"Wheatgrass is a super source of chlorophyll and also has a wide range of vitamins and minerals. Dr. Ann Wigmore of Hippocrates Health Institute, an expert in the field of living foods nutrition, pioneered research to establish the value of wheatgrass. She found that wheatgrass juice duplicates the molecular structure of hemoglobin, a vital part of the blood, and because it is so rich in free radical scavengers provided by its high incidence of provitamin A, it may inhibit malignancies. The chlorophyll it contains is a cell stimulator, rejuvenator and red blood cell builder. It also purifies the blood which helps to cleanse the kidneys, liver and urinary tract. This contributes to regularity and a healthy bowel." --Jay Kordich, The Juiceman's Power of Juicing
"Wheatgrass elevates your vibration and you become more aware that there is something higher going on that is not perceptible with the physical senses, but which can be perceived with the higher senses." --'Sproutman' Steve Meyerowitz, Wheatgrass, Nature's Finest Medicine
A leaf of grass is "no less than the journey-work of the stars." --Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass
Growing and juicing your own wheatgrass is well worth the effort. Chlorophyll is as close to the molecular structure of human blood as anything on the planet. It contains a complete range of nutrients that can by itself sustain life. It's like rocket fuel for the body. I like to think of it as drinking liquid light. And it's not that difficult to grow. The important thing is to work out a simple system that works for you. When I first got involved in juicing wheatgrass, I grew my grass in a FreshLife Sprouter. The sprouter works hydroponically by using a pump to recycle water over the seeds which sprout on trays inside two small plastic barrels. I found that I was constantly battling problems with mold by using the hydroponic sprouter method. I'm sure there are ways to minimize the mold. For me, the answer was turning to a system of growing wheatgrass in trays. Some people use trays such as those used in school lunchrooms. I was able to get trays free of charge at the local health food store. These are trays that wheatgrass arrives in at the store. Once the wheatgrass is cut and juiced, the trays are generally discarded. If handled gently, the trays can be reused many times. I bought compost at Wal-Mart for under $3 for a 50-pound bag. Compost from your own compost pile can be used, but should be very clean and screened if you're going to use it to grow wheatgrass. I tried using compost from my pile but I experienced problems with mold and a sparcer tray of grass. For me, it's easier to use compost from the store because it's more sterile, and produces a thicker tray of grass without the contaminants. I also have fewer problems with mold. I buy the winter wheatberries in the bulk section at the health food store for 60 cents a pound. I soak a cup of wheatberries for about 24 hours, then prepare a tray with half an inch of compost in the bottom, enough to completely cover the bottom of the tray. Then I pour the soaked wheatberries on top of the compost and make sure they are evenly distributed. I water them well, then place another tray on top of them for about two to three days. This helps to get the seeds started sprouting. I keep two trays going all the time. One tray is ready to harvest and the other is just getting started. I use about one tray of wheatgrass a week and always have a steady supply of wheatgrass to juice for about $1 a week. Note: consumed by itself, wheatgrass juice is extremely sweet and may make you nauseated. I always mix it with carrot and other juices. When starting out, it's best to limit your intake to 1 oz. of wheatgrass juice per day and gradually work up to 2 oz. It's best not to drink more than 2 oz. per day unless you're taking a therapeutic dose under the care of a naturopath or other health professional.