewhat melancholy transitional time, a letting go of the growing side of the business and daily waking of the sprouts, and re-focusing in areas where I can still make a contribution to the awareness and support of wheatgrass as a dietary supplement. Years of growing, shipping, showcasing, and chatting about wheatgrass have left me with tons of digital files that should not be buried in the hallows of my external hard drive. And so, I have returned....to blog about wheatgrass.

Above all, I am an expert on how to grow a high-quality product that has received accolades from some of this country's most experienced wheatgrass buyers, so I hope you will feel free to use this forum as a way of working out your growing inhibitions. You won't regret it.

Don't forget to check back often for new postings. Aside from growing tips, juicing recommendations, and nutritional information, I'll be posting creative ideas for floral arrangements and appealing recipes.

Why Wheatgrass?

2009-10-16T11:00:00.004-04:00

by Ellen McGlynn

Though the therapeutic use of wheatgrass has been in practice for many decades and has gained almost a cult following among proponents of alternative medicine, it has received its fair share of negative commentary from conventional health professionals due to its lack of controlled scientific studies. Fortunately, in recent years, various research institutions around the world have ventured to discover the truth about this mysterious green substance, all with supporting evidence that wheatgrass really “does a body good.”

What health benefits does fresh wheatgrass juice offer?

In a 2004 study conducted by researchers at an Indian pediatric unit, positive effects were found in 50% of anemic patients who took 100mL (3.38 ounces) of fresh wheatgrass juice daily for over a year, reducing transfusion requirements in some patients by as much as 40% (1). In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study at a gastroenterology unit covering three major Israeli cities, significant reductions in overall disease activity and rectal bleeding were found in ulcerative colitis patients who consumed 100mL of fresh wheatgrass juice daily for a month (2). In a 1999 Finnish study of rheumatoid arthritis patients who were subjected to a living foods diet that included wheatgrass juice, patients not only subjectively reported improvements in their conditions, but their serum parameters and fecal analyses confirmed it, suggesting that a living foods diet (of which wheatgrass is often a major part) may lead to a lessening of not just one but several health risk factors including cardiovascular diseases and cancer (3).

What makes fresh wheatgrass so effective?

It is still speculative as to what exactly makes fresh wheatgrass so effective. While wheatgrass is full of vitamins and minerals, it is also very high in chlorophyll. One ounce of fresh wheatgrass juice contains 4-12mg of chlorophyll (4). The effects of chlorophyll and its extracts have been studied extensively since the 1950’s and have proven beneficial for a wide range of health issues including wound healing and internal body odor (5), liver cancer caused by food-induced toxins (6,7,8), colon cancer caused by food-induced toxins (10,15), and the carcinogenic effects of environmental toxins such as cigarette smoke, coal dust, and diesel emissions (19). Though scientists have tried to isolate the micronutrients and phytochemicals responsible for the effectiveness of high-chlorophyll foods, it is agreed that whole plant-based foods offer a healthier and more effective delivery system (10,11,12,14) as well as a more practical approach to disease prevention (6).

What are the main nutrients in wheatgrass juice?

Wheatgrass juice is actually 95% water. On average, it also contains about 2% protein. The remaining 3% contains over 80 other nutrients. According to the Irvine Analytical Laboratory report courtesy of Optimum Health Institute in California, one ounce of indoor-grown fresh wheatgrass juice contains approximately 2.86mcg Biotin, 122IU Vitamin A, .3mcg Vitamin B-12, 4.3IU Vitamin E, 1mg Vitamin C, 8.3mcg Folic Acid, 21.4mg Phosphorus, 8mg Magnesium, .66mg Iron, 7.2mg Calcium, and 42mg Potassium (4).

How does fresh wheatgrass juice compare with other vegetables and natural supplements?

In a 2006 study by the Chemistry Department at the University of Pune in Pune, India, antioxidant activity was measured in fresh wheatgrass grown under various conditions and extracted for comparison against a commercially available wheatgrass tablet. A higher level of antioxidant activity was found in the soil-grown as opposed to the hydroponically-grown wheatgrass juice. Additionally, the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) on day 10 of growth was higher than ORAC units reported for the wheatgrass tablet (1380 mmol/100g) and many other high-ORAC fruits and vegetables. (13,16)

ORAC Units per 100 Grams
Wheatgrass Juice	3990	Kale	1770
Blueberries	2400	Strawberries	1540
Blackberries	2036	Spinach	1260
Garlic	1940	Raspberries	1220

High-ORAC foods are known to raise the antioxidant power of human blood and help slow processes associated with aging (16,17,18).

Will wheatgrass interfere with my medications?

As chlorophyll has shown to have detoxifying and blood-clotting effects, wheatgrass juice may interfere with conventional chemotherapies and other pharmaceuticals. Consult your physician about the use of wheatgrass juice in combination with other drugs. It may be best to reserve wheatgrass for use only BEFORE or AFTER specific drug treatments.

Are there any side effects from fresh wheatgrass juice?

There are no known reports of wheatgrass or chlorophyll toxicity. Some people may experience darkened stools or mild stomach upset when first starting a wheatgrass juice regimen.

How is wheatgrass prepared for consumption?

Humans do not produce the enzyme cellulase required to properly digest the cellulose structure of grass. Wheatgrass must be juiced. This requires the use of a special wheatgrass juicer, which has a gentler extraction mechanism than regular juicers. Wheatgrass juicers may also be used for juicing soft berries, which can be blended with wheatgrass juice to improve the taste.

How often should I drink wheatgrass juice?

Taken as a preventative, an ounce a day may be sufficient. Therapeutically, effects have been experienced by taking three to four ounces per day. Juice should be taken on an empty stomach one hour before meals.

How much juice can be had from 1 pound of fresh-cut wheatgrass?

Ten to 12 ounces of juice per pound of cut wheatgrass can be expected from a good wheatgrass juicer.

How long will the cut wheatgrass stay fresh?

Fresh-cut wheatgrass can stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

How long does wheatgrass juice stay fresh?

The chemical structure of fresh wheatgrass juice is very unstable. Once the grass is juiced, its breaks down rather quickly and loses its nutritional value. Fresh wheatgrass should be consumed or frozen almost immediately after juicing.

LITERATURE CITED

1. Marawaha RK, Bansal D, Kaur S, Trehan A. Wheat grass juice reduces transfusion requirement in patients with thalassemia major: a pilot study. Indian Petiatr. 2004;Jul;41(7):716-20.

2.. Ben-Arye E, Goldin E, Wengrower D, Stamper A, Kohn R, Berry E. Wheat grass juice in the treatment of active distal ulcerative colitis: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Scand J Gastroenterol. 2002;Apr;37(4):444-9.

3. Hanninen O, Rauma AL, Kaartinen K, Nenonen M. Vegan diet in physiological health promotion. Acta Physiol Hung.1999; 86(3-4):171-80.

4. Meyerowitz S. Wheatgrass: Nature’s finest medicine. 6th ed. Summertown (TN):Book; 1999.

5. Oregon State University Linus Pauling Institute. Corvalis (OR); Updated 2005 Dec 21; cited 2006 Oct 3. Chlorophyll and Chlorophyllin. Available from: http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/ infocenter/phytochemicals/chlorophylls/.

6. Egner PA, Wang JB, Zhu YR, Zhang BC, Wu Y, Zhang QN, Qian GS, Kuang SY, Gange SJ, Jacobson LP, Helzlsouer KJ, Bailey GS, Groopman JD, Kensler TW. Chlorophyllin intervention reduces aflatoxin-DNA adducts in individuals at high risk for liver cancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2001;Dec4;98(25):14601-6.

7. Kensler TW, Egner PA, Wang JB, Zhu YR, Zhang BC, Qian GS, Kuang SY, Gange SJ, Jacobson LP, Munoz A, Groopman JD. Strategies for chemoprevention of liver cancer. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2002;Aug;11Suppl 2:S58-64.

8. Egner PA, Munoz A, Kensler TW. Chemoprevention with chlorophyllin in individuals exposed to dietary aflatoxin. Mutat Res. 2003;Feb-Mar;523-524:209-16.

9. Ouameur AA, Marty R, Tajmir-Riahi HA. Human serum albumin complexes with chlorophyll and chlorophyllin. Biopolymers. 2005;Feb15;77(3):129-36.

10. de Vogel J, Jonker-Termont DS, Katan MB, van der Meer R. Natural chlorophyll but not chlorophyllin prevents heme-induced cytotoxic and hyperproliferative effects in rat colon. J Nutr. 2005;Aug;135(8):1995-2000.

11. Oregon State University Linus Pauling Institute. Corvalis (OR); cited 2006 Oct 3. Plant-Based Foods. Available from: http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/ infocenter/foods.html.

12. Fahey JW, Stephenson KK, Dinkova-Kostova AT, Egner P, Kensler TW, Talalay P. Chlorophyll, chlorophyllin and related tetrapyrroles are significant inducers of mammalian phase 2 cytoprotective genes. Carcinogenesis. 2005;Jul26(7):1247-55.

13. Kulkarni SD, Tilak JC, Achaarya R, Rajurkar NS, Devasagayam TP, Reddy AV. Evaluation of the antioxidant activity of wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum L.) as a function of growth under different conditions. Phytother Res. 2006;Mar;20(3):218-27.

14. Sarkar D, Sharma A, Talukder G. Chlorophyll and chromosome breakage. Mutat Res. 1996;Aug8;360(3):187-91.

15. Diaz GD, Li Q, Dashwood RH. Capase-8 and apoptosis-inducing factor mediate a cytochrome c-independent pathway of apoptosis in human colon cancer cells induced by a dietary phytochemical chlorophyllin. 2003;Mar15;63(6)1254-61.

16. USDA Agricultural Research Service. Updated 13 Aug 2003. Cited 6 Oct 2006. Food & Nutrition Briefs. Available from: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/np/fnrb/fnrb499.htm.

17. Cao G, Booth SL, Sadowski JA, Prior RL. Increases in human plasma antioxidant capacity after consumption of controlled diets high in fruit and vegetables. Am J Clin Nutr. 1998;68:1081-7.

18. Cao G, Russel RM, Lischner N, Prior RL. Serum antioxidant capacity is increased by consumption of strawberries, spinach, red wine or vitamin C in elderly women. J Nutr. 1998 Dec;128(12):2383-90.

19. Ong T, Whong WZ, Stewart J, Brockman HE. Chlorophyllin: a potent antimutagen against environmental and dietary complex mixtures. Mutat Res. 1986 Feb;173(2):111-5.