Sprouts! Grow your own on your kitchen counter

This is the finished “crop” after just 5 days!  I started the second jar after the 3rd day so I could keep them in stock in the refrigerator.  So far we have had them on a Wedge Salad (added amazing flavor), Ground Sirloin Burgers (will never eat one without the sprouts again) and a Turkey and Cheese Spinach Wrap (YUM!)

You only need a few supplies like these to grow your Sprouts:

The gorgeous Jar, I found at TJ Max Home goods Store for $3.99.  I bought two!  Then I went on an internet mission and of course landed on Amazon.com.  The Sprout Screen (which I recommend) is the best.  It was $3.50.   I also purchased the green sprout cap (plastic) and did not like it.  So now I have ordered 3 more of the Stainless Sprout Screen.  The Spouting seeds are a Salad Blend for $14.50 the seed blend contains Alfalfa, Radish, Broccoli and Clover.  I love it!  You can taste the radish and it really spices up the salad or anything you use it with.

Sprouts Growing

Start with 2 Tablespoons of seeds, add to jar, secure screen in lid and rinse several times with water.  Fill jar 1/2 way with water and set on counter overnight.   Drain water off and rinse 3 times and drain all water out.  Lay jar on its side at an angle as in the above picture on the counter.  My jar is sitting in a salad bowl.  I live in Arizona so my kitchen is full off sunlight, so make sure you do have some natural light near.  Rinse 2-3 times a day filling and shaking the container to make sure they are well rinsed then place back on its side to drain and grow!  By the 4th or 5th day, your jar should be packed!

Ready to eat!

The Sprouts are ready to harvest!  Just grab a big mixing bowl and pull all of the sprouts from the jar and fill the bowl with fresh water.  Swish them around a bit and the hulls will float to the top.  I used both a small strainer and a big spoon the skim them off.  You may need to do this twice (I did).  The drain well and repack your jar and secure with a solid lid (the ones they come with 🙂  And you are ready to eat them!!  Here is a Turkey Spinach Wrap  I made for lunch featuring the sprouts! The wedge salad last night was terrific as well just added the sprouts on top of the dressing before the salad was served.  It got rave reviews from the home front.  You can add sprouts to just about anything including soups and on top of pasta salad (I am doing this next).  Get creative!!

DIY Earth Box! Make it yourself

I love my Homemade Earth Boxes!  These boxes are easy to make and you will save tons of money, not to mention having the best bounty of vegetables ever!

        We made these boxes in under 30 minutes one we laid out our supplies.  Shop around for the Rubbermaid tubs, I found mine at Walmart for about $5.00.  The real “Earth Box”  is available on line for for purchase and also great planting tips!  Just click on the link.

            What you need to make 2 DIY Earth Boxes:

• 2 Rubbermaid Plastic Storage Tubs (I used 18 Gallon)
• 1 10′ Plastic Pipe 1 1/2 Diameter
• Carpet Knife
• Miter saw to cut the plastic pipe
• 3/8 inch Drill Bit to Drill Drain Holes

First place I went to was You Tube.  That it my go to place for how to do anything.  I Learn how to build, make and create all by researching You Tube.  My favorite Video is right Here.

First thing you do is cut the insert out of the Lid of the tub, make sure you watch the video.

Drill a drain hole on each end of the tubs about 2 3/4  inches from the bottom.

With the cutout piece of plastic from the lid, drill several holes for drainage.  Cut a circle in one corner of the lid to fit the Fill Pipe, again refer to the video 🙂

Cut the PVC Pipe with the Miter Saw into to 2 1/2 inch pieces.  You will need to cut 15 of them.

Place the pipe pieces standing up in the bottom of the tub and place the Lid you drilled holes in on top.

Cut a length of PVC Pipe about 3 inches above the height of the tub.  Insert in the corner and you have just built your first DIY Reath Box!!!

I think I need to add this Video as well, I gleaned a lot from this guy too! Although we went the way of using the PVC Pipe for stability.

Here are pictures of our Box in progress

I Transplanted 2 Cucumber plants that I started from seeds and 2 Zucchini in the other.  My plan is to put a trellis behind them and train the plants vertical,  another Pinterest idea!  Gotta love that site!!  You can follow me at Jeanene (WinterWheat1).

Congratulations!!!  You now have your own Earth Boxes.  Here are my other 3 Boxes all planted and growing like crazy!  I have Corn with Garlic planted in the front since one is growing up and the other is growing down (made sense to me).  We have 2 rows of Snow Pea’s in one box, and 2 rows of Green Beans in the other.  I am so pleased at how well my “crops are coming along.  I never have to worry about “not enough water as I fill the drain pipe every 3-4 days.  I check them every day since they are growing like crazy!  Here it is April 10th in Phoenix AZ and I have Snow Peas and Beans already.  We also have a Cherry Tomato plant going nuts!  More Pictures!