Most people have had some sprouts at one point or another, whether it be some bean shoots on a salad or mung bean sprouts in a plate of Chinese Chow Mien. However, more and more people are starting to become aware of the power of these ’superfoods’ not just as an addition to something else, but as an amazing meal in and of themselves. Growing sprouts at home capitalizes on this as a simple, low cost and convenient (if you do it the right way…) solution of having the freshest nutritious foods grown right in your home.

Once a grain or seed begins to grow, they are known as ‘Sprouts’ and they are often classified as ‘Superfoods’. They contain high values of vitamins, minerals, digestive enzymes and amino acids that are not found in the unsprouted seed. There is a long list of health benefits, but perhaps the most basic and significant feature of these living superfoods is that the process of growing them allows you full control over their cultivation. No hidden pesticides, chemical fertilizers or any other nasties but the water from your own sink. In a time when we can never really be sure what has happened to the food we eat before it reaches our dinner plate, the importance of such a method cannot be overstated.

Additionally, growing sprouts at home can be done in many places where vegetables cannot be either grown or transported to, while still fresh enough to deliver health benefits. If the climate is too hot or cold or even if you lived on a boat, you can still have access to fresh, live, sprouted vegetables when you learn the basics of sprouting. Even if you do live in an area where vegetables are accessible, sprouts are never out of season.

Sprouts offer health benefits that are too good to be dismissed. The human body thrives on living foods, particularly those that are rich in oxygen. As wonderful as these foods are, there are climates where it is unrealistic to expect people to be able to cultivate them. In extremely cold or hot climates, the only option to have fresh food that does not have to travel hundreds (or thousands) of miles to its destination is to create an indoor greenhouse. Extremely cold environments would require the use of an indoor heated greenhouse that is extremely expensive and complicated to establish and maintain. On the other end of the spectrum, high desert environments are usually low on water, and to use hundreds of gallons of water over a growing season when most of it evaporates is unsustainable. Even in areas that are perfect for growing large amounts of fresh vegetables, growing a good variety of foods all year is not feasible.

To combat all of these roadblocks, the answer can lie in growing sprouts. You can create a mini greenhouse (or multiple greehouses), using a jar or similar sprouter, right on your kitchen counter or other convenient position. This simple set-up provides you and your family with an abundance of fresh, oxygen and enzyme rich foods all year round. There is also a basic yet revolutionary new method of growing sprouts known as the Marche Sprouting Method. It offers an amazingly simple process that eliminates the need for daily rinsing and spoiled sprouts. The bonus is that it is cheap, fast and reliable and you can grow as little or as much as you like.