Sprouting

[Kepley]

On my SOBO this year I am planning on doing some sprouting. I have alfalfa, fennugreek, broccoli, red clover, and mung seeds that I am going to hike with. I'll add the sprouts to my rice dishes or just eat them by themselves with a bit of siracha sauce, yum!

My plan is to start a new batch of sprouts every 2 days in empty plastic peanut butter jars, so I am never w/o sprouts. Are there any veteran sprouters out there who have advice for a beginner sprouter?

[WingedMonkey]

You need to think about how much extra work sprouting will be while hiking. Planning and finding water is already an important part of your hike on a daily basis. Are you going to need to find water more often to rinse your sprouts? They require rinsing at least three times a day the first few days. Are you going to filter all of that extra water? After the weather warms up can you keep the sprouts cool enough so they don't spoil or grow too much? How are you going to resupply your seeds/beans every two days that you plan to start a new batch? Will that require more than one container?
It sounds like a great idea to have fresh greens while hiking but it will occupy a lot of your time.

[pcasebere]

Sprouts are easy.. leave seed in water overnight, then in the morning drain and rinse; repeat rinsing once a day until time to eat. Really easy, just be sure to have some mesh rather than a lid so they get some air.. and if you can keep the jar on it's side, even better. ;o) Enjoy the green salads along the way!

[skooch]

I plan to walk and sprout also! It's such a great idea. I read it here somewhere on WB. I feel a gatoraide bottle is large enough

[Hikes in Rain]

I remember trying to do that up in Alaska, back in the 70"s. Never could hike long enough to make it viable, but we ate a lot of sprouts back then. They were good, but for our short hikes, it turned out to be easier just to carry the sprouts and rince them occasionally.

[Kepley]

I have only done NY, CT, MA, and VT on the appalachian trail, and when I was in those states I remember crossing good water multiple times a day. My plan was to have a mesh screen for a lid, and just scoop water in and out of each jar ~ 2X/day after soaking overnight once. They don't need to be submerged once they soak the first night, just wet. I am not worried about about filtering the water for my sprouts but maybe I should be. I was planning on zapping the sprouts suspended in water with my steripen when I am separating the seeds hulls in the final stage before I expose them to sunlight for the first time. I doubt it if waterborn parasites will be absorbed by the sprouts but again I really don't know.

As for the containers, I thought 2 or 3 peanut butter jars would do the trick. I have seen it done in a nalgene bottle, but I really don't need more than a cup of spouts a day. I am doing 22 mail drops, and have the seeds in 2"x3" ziplocks. Not sure if I agree that it will take a whole lot of time once I get it down.

[Kepley]

I plan to walk and sprout also! It's such a great idea. I read it here somewhere on WB. I feel a gatoraide bottle is large enough

You might be better off using a bottle you can get your hand in, or else you might end up cutting the bottle open.

[Blissful]

Interesting idea. Let us know how it works out. Agree needing a wide mouth jar to get into. The lightest possible also.

[Blissful]

I have only done NY, CT, MA, and VT on the appalachian trail, and when I was in those states I remember crossing good water multiple times a day.

NY no way. Dry as a bone by the time SOBOS get there.

[skooch]

good idea. Hikes in Rain just let the air out of my balloon. Yes I can get them at town stops but I want to watch them grow and be proud of my little accomplishment. doesn't make much sense now though

[WingedMonkey]

I remember times I drank my soap-less wash water because it was too precious too throw out, or times on a ridge eating a cold dinner to save my one quart of water till I got more. Even a time in New York that I drank rain water off of rocks with a straw.
Then there were times when it wouldn't stop raining and I was sick of hearing the sound of a "rushing brook" all day and night.
Hiking revolves around water.
Look forward to hearing how it worked out for you.

[Kepley]

wingedmonkey, if it means anything to you I plan on harvesting rainwater from my hammock tarp so I can collect overnight H2 OH YHEA!

[Doctari]

Good how to & supplies can be had at:
http://outdoorherbivore.com/products...trail-sprouts/

Sure sounds easy. I think I'd try it at home a few times first, just to get the kinks out.

[Hikes in Rain]

good idea. Hikes in Rain just let the air out of my balloon. Yes I can get them at town stops but I want to watch them grow and be proud of my little accomplishment. doesn't make much sense now though

Oh, don't let my musings and ramblings stop you! My hikes up there were limited to overnights or a couple of days. But the times we did take sprouts, it was a lot of fun do do just as you suggest, watch them grow and thrive, and cut their little lives short by eating them.

I'm a weak reed to lean on. Don't take what I say seriously, skooch. The sense of accomplishment of sprouting your own little garden while hiking can't be beat.

[Rocket Jones]

... it was a lot of fun do do just as you suggest, watch them grow and thrive, and cut their little lives short by eating them.

I'm not a vegetarian because I love animals. I'm a vegetarian because I hate plants.

[fiddlehead]

Google Doug Walsh.
He sprouted and thru-hiked the CDT and PCT on a raw diet.
Pretty amazing guy.

[skooch]

No save the plants!

[Spokes]

I love sprouts and do my own often. Sprouting while hiking presents some challenges like being able to properly wash them. I guess if you carry a pump filter the volume of fresh water needed wouldn't be a problem but not so if you carry Aqua Mira like me.

Cheers!

[Kepley]

Good how to & supplies can be had at:
http://outdoorherbivore.com/products...trail-sprouts/

Sure sounds easy. I think I'd try it at home a few times first, just to get the kinks out.

I went to that website and i think I like the sprout bag idea more than the jar. I think I'll invest.

[Snowleopard]

The sprouts need to kept in conditions that are also great for growing bacteria. So, I'd say filtering water for sprouts is more important than for drinking water. I wouldn't put much trust in the antibacterial qualities of those hemp bags. I'd probably boil the bag after every batch.