View Full Version : Sprouting
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
04-07-2011, 19:09
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
04-07-2011, 19:17
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!
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
04-07-2011, 19:28
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.
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.
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
04-07-2011, 19:40
Interesting idea. Let us know how it works out. Agree needing a wide mouth jar to get into. The lightest possible also.
Blissful
04-07-2011, 19:41
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.
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
04-07-2011, 20:00
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.
wingedmonkey, if it means anything to you I plan on harvesting rainwater from my hammock tarp so I can collect overnight H2 OH YHEA!
Good how to & supplies can be had at:
http://outdoorherbivore.com/products/category/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
04-08-2011, 05:14
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. :eek:
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
04-08-2011, 06:00
... 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. :eek:
I'm not a vegetarian because I love animals. I'm a vegetarian because I hate plants. :D
fiddlehead
04-08-2011, 07:27
Google Doug Walsh.
He sprouted and thru-hiked the CDT and PCT on a raw diet.
Pretty amazing guy.
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!
Good how to & supplies can be had at:
http://outdoorherbivore.com/products/category/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
04-08-2011, 15:35
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.
mkmangold
04-08-2011, 22:50
As long as you use larger seeds like mung bean, try an empty parmesan cheese container. One side of the lid has holes in it intended for shaking the cheese out but it works just as well keeping the seeds in. And the latest incarnation uses a lighter weight plastic.
I've found that another hazard of sprouting is fungal growth so shaking out most of the water is very important as is carrying the container upside down after the morning rinse.
Today I was eating at a korean restaurant and they served me sprouts. They were exceptionally good, and I asked what they put on them. They said Seasame Seed Oil, Seasame Seeds, Red Pepper, and Salt. Just thought I would add that to my thread.
WingedMonkey
05-02-2011, 15:50
I love seasame seed oil...but a little goes a long way, it is very strong. Also don't fry with it unless you dilute it with another oil (heat the other oil first) it has a low smoke temperature.
Although I've never personally grown sprouts while hiking I really want to try it. I see some AT thru-hikers do it without major complaints. Most of the times I've seen it done it's in a plastic jar with a mesh/screen top. It's great to add some nutritious real live raw food to trail meals.
I saw someone on the AT growing sprouts in a mesh like bag without as much of the water wt carrying concerns I might have. This may have been the hiker:
http://outdoorherbivore.com/trail-sprouting/
You can also do a "sprouting seeds while hiking" search and come up with more suggestions.
Let us know how it works for you! I would be interested to hear about your experiences.
I like some of his recipe ideas too! Combine any of them with some fresh sprouts and I HOPE that answers the question of how hard it is to thru-hike the AT being a vegan/vegeterian!
I should have said I like some of HER recipe ideas too! I like what she says on her entire webpage! Way to go Kim!
You can easily grow sprouts while hiking. As indicated previously, use a wide-mouth container that ventilates well. Rinsing is not a problem, and can be done at a minimum of twice daily with just a little H2O. Alfalfa does particularly well even though the seeds are small and will require a small screen for rinsing. I have used this for years, at home and on the trail. http://sproutpeople.org/supply/sprouters/easysprout.html You can substitute a lighter container but make sure it is ventilated well, has a large mouth, and that you have a screen of some kind for the rinsing process. the screen passes the hulls but blocks the seed and sprout. After soaking, the seeds need darkness but can be kept in an outside pocket - covered and shielded from light. Don't let the negative posts deter you. You will enjoy growing your own and ingesting the nutrients.
I really love watermelon and think that it's really the best of both worlds. You can use it to carry your water, and they are as nurtionally great as sprouts. I'm planning on collecting rain in a poncho while I hike that's inverted over me, then use that to hydroponically farm the watermelons. I knew a guy on the PCT who did this with Pears. He just started with a small tree, and his friend helped them carry the required water. This system was so much more efficient then taking an Emergency, or resupplying with fresh fruit in all the towns that dot the trail. I'm really looking forward to this this year. So if you see me on the trail, I have Blue soccer shorts, a Team Mexico world cup jersey, and my hydroponic watermelon system attached to my pack. Say hey if you see me and I'll give you a slice of melon. If this works as well as I figure it should, I'm planning on having a booth at Trail Days next year to hook hikers with my system at a modest price. They will probably sell out, so follow my blog link to get your order in early.
mweinstone
05-03-2011, 08:04
grow sprouts in jar on pack
pull out wad of sprouts onto inverted potlid
crush with potbottom standing on pot with clean foot
place disk of sprouts in pot with lid on
set by campfire and rotate till steam turns to whisps of smoke
now open and share with your friends a peice of sprouted grain bread of the highest order. one slice takes 4 days with alfalfa.
mweinstone
05-03-2011, 08:11
for matthewskis weirdo sprouts you will need:
to sprout a bag of 16 bean soup.
add balsamic viniger and olive oil
sprinkle a few cashews
toss with wasabe and black and white sesemee seeds mixed
add toasted crumbled nori seeweed to taste
the basamic can be red wine vineger or lemon juice
thats the trail version. to bam it up a notch, olives and tofu or stuffed grapeleaves and feta
you folks dont want to mess with me on the trail. im dangerously cheerful, happily overfed and way smileing.
Outdoor Herbivore is a great little company - I have had good service with them.
mweinstone
05-03-2011, 18:12
alfalfa sprouts done right in a nalge on your pack
mayo out the wazookie and rye bread
add cheese and heaven lowers to scoop you up.
alfalfa sprouts avacado and lemon and your sexy goes thru the shelter roof
mung sprouts stirfried with wild dadylion or any potherb with olive oil and salt? organic exstasy without the rave.
pint of storebought sprouts and crappy salad dressing from hikerbox? worldly and full of green hues at sunset under a go dog go tree.
do you like my hat? its sprouts!
my new go dog go series of sprouting hats will enable me to thruhike and buy miss janet popcorn at amovie. where i may sneak her a arm around the shoulders....
mweinstone
05-03-2011, 18:16
go dog go sprouting hats by matthewski aint no joke. no joke at all. wanna know whats a joke? rotwilers. rottwylers are a frikkin joke. lost most of my exstremitys to one today.
push2party
05-10-2011, 11:15
I followed this couples through hike a couple years back mostly b/c 'Stitch' made quite a bit of their gear, but i found their diet was fascinating. I'm not vegan or even healthy really...but their trail diet makes sense to me since I'm carrying that water anyways. Lots of sprouting -
"Dinner: Sprouts, soaked overnight, mixed with instant dried hummus or other powdered carbohydrate. And don't forget the Texas Pete."
http://bltadventure.blogspot.com/2007/05/typical-day-in-our-thru-hiker-kitchen.html
First post, long time lurker :)
Pedaling Fool
02-17-2012, 11:21
Sprouts seem to be getting a bad rep lately, there was another outbreak here in the U.S.
I guess it's not as risky when growing for personal consumption, but to me it just seems like too much of a hassle to do even at home, not to mention on a hike. I think the nutritional value is overhyped.
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2012/02/jimmy_johns_in_oregon_pulls_cl.html
Jimmy John's in Oregon pulls clover sprouts amid E. coli outbreak
Published: Thursday, February 16, 2012, 1:42 PM Updated: Thursday, February 16, 2012, 2:06 PM
Jimmy John's sandwich shops in Oregon pulled sprouts off their menus today amid an E. coli outbreak traced to franchises in five states.
Tyson Adams, co-owner of a Jimmy John's in Bend got a call from his regional manager early this morning, warning him about the clover sprout outbreak.
"As a precaution, we're pulling them off the menu," Adams said.
At least 12 people who ate the sprouts in Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and Wisconsin fell ill, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC said the outbreak, which is likely to grow, was traced to Jimmy John's restaurants.
Last January, the Illinois-based sandwich chain (http://www.jimmyjohns.com/menu/menu.aspx) switched from alfalfa to clover sprouts, claiming they were safer because the seeds are smoother and easier to clean.
But that decision came on the heels of a clover sprout outbreak in the Northwest. At least nine people were sickened in Oregon and Washington from clover sprouts from Sprouters Northwest, Inc. (http://www.sproutersnorthwest.com/) in Kent, Wash. A boy who ate a sandwich from a Jimmy John's in Bend was sickened.
"The sad thing here is that this chain keeps having outbreaks over and over again," said William Keene, senior epidemiologist at Oregon Public Health (http://public.health.oregon.gov/Pages/Home.aspx). "A lot of other places have learned the lesson and they don't sell sprouts. (Jimmy John's) went from alfalfa to clover. There's a misunderstanding that clover sprouts were safer. There is no basis to think that's the case."
All sprouts are considered high risk because any bacteria on the seeds multiply when they're put in a warm, moist environment to grow.
The sprouts in this latest outbreak were tainted with E. coli O26, a cousin of O157:H7, one of the most deadly foodborne pathogens. E. coli O26 is much tamer, Keene said.
No deaths have been reported in the Jimmy John's clover-sprout outbreak. No illnesses have popped up in the Northwest, either.
The Food and Drug Administration traced the outbreak to one lot of seeds from one supplier sold to two different sprouting facilities. The supplier was not named.
Sprouters Northwest, which sells to Oregon and Washington, was not implicated, Keene said.
A spokeswoman for the franchise operation, headquartered in Illinois, declined to comment on the outbreak and its decision to pull the sprouts from its menu.
The company, with 1,000 stores nationwide, considers sprouts a signature ingredient. Since its creation in 1983, it's tucked them into its sandwiches.
"They're really popular with folks," said Adams, co-owner in Bend. "I know they're high risk but I absolutely love them. They're just so good. I wish there was some way we could sanitize them and get rid of the risk."
@OP- This is a really cool idea, let me know how it works.
It's no more trouble than preparing any other food. It requires water - lots to do it properly, but only a little bit of water if you aren't concerned about eating hulls (slight bitter taste). If you want to wash all the hulls away after the seed breaks open the hull, you have to rinse a long time. On the trail, you just have to rinse and soak the seeds/sprouts. The E.Coli is caused by using seeds that are not processed for sprouting (packaged for planting instead), or by poor personal hygiene. Make sure you get sprouting seeds and wash your hands. Sprouts are very nutritous and can be used in lots of ways. You do have think ahead because it takes several days to reach the ideal size for consumption. I stick to alfalfa seeds and I know when to start a new batch. Temperature is the main factor in the amount of time it takes for them to reach the best eating size.
mkmangold
03-01-2012, 02:14
It's no more trouble than preparing any other food. It requires water - lots to do it properly, but only a little bit of water if you aren't concerned about eating hulls (slight bitter taste). If you want to wash all the hulls away after the seed breaks open the hull, you have to rinse a long time. On the trail, you just have to rinse and soak the seeds/sprouts. The E.Coli is caused by using seeds that are not processed for sprouting (packaged for planting instead), or by poor personal hygiene. Make sure you get sprouting seeds and wash your hands. Sprouts are very nutritous and can be used in lots of ways. You do have think ahead because it takes several days to reach the ideal size for consumption. I stick to alfalfa seeds and I know when to start a new batch. Temperature is the main factor in the amount of time it takes for them to reach the best eating size.
Sprout on! Ignore comments from those who think Corporate America (like Jimmy Johns) is to be worshipped and emulated. What you eat, like fresh, low glycemic sprouts) is up to you, not some Corporate Socialism shill. Enjoy your food.