Grow Sprouts?

I have a sprout tower, 4 trays plus bottom water collector dish and top cover.  Here are my winter sprout growing tips:

Cover the sprout tower, or jar if you use the traditional jar and screen method, with a tea towel to keep the spouts warmer if your house is chilly.  The towel will also keep the seeds in the dark during sprouting stages.  You may want to let them have a day of light to increase their green chlorophyll content when they have tiny leaf buds.

Start with the best quality sprout seed you can get.  Even if your seed is organic, rinse it and clean out any visibly damaged seed.  I also rinse my seed a few times after soaking.
When you are soaking the sprout seeds at the beginning of the process, keep them covered and dark as they probably would be in nature.  Don't forget you have soaking seed or sprouts to water!  That's why I like to keep them on the counter, covered, instead of in a dark kitchen closet, where they may be forgotten.  Even in the dry desert, this time of year I can get away with watering my sprouts twice a day, morning and night.  I try to time the watering to 12 hours apart.  When I am off schedule  my sprouts have been forgiving.

Those of you who have been following my posts for a while know I started as a sprouts in the jar traditionalist.  I used the cotton "cheese cloth" and rubber band over the mouth of the jar to strain the water out of the sprouts after watering.  I propped the jar on the side of the sink for a while to let the water drip out.  After a while, you can set the jar on its side, on a counter, and wrap it in a clean cloth or tea towel to keep it warm and dark.  The seeds grow pretty well if drained, yet kept moist.  You may modify watering frequency for your climate and time of year.  I find I need to water more often in the summer.  I also find that the seeds like to stay close together the first day or two, away from the screen.  It seems to help them stay moist in little groups.  Judge your climate.  You may need keep moisture controlled differently than I do.

Most important of all, clean your sprouting jars or trays very thoroughly between crops.  Hot water and pure soap, a brush to get in corners or crevices (cheap toothbrush or dish brush may do), a clean cloth to clean the surfaces... Because the water drips down through the 4  trays of sprouts in my tower, after the soap and hot water, I clean the sprouting tower with rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide on a cotton ball or little piece of paper towel to be sure there are no lingering evils.  If there is any discoloration in the corners, I use a toothpick to rub it out.  I also use a toothpick to dislodge any tiny seeds stuck in the tray water drip holes.  When all that is cleaned and rinsed, dry it or let air dry, and you have a clean start.

Glass jars are usually dishwasher safe.  Some plastic sprouting equipment is not.  Feedback from users of some brands of sprout towers and trays report that the equipment can withstand a few washings in the top level of the dishwasher, but after several dishwasher episodes, the sprout equipment may start to lose its quality.  Check manufacturer cleaning instructions for your particular brand.

I cannot stress the importance of keeping your sprouting equipment very clean.  It is your food you are growing.  If the sprouts look bad in any way, or smell bad, or if you are in doubt for any reason, do NOT eat them.  Just toss them, clean you equipment very well, and try again.  Even the old Southwest Desert Blogger has had a few bad batches.  Chalk it up to learning, and do better next time.  I have seen bad sprouts in the store on several occasions, so I happens to pros too.  If you see bad, slimy, or brown tipped sprouts in the store, report it to the produce manager so they can remove these potentially dangerous items from the shelf.

Check other internet sources for sprout safety, growing, and cleaning tips.  

Sprout on,
Southwest Desert Blogger
C. (c)2013

End of the Unknown Caller, Sprouts, and New Year

I cracked the code of the Unknown Caller.  It was a collection company trying to find someone who I do not know.  I told them to take my number off their dang robo calling system or I'd notify various offices of the government.  Yep, the federal government of these United States.  Enough of the rant.

Been thinking of all you Southwest Desert Blogger readers.  I wanted to republish my Holiday Haiku, originally published around this time 2011!  Time flies.  I am not comfortable with this new fangled Blogger blog system... can't find a darned thing since they changed the system..  It is too frustrating, so I haven't been posting.

Now that it is cold in the Southwest Desert, i.e., in the 50s or 60s (Fahrenheit) by day and around freezing some nights, I am sprouting everything in sight: green peas, beans (mung, aduki, chick pea), red lentils, clover, alfalfa, radish, broccoli seed,and sunflower seed.  I have been letting the bean type sprouts grow to about 1/4 10 1/3 inch then clean any unsprouted or broken parts out and store in the fridge.  They continue to grow slowly.  I add them to salad, soup or broth such as miso, and you can sprinkle some on just about any dinner food, even pasta. 

I make a quick warm drink / broth of hot water, a spoon or 2 of tamari or shoyu (soy sauce to you) to taste (not too much!) a bit of sliced or diced garlic and ginger to taste (don't overdo it, can use powders), and a little helping of bean or lentil sprouts all in a small bowl or mug. You can add a little slivered or thin sliced green onion for color and flavor.  You can use Bragg's liquid aminos instead of tamari.  It's a quick and easy warm up.

I'm enjoying my 4 tier sprout tower.  It saves counter space compared to the sprouting in jars on the counter method.
Some folks sprout in the closet-- I mean put the jars of sprouts in the dark kitchen closet until they are grown enough to turn green in the light.  Just don't forget you left them in the closet or you'll find dried, hard, shriveled seeds there in the spring;)(:

We made it through that Mayan 2012 business, so let's have a Happy and Safe New Year.  You know what I mean?  Have fun...but not too much.  Maybe you can lassoo one of those Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons who's been coming to your door to drive you around tonight.  They can give out literature while you are in the bar.

Happy New Year from
Southwest Desert Blogger
C. (c) 2012

(301)223-0073 What's your scam?

Today I got 2 calls from this phone number:  (301)223-0073  UNKNOWN NAME.
Yesterday I got 2 calls from that number.
A couple of days before that I got 2 calls from that number.
And 2 calls from that number the day before that...
And a call the day before that...
The phone calls just trigger my voice mail, but never leave a message.  If I answer the call and speak, I get no response.  What's the scam? 
OK UNKNOWN NAME, I'm closing in on you.  I know you are a landline from Williamsport, Maryland.
I know your phone carrier and your zip code.  I know others regard you as scam or spam.  So, just quit the sophomoric misbehavior.
If you Southwest Desert Blogger readers wonder what you get when you phone that number, just go ahead and try.  Let me know.
Let me know if you know anything about this or if you have some of this weirdness going on on your phone.
Is the Federal NO CALL LIST working for anyone out there?
Peeved,
Your Southwest Desert Blogger

Got Irritating Weird Phone Calls?

For weeks I have been getting calls from this phone number:  (301) 223-0096.  They do not leave voice mail, they do not respond when I answer the call, and there is no response when I dial their phone number.  A reverse number search revealed that other people are getting calls from this number and trying to figure out where these calls are originating from.  What's going on?  Anyone out there know?

I don't want to float any paranoid conspiracy theories, but...why an I getting these calls every day and sometimes twice a day?  The caller ID reads, "UNKNOWN NAME" ....  Give them a call and see what I mean. 

10% off already discounted prices TODAY ONLY!

Today, November 26 and possibly November 27 also, get an additional 10% off any purchase at iherb.com plus free shipping on orders over $20.  I have noticed that if the order weighs too much, you can still get free shipping on all orders over $40.  AND, use discount code WAL660 at check out and get an additional $5 off your first order.  iherb sells supplements, natural and raw food, nuts, energy bars, organics, body care products, pet food, teas, oils, .... check it out.
You can use the discount code WAL660 any time for the $5 off first purchase. They ship internationally.

Won't Publish Anonymous Comments

Sorry Anonymous, I won't publish any comments from folks who don't have enough courage to identify themselves.  To you I say, "There is this blame the victim mentality in the Omega VRT350HD culture that assumes everyone who has a problem with the VRT350HD is force feeding it."  Sorry pal, that was never the case here.  If you had read all my Omega VRT350HD posts you would have read that I allowed produce to feed at its own pace and rarely used the pusher tool.  And I mean rarely.  Still the juicer exhibited all the problems I spoke of in the numerous OmegaVRT350HD posts. 

And another thing, unplugging the little yellow plug did not dislodge the wads of stringy pulp, etc. that were stuck and extremely difficult to clean out. 
You did not mention what you juice.  But I certainly do not need your advice on another expensive juicer to buy.
For all I know, you sell the OmegaVRT350HD and naturally want to defend it.  No forum for that here.  Get your own Blog.  I see all the search terms people use to get here, and they sound seriously dissatisfied with the OmegaVrt350HD.  
So glad you are enjoying your pulpy juice, made with your expensive juicer, with it's expensive replacement parts.  Not all of us are having that blissful (and pricey) OmegaVRT trip.

Some of the vegetable wedged and pulled out of the bowl ports (photos above) after juicing.

Wondering whether they're drinking fresh juice or the Cool-Aid?
I did not misspell.  I intended it to read and provoke thought.
Southwest Desert Blogger
c. 2012

Best Search Terms of the Week

The Best Search Terms of the Week award goes to these four Southwest Desert Blogger readers:

1.  vert 350 hd junk

2. can i put ice cubes into an omega vrt350

3. drawbacks of omega vrt350

4. is it normal for the omega vrt350 to leak juice at the base

These are not necessarily in order of my preference, but how can you beat #1?  Number 4 isn't bad either.
Number 3 is verbally sophisticated.  "Drawbacks."  Nicely worded.  Scroll back in time, starting Sept. 2011, for my experience with the VRT350HD.
But the winner of the all time best Search Terms award is the "omega vrt350hd sucks" person --  A man of few words and kindred spirit of this week's winner, "vert 350 hd junk."  Disclaimer:  These search terms are not my original phrases, but real search terms people used to get to this site. The opinions expresses in the search terms are those of the searchers.

Is it normal for the omega vrt350 to leak juice at the base?  In my common sense, Southwest Desert Blogger logic, NO JUICER SHOULD LEAK!!!  unless you occasionally overfeed it or close off the juice spout.  This should be a rare event.  If you have a piece of junk juicer or it leaks often, see about returning it.  I hope you can.

Ice cubes?  I never put them in any juicer, so I don't know what happens.  I personally would not try it.  I have a good quality blender (not one of those $400 blenders).  It cost under $50 and it has a dedicated ice crusher button.  It works well for smoothies.  I used to go to the smoothie shop and saw that those $7.00 smoothies (then add the tip to that!) had a generous helping of ice blended into the mix. So, I got a blender that could crush 4-6 ice cubes in a pint or quart of smoothie.  That makes the smoothie super cold, especially if you use frozen fruit.  Just fruit, ice, a bit of water to blend, and perhaps raw carob powder, a tiny bit of maca, raw cacao, protein powder, a spoon of coconut oil, hemp seeds, chia seeds, acai, or any combination.  You can get those ingredients at discounts at www.iherb.com.  Use discount code WAL660 at checkout for $5 or $10 off your first purchase.   

Hovering around 100 degrees (F) in the desert, but it's a dry heat,
Southwest Desert Blogger
P.S. tonight is the last Blue Moon until 2015.  Make a wish and enjoy.
C. (c)2012

Got Natual Supplements and Food at Big DISCOUNT?

Southwest Desert Blogger has been telling you to save money and get the quality natural and nutritional products you want (even raw) at iherb.  All you vegans and others who want to try B-12, now is the time...

Receive $10 off your first order of $40 or more, or $5 off on smaller orders, when using my code: WAL660
Or, use the following custom link with the discount code in it: 
 http://www.iherb.com/?rcode=WAL660
You can send the link to friends and they can use it.  
Also select one free item from the freebies selection before you check out.
With over 32,000+ products in stock, and zero sales tax, I encourage you to shop at iHerb for all of your natural product needs.

Help support this blog, help those you know get quality vitamins, herbs, organic products, raw products, natural pet products, skin products, etc. at substantial discounts.
iherb ships in USA and internationally.  Southwest Desert Blogger has been buying from them for over 10 years.  Shipping is quick, items and well packed, prices are below what you are probably paying now.  See what your supplements, protein powders, energy bars, soaps cost at iherb -- you'll save.  Thanks for checking it out.  Send feedback.

I like Madre Labs Cafeceps (organic) and acai (great in smoothies at a great price), New Chapter, and Garden of Life.  You can even get dry skin brushes.

In a soupy southwest d.esert monsoon,
Southwest Desert Blogger  is waiting for your feedback.

No Omega VRT rant today!  See previous posts dating all the way back to September of last year.

Got More Search Terms?

These search terms got you to Southwest Desert Blogger this week: omega vrt brush broke

omega vrt complain

omega vrt350 juicer leaking

omega vrt350 strainer

omega vrt350hd and how can you keep juice Brush broke?  RIP (rest in peace).  How did you break it?  I suggest getting a dish cleaning brush at a discount store.  More bristles to clean the screen more easily no matter what juicer you have.  My opinion:  The Omega VRT 350HD brush is of little use anyway.  There are so many hard to clean little areas on the VRT350HD, plus all the other problems, I just sent it back to where I got it.  Omega VRT complain?  Join the club.  Folks come to this site with Omega VRT "issues" so you are not alone.  Complain to the folks who sold it to you.  What would you like them to do about it?  Return your money?  Ask for what you want.  That juicer cost too much for you to complain. Get happy. Omega VRT350 juicer leaking?  How well I remember that mess.  Glad I got rid of it.  We put folks on the moon decades ago.  Why can't we make a juicer that doesn't leak? I worried that the juice leaked into the motor housing.  Who knows?  The official response amounted to blame the victim.  Are you doing something wrong?  Should you dice the produce before juicing?  :-)  Don't blame me.  Then again, sometimes stuff just happens. Omega 350HD strainer?  As I've said in my strainer post, "Don't strain yourself." See 2/2/2012 post. Omega VRT350HD and how can you keep juice?  Probably best to keep it in the fridge, on ice, in a cooler...keep it cold and sealed, as in a jar with tight-fitting lid.  I would keep my jar in a zip lock baggie for transport, such as to work, in case the jar leaks.  The zip locks can be reused.  I found the Omega VRT350HD vegetable juice separated within an hour or two.  I did not expect that.  Yes, most juice will separate, but I thought the VRT350HD juice was said to be more stable. One of the informational items that came with the juicer states "Store Juice Up to 72 Hours!"  Silly me, I thought that meant it would be good for 72 hours.  Depends upon your definition of good. There was a picture of two glasses of juice. The caption reads "VERT Which would you rather drink?  Our Juice or Their Juice" and below Our Juice is a picture of a glass of juice with a bit of a head on it.  The color is consistent throughout.  The Their Juice glass has some foam too, but the juice has separated (if you know what I mean).  Sorry Omega, in my fridge your juice separated too. Run some tests and let me know your findings. Send me some feedback, findings, opinions and I may publish them. Sincerely, Southwest Desert Blogger C. (c)2012 P.S.  I don't run ads that track you!  One way you can support this blog is by shopping for your nutritional supplements, natural products, health foods, healthy pet foods, organic lotions, soaps, shampoos, etc. at a discount at www.iherb.com and using discount code WAL660 for $5 off first purchase.  Enter the code at checkout.  They ship internationally.  Be sure to add one freebie with your order.  Thanks.

Got Perseid Meteor Showers?

Yep.  We got 'em tonight, the later and darker the better, until just before dawn.  Plus, as a bonus, the brightest planets in our solar system, Jupiter and Venus, will be in the middle of the shower, as will the crescent moon.  This meteor shower peaks tonight (8/12/12) with over 100 shooting stars predicted per hour.
If it is cloudy, or you sleep through tonight, just try again tomorrow night.
Hope you see your lucky star.
Southwest Desert Blogger
P.S.  To the Southwest Desert Blogger readers who are searching for Omega VRT 350HD parts, I saw some on eBay.
C. (c)2012