Wheatgrass is the wonder grass, providing exponential amounts of nutrients such as chlorophyll, amino acids, minerals, vitamins and enzymes. While I am by no means an expert on the health benefits of wheatgrass, you can Google that, or read a phenomenal book, The Wheatgrass Book by Ann Wigmore, to learn more about it's health benefits. I knew at a young age that the nasty green shot you got at the health food store or juice bar, that was followed with an orange squad (yes, an orange wedge, but I called them squads) was good for me, but I had no idea why, the same kinda follows now, except I know a few more details about it's real health benefits, because I am genuinely interested in what it provides to my overall well-being.
So I have been growing and juicing my own wheatgrass. I very causally read the growing section of Ann Wigmores's book on growing wheatgrass and that, with my general knowledge of sprouting seeds, I figured out the relatively simple process.
So first you soak your Red Wheat Berries, for 8-24 hours. You can buy Red Wheat Berries at your local health food store, often in the bulk section. And yes wheatgrass is gluten free. I too, was concerned, but after searching around and asking a licensed dietitian friend in the area, the grass itself does not contain any gluten, only the kernel, and in juicing wheatgrass you only juice the grass, so yay!
You fill your growing container with soil and moisten lightly. I have used old fish totes. (I used to work in a gourmet market with a fish department I managed, so theses were a dime a dozen and have many uses). Sprinkle your soaked seeds evenly across the moist soil.
Then cover the moist soil/seed tray and keep in a not directly sunlit area with a mild overall temperature. I keep mine on top of the fridge.
Keep your eye on the sprouting wheatgrass, which should start sprouting within a few days. Once little sprouts start to appear, like below, remove the cover. You should not need to water at any point during this time. If you do, your wheatgrass may be in too much direct light/heat. Also don't over water, because the wheat berries will mold.
Within 3-5 days your sprouting wheatgrass above, should look like the fully grown wheatgrass below. And now it is time to juice. Cut at base and juice away.
Super easy, super healthy. You can either juice wheatgrass by itself as a shot, which is typical, in which case you will want a tray per shot per day you plan to consume. I would say roughly 1 tray = 1 shot. I always have a minimum of 3 trays going, but I don't tend to do a shot a day. I add some to a smoothie, do a shot every other day, add some to a salad, etc. You can consume the second growth of your wheatgrass, but I have heard it is lacking in some nutrients, so I normally compost it after it is all cut.
Happy wheatgrassing!
