Wheatgrass – The Best Indoor Harvest

When I lived in Seattle, I used to really feel the effects of the dreary weather in the middle of winter. It was then that I discovered growing wheatgrass inside. It was like having a little piece of Spring right on my table. At that time I didn’t use it for anything other than a decorative mood booster. Looking back, it probably would have been a true mood booster if I’d actually juiced it.

Now I live in sunny Arizona, where it’s never too cold to garden, and my moods are a lot more stable because the sun always shines, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t enjoy a little indoor farming. Wheatgrass grows so quickly and easily that I can have a constant supply. It is also a very inexpensive way to add a power-pack of nutrients to your day.

Wheatgrass Juice – Nutritional Powerhouse!

One little shot (1 oz) of wheat grass juice provides the following vitamins and minerals according to NutritionData.self.com

Vitamin A 12000 IU
Lycopene 232 mcg
Lutein+Zeaxanthin 2328 mcg
Vitamin C 56 mg
Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol) 2560 mg
Vitamin K 280 mpg
Thiamin 88 mg
Riboflavin 2080 mg
Niacin 2016 mg
Vitamin B6 312 mg
Folic Acid 280 mcg
Vitamin B 12 0.4 mcg
Pantothenic Acid 288 mg
Choline 40 mg
Calcium 120 mg
Iron 64 mg
Magnesium 31.2 mg
Phosphorus 112 mg
Potassium 824 mg
Zinc 496 mg
Copper 13.6 mg
Manganese 1120 mg
Selenium 28 mpg

According to Dr. Axe, wheatgrass offers these health benefits

Supplying a high dose of chlorophyll
Encouraging a highly oxygenated environment in your body
Promoting a healthy metabolism
Establishing an alkaline environment in the body
Acting as an antibacterial by halting growth of unfriendly bacteria
Rebuilding and strengthening blood
Restoring fertility and balancing hormones
Rebuilding damaged tissue
Detoxifying the body of heavy metals
Purifying liver
Helping with blood sugar regulation
Acting as an antiseptic to treat odors, strep infections, wounds, skin grafts, sinusitis, ear infections, varicose veins and scars
Helping to prevent tooth decay
Aiding in sore throat pain reduction
Fighting skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis
Improving digestion
Reducing inflammation
Improving eyesight, particularly night vision
Helping with sleep
Boosting the immune system
Improving nerve signaling and mental well-being

It’s So Easy Too!

First, go buy some wheat in the bulk section of the grocery store!

Next, you just pour a small amount in a cup and cover with water.

The next day (or two or three), wet a paper towel and place it in the bottom of a dish (whatever size you like).

Spread the soaked wheat over the surface of the wet paper towel and make sure to keep it damp.

Over the next few days you will see the wheat sprout and grow.

As the roots grow into the paper towel you can easily rinse them by running water into the dish and then pouring off the excess without the wheat berries falling out. You’ll see, it’s fun!

Once the wheatgrass reaches 4 or 5 inches, that’s when you take the scissors to it and cut it down to about an inch or two.

This is one that I had in my window sill as decoration. Cute, huh?

Now, just pop it into the juicer and out comes the goodness. My juicer is a Hurricane Wheatgrass Juicer. I love it because I can use it for more than just wheatgrass. I juice swiss chard leaves and apples a lot. And, as my eleven-year-old son says, “we can use it if we have an EMP!” -He says that about a lot of things.

If you don’t have a juicer, you can also dehydrate the wheatgrass and turn it into a powder to add to drinks. This is a great thing to do with all your greens, by the way.

After a couple harvests, just throw it into your compost or give it to your chickens as a treat. Sometimes I like to grow it just for the chickens too.

Now you too can be an indoor wheat farmer! Add that to your list of skills this year.