| Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), also known as Lucerne, | | | | them. |
| Purple Medick and Trefoil, is a cool season, flowering, | | | | Sprouts do not need light to grow, they do not start |
| perennial, legume. Alfalfa grows to a height of about | | | | to do photosynthesis until they grow leaves. Light |
| three feet and can live from five to twelve years. It | | | | has little if any effect without leaves. |
| is an important forage crop that grows throughout | | | | Twice a day rinse the seeds by adding a little water, |
| the world in an assortment of climates. Alfalfa | | | | swishing the jar around a little, drain the water. Keep |
| originated in Asia and was first cultivated by the | | | | seeds damp but not wet. |
| Arabs in Iran, before 700 BC. Related species are | | | | In just a few days, the sprouts should be growing. If |
| grow wild all over central Asia and into Siberia. In 490 | | | | everything goes well they will get to be a few inches |
| B.C. Roman writers give accounts of using Alfalfa as | | | | and white. |
| feed for their animals. Alfalfa was brought to | | | | On the 4th day, rinse them and drain off the excess |
| California during the Gold Rush, from South America. | | | | water, put the jar on a windowsill or tabletop where |
| Alfalfa can be used as pasture, hay, or cut and | | | | it is going to get plenty of sunlight. When |
| dehydrated to make protein rich meal. It is highly | | | | photosynthesis starts the sprouts will turn green. |
| valued as feed for cows, horses, sheep, goats, pigs, | | | | Eat them. |
| camels and llamas. It is the oldest forage crop in the | | | | Alfalfa juice. |
| U.S. | | | | Alfalfa juice can be made from sprouts, it is very |
| Normally alfalfa flowers are purple to blue-violet, | | | | strong and is best with other juices like carrot. Carrot |
| some have shades of white and yellow. Each flower | | | | cuts the strength of the alfalfa and the combination |
| grows on its own stalk from a common stem with 10 | | | | amplifies the individual benefits of each juice. I have |
| to 50 individual flowers. The flowers bloom from July | | | | seen this combination used with great success to put |
| to September. Alfalfa can be sown in spring or fall, it | | | | weight on people. |
| likes a well-drained soil with potash as a fertilizer. | | | | Alfalfa is a Legume. |
| Use for Humans. | | | | Legumes are plants with roots that can fix nitrogen |
| Alfalfa has a long history of folk use in Europe as a | | | | from the air. The air we breath is around 78% |
| spring tonic and an appetite stimulant. Alfalfa has | | | | nitrogen, plants need nitrogen to make chlorophyll, |
| been used by the Chinese since the sixth century to | | | | amino acids, proteins and nucleic acids. Fixation, is |
| treat kidney stones. It has an age-old reputation as a | | | | converting nitrogen from the air into forms plants can |
| nutritious food. Traditionally the whole herb and leaf | | | | use. Most fixation is done by symbiotic bacteria like |
| have been used. | | | | Rhizobium meliloti. |
| Because of a long root system which absorbs | | | | Alfalfa roots have nodules that contain the bacteria |
| minerals, alfalfa is an outstanding source of nutrition | | | | Rhizobium meliloti. Rhizobium meliloti is a nitrogen-fixing |
| with calcium, magnesium, potassium, beta-carotene, | | | | bacteria that lives in the soil and has established a |
| chlorophyll and vitamins A, B-12, C, D, E and K. The | | | | partnership with Alfalfa. The ability to fix nitrogen is |
| leaves contain all eight of the essential amino acids. | | | | restricted to a small number of species. Rhizobium |
| At this time there are no published studies that | | | | meliloti can only fix nitrogen within alfalfa. |
| consuming any amount of alfalfa or alfalfa juice is in | | | | For the garden. |
| anyway harmful for humans. I would not over do it | | | | Alfalfa is a good slow-release source of nitrogen for |
| because of Alfalfa's mild laxative effects. The seeds | | | | the garden and it's cheap. It supplies enzymes and |
| contain a mildly toxic amino acid L-canavanine, so you | | | | trace elements that chemical nitrogen fertilizers do |
| may be able to eat too much of the seeds if you | | | | not have. |
| really worked at it. | | | | Some of my gardening friends make an alfalfa tea |
| Alfalfa sprouts. | | | | and get great results with it on their roses, |
| Alfalfa sprouts are easy to grow and are highly | | | | delphiniums and irises. I am not a fan of the tea, I am |
| nutritious. They are great on salads and sandwiches. | | | | more of a lazy gardener and making the tea is too |
| You can buy sprouts from many grocery stores, but | | | | much like work. |
| just for fun, you should grow them for yourself at | | | | Pellets and meal are available from garden and feed |
| least once. There is something magic about watching | | | | supply stores in 50 lb. bags. I prefer pellets because |
| seeds grow in a glass jar. Every day they get a little | | | | they are easer to handle. Some people say pellets |
| bigger, children love it. | | | | take a bit longer to break down than meal. If this |
| How to grow sprouts: | | | | bothers you then put a heap in a bucket and fill it |
| Put a handful of seeds in a glass jar. | | | | with water. It turns to mush and you can pour the |
| Pore just enough water in the jar to completely | | | | mush around. My way of doing it is to buy a 50 lb. |
| covered the seeds. | | | | bag every year. Twice a year, during the spring, just |
| Put cheesecloth over the top of the jar. A piece of | | | | before a rain, I sprinkle half the bag around the |
| panty hose works just as well. | | | | garden. The flowers love me for it and they show |
| Put a rubber band around the outer edge of the jar | | | | their love. When it stops raining and the sun comes |
| to keep the cheesecloth in place. | | | | out I sit in my lawnchair and enjoy the flowers. |
| Soak the seeds overnight. | | | | Nothing in this essay is intended to diagnose, treat, |
| The next day, take the jar to a sink and turn it | | | | cure or prevent any disease. Alfalfa has not been |
| upside down to drain out the water. | | | | approved by the Food & Drug Administration for the |
| Seeds need to be damp but not entirely wet. You | | | | treatment of any disease. |
| just want to keep them moist but don't drownd | | | | |