Miss Abigail Says: Teach the Kids to Grow Sprouts

She is finally ready!

Miss Abigail knows that depending on the age of your child, the attention span may not be very long.

For those of us who want to instill in our children a passion for gardening, we may need a lesson that takes only minutes to work on, but has rapid results.

Here is the lesson that Miss Abigail has prepared for you. If you read the lesson out loud (with a prim, school teacher voice) you will begin to understand the character of my new friend and logo.

In July- at Abby’s Garden we do not have any fresh salad greens to harvest, so we grow sprouts in jars-in the kitchen- on the counter-where we can see them. We do not have to go outside to do it, we do not even have to get our hands dirty. Ms. Donna tells me that the sprout is the form in which the plant is the most nutritious. I do not know where she gets her information. My concern is that she merely makes it up. However; we chickens just instinctively know that sprouts are very good for us. 

The materials that you will need for each child are as follows : a 1 quart- wide mouth canning jar and a sprouting lid. You will also need some sprouting seeds of your choice. In the beginning, I would suggest using something mild and very fast growing like alfalfa seeds, or mung bean  seeds.

First day-put 1/2 cup of sprouting seeds in a quart jar. Fill fill it with water. You will need to allow the seeds to soak for 12 hours. Set the jar on the counter anywhere in the kitchen where your chick(s) can see it. Your chick(s)  will have to come back to drain the seeds-using the special lid.

Mung bean seeds soaking for 12 hours

Second day-Rinse and drain the seeds 2 times per day. Set the jar on its side, in order to give the seeds room to spread out. You do not want the seeds to dry out completely, but they are not to be under water either. They need to be able to breathe. This is also a good day to start a second jar; ensuring a constant harvest.

See the little tails?

Depending on the type of seed that you are using, you may see little sprouts at the end of the day.

Third day-My mung beans have really grown! Again rinse 2 times per day. Do you see how  simple this is?

A girl can dream can’t she?

 

Fourth Day-By the fourth day, the sprouts are now ready to eat in salads and on sandwiches. But your chick(s) may want to just eat them on their fingers.

This jar is full

 

Homework? Here are three books that you may want to click on and take a look at to prepare for future classes with Miss Abigail.

Class dismissed!