There are several ways to grow your own wheat grass and take advantage of this low cost high nutrient item. I have experimented with a few different home made systems. My intention has been to develop a simple system that addresses space issues, cost and a busy lifestyle.

This process takes 7-10 days from beginning to harvest. It typically requires less than five minutes of time every 12 hours during this growth period.

Here are the supplies you will need:

• 16" wide plastic tray with holes drilled in the bottom ~ 1" apart
• Large glass jar or old vase
• Netting cloth for the top of the jar + a rubber band
• Cloth/towel to cover the jar during sprouting process
• Cold water source with strong spraying capabilities - kitchen sink, bath tub, or outdoors garden hose. Filtered water inside is a nice choice!
• Cooler environment with ventilation
• 1 cup of hard winter wheat berries - best purchased in bulk at a busy health food store. Fresher seeds grow better.
• Juicer for juicing after harvest.

Once you have your tray ready, the rest of the items are rather easy to find around the house. I often work from the kitchen sink and in the winter; use the shower area rather than the outdoor patio. In the summer, bees can like the wheatgrass too. I also learned that felines like the drainage water if you are capturing/recycling the water.

To get started, soak 1 cup of seeds for approximately eight hours or over night in the jar. Rinse the seeds thoroughly after soaking, secure the netting cloth with a rubber band on the top and drain off the excess water.

Rest the jar at a 45 degree angle with the seeds scattered along the side of the jar. I find this works best in the kitchen sink or a cool place away from activity. Cover it with a towel to keep light to a minimum. Rinse the seeds every 8-12 hours with cold water until the seeds grow ~ ¼"- ½" long. This entire process takes approximately 1-2 days depending on the seeds.

After the seeds have some growth on them, they are ready to be transferred to the tray. Scatter them evenly over the tray and spray them with cold water for 2-3 minutes or until thoroughly rinsed. Higher water pressure does not require as long of watering time.

I have rinsed trays outside, in the kitchen sink and in the shower. Use whatever works best for your situation. It also works to spray the tray inside and then put the tray in a cool place away from too much heat or sun.

When you reach this stage it is simply a growth and maintenance phase. The seed tray will need rinsed with strong cool water every 8-12 hours. More often works better than less often to eliminate possible mold growth. There is really not much to do other than let your wheat grass grow for about a week.

As the wheatgrass gets larger, you can lift up the root structure and rinse underneath. The biggest potential issue to address is mold. Overall, mold will not hurt most people, and often grows at the bottom of the tray below the harvesting cut off line. It is something I do not like or want on my wheat grass!

Your wheat grass will grow better in a moderate or cooler shady environment - 50 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. If it is warmer than 85-90 degrees, the grass tends to wilt. This is also when mold likes to grow.

A citrus based spray such as lemon juice with water work well to chase any mold away. You could make your own with some of the rinds of lemon mixed with cold water. Fresh seeds also are a large factor. Some seeds are moldy when you buy them and I have noticed a profound difference in the quality of the seed depending on which source I have acquired the seeds.

In terms of when to harvest and how to harvest, there are a few philosophies available. Once the blades are beginning to split, it is a good time to harvest your crop. You can put the full tray in the refrigerator with a large plastic bag and cut some off as needed.

It also works to cut it all off with a knife and store it in a glass dish with a cover - wet paper towel works well along with a glass plate to cover the dish. If you really want to, you can grow a second batch. The grass has a more bitter flavor the second time around.

Overall, this is the easiest most cost effective method I have successfully used many times. I have also experimented with growing several trays at different stages using recycled water and a pump system that rinses the trays approximately every four to six hours depending on the time of year and the climate. That is a nice option to use with a multiple electrical programmed timer if you are frequently away from home.

For an initial investment of less than five dollars you can have your own tray of fresh healthy wheat grass rinsed with the water of your choice. Most trays cost anywhere from $8.50 to $15 a tray with no guarantees to the freshness or the quality of water that was used.

Happy Growing and Juicing!