Travel Sprouting
Whether away from home or living on the road you can still grow your own food.
There aren't a lot of sprouters that travel well, but the ones that do make for a much nicer trip!
The major limitations to sprouting on the road are timely Rinsing and Draining. Because we don't necessarily know our schedule (a good thing think us Sproutpeople) and may not be around water when our sprouts need it, it is perhaps a good idea to take seeds that are less demanding on our trip.
We take nuts, seeds, beans and grains when we go mobile, as they take less time to grow into an edible sprout and therefore require fewer Rinse/Drain cycles.
If you know you can manage to care for your sprouts every 8 - 12 hours you can easily grow leafy sprouts and brassicas too.
Here are the sprouters and seeds that will work best while on the road.
Eat More Sprouts + Grow More Often!
Bohemian Travel
Whether your traveling from point A to point B or wandering aimlessly, you can sprout these crops - even if your hiking!
These seeds are easy to sprout when life is un-scheduled:
Beans - Adzuki, Garbanzo, Lentils, Peas, etc.
Grains and Pseudograins - Amaranth, Kamut, Buckwheat Groats, Oats & Groats, Quinoa, Wheat, etc.
Nuts and Seeds - Almonds, Market Mix, Pumpkins, Peanuts, Sunflower, etc.
Semi-Bohemian Travel
If you are living in a room while on the road, you can grow these crops too!
These seeds can work even for the wanderer, but generally sprout best when life is somewhat scheduled:
Leafy Sprouts - Alfalfa, Clover and Mixes
Brassicas - Broccoli, Radish, Mustard, Cabbage, etc.
Mung Beans - Big, thick Mungs generally require extra attention.
Turtle Travel
If you carry your home with you, or plan on staying in one place for over a week,
you can grow these crops too!
These seeds (as well as those listed above for bohemians*) will work if you are on the road and at home at the same time or if you have a long stay planned.
Grass - Wheat, Kat, Oat, Barley, etc.
Greens - Sunflower, Pea, Buckwheat, etc.
Micro-Greens - Arugula, Bruno's Indoor Garden, Cress, Mizuna & any other tiny seed.
Bohemians and Semi-Bohemians:
Easy Sprout
Easy Sprout has a snap on lid that allows for easy hauling. You can even attach it to your backpack by sliding into a fabric sock - or do as the inventor does - slide it into a nylon stocking - that's easy to tie on!
Hemp Bag
Bags can attach even easier to a backpack and you don't even have to open them to Rinse your sprouts! When at a hotel it as home hanging in the sink faucet, if we're Greening our sprouts while driving, it can hang from the rear view mirror. This is the sprouter we travel with!
Turtles and Business Sprouters:
Not just for Bohemians:
Easy Sprout
Hemp Bag
SproutMaster
The finest tray sprouter ever, SproutMaster want to sit on a flat surface while it helps your sprouts grow. We aren't big supporters of Greens and Grass grown without a planting medium (though it is possible in SproutMaster) but we don't care to travel with soil. Fortunately we also have a soilless medium - Hemp Felt, which is good for The Road. You can carry it easily and cut it to fit SproutMaster with any scissors.
Compostable Tray
It only takes a week or so to grow a small crop of gourmet Micro-Greens with some Hemp Felt an a Compostable Tray, plus it is very small and easy to tend. If you are staying anywhere for 7 days or more you should take one - it's fun!
Choose the seeds you want to sprout and visit their Detail pages, print what you need but remember - we're always here - perhaps you can save the paper (the trees thank you), then decide on your sprouter by visiting their info pages and then make sure you understand the basics of sprouting and - now - you are Ready to Sprout. Have fun!
* We certainly do not mean - and we aren't saying - that RV people can't be Bohemian! In fact, it is on our list of possible futures; to be Bohemian Turtles!
The Basics of Sprouting:
- Seed Storage: Keeping your dormant seeds happy.
- Soaking: Turning a dormant seed into a nutritional powerhouse.
- Rinsing: Water is the key ingredient in sprouts. Use it liberally.
- Draining: It is essential that sprouts be drained thoroughly after rinsing. Sitting in a puddle is the most common cause of crop failure.
- Air Circulation: If your sprouts can’t breathe while growing - they can die. Don’t put them in a closed cabinet.
- Greening: Photosynthesis is cool, and so is Chlorophyll, but not all sprouts are into it, nor is it necessary. Sprouts of all colors are packed with flavor and nutrition!
- Cleanliness: Your seed should be clean and your sprouting device should be sterile. Wash your sprouter well between crops. Sterilize when necessary.
- Storage: Properly stored, fresh sprouts will keep for up to 6 weeks in your refrigerator but fresher is better. Never refrigerate wet sprouts.
- Eat More Sprouts! Grow More Often!