How to Grow Wheatgrass

The History of Wheatgrass

Before we establish the wheatgrass habit, it might be good to know a short history of this ubiquitous substance called grass. Why on earth did people start drinking grass juice? You’d think that people would realize that grass is for cows! Wheatgrass juice and barley grass juice just a fad? Wheatgrass juice is very sweet, while barley grass juice is very bitter. In fact neither grass made into juice tastes really delicious but in fact they of all the health foods out there, really deliver health and fulfill all the claims made about them!

During the early 1900’s a man named Edmund Bordeaux Szekely discovered an ancient biblical manuscript which he subsequently translated. It was a remarkable discovery and Szekely was so enthralled with the translation that he formed a society he called the Biogenic Society to promulgate the teaching of this new (old) way of eating.

He began publishing the manuscripts in the form of little books, which he sold very inexpensively because he felt that the world needed the message. He called the books The Essene Gospel of Peace. The Essenes were a very righteous people who lived near the Dead Sea during the time of Jesus Christ. Christ actually taught them the laws of health during that time. The main teaching of Essene Book I is: Don’t kill your food by cooking it. The main teaching of Essene Book IV is : all grasses are good for man and wheatgrass is the perfect food for man. These little books can be purchased at any health food store.

In the 1940’s a man by the name of Charles Kettering (former Chairman of the Board of General Motors) donated money for the study of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll was studied intensively by medical doctors using FDA required standards i.e. double blind studies, etc. (There are currently over 40 articles written up in medical journals about the healing effects of chlorophyll.) These medical doctors found that chlorophyll was a great healer and used it as such for quite some time.

The next question is why aren’t they still using it? Answer: I am sure if drug companies knew that if the average individual knew that the chlorophyll from their backyard grass would heal them, then they probably
wouldn’t be using high powered high priced drugs! and then, who could make money?

Sometime during the 1940’s a lady by the name of Ann Wigmore healed herself of cancer from the weeds she found in vacant lots in Boston. (See Why Suffer by Ann Wigmore.) She began a study of natural healing modalities and with the help of a friend, Dr. Earp Thomas, she found that there are 4700 varieties of grass in the world and all are good for man.

With the help of her pets, she arrived at the conclusion that wheatgrass was the best-or the medicinal grass. She started an institute in Boston (Ann Wigmore Institute) and since then has taught people from all over the world about the grasses and the living food healing program and helped them get well from some very
serious diseases. She has written over 35 books telling about wheatgrass and living foods.

Here we are in the year 2000 and many people are finding out for themselves the great benefits of wheatgrass (liquid chlorophyll). Since Ann Wigmore’s time, there has also been research done on the healing properties of barley grass- by a Japanese man named Yoshihide Hagiwara.

Yoshihide Hagiwara was the owner of a large pharmaceutical company in Japan. He had personally developed numerous medications. He became extremely ill from working with drugs. He came to the conclusion that if synthetic drugs make a person sick, then how could they make one well?

He began to study Chinese medicine and found that the father of Chinese medicine said, “It is the diet which maintains true health and becomes the best drug.” Hippocrates, considered the father of western medicine, said basically the same thing. Ann Wigmore originally named her institute after Hippocrates based on his teaching that the body can act as its own physician when provided with the proper tools (living organic
nourishment), used in the way nature intended unprocessed, uncooked.

The truth seems to be that God originally designed the foods of the earth in such a way that they would not only nourish his earthly children, but would keep them at a peak of health. Our mistake seems to be that we alter this grand design by cooking, therefore destroying the food before we eat it.

- Author: KK Fowlkes

How to Grow “Genesis” Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass is easy to grow. Soak the seed for about 12 hours, then drain for about 12 hours. After that you sprinkle the seed on almost any porous surface, and watch it grow. The porous surface allows the root to attach and hold the plant upright. We have dropped seed on the floor, left some in a bucket, and if kept moist and above 60 degrees F., they will surprise you how they will grow 7-8 inches tall, with no soil.

Now let’s add some soil. It doesn’t matter how poor the soil is, it will still grow. It doesn’t matter if the wheat seed is a variety of wheat seed used for donuts, pasta, pizza, or crackers, it will still grow into wheatgrass. Now that I have said that, lets re-phrase the question, “How to Grow Nutritious Wheatgrass”. Well that’s easy too. It starts with the right seed, (the right variety and species and organic of course),a highly mineralized soil, and a good growing environment.

Since we have been able to help you with your selection of soil and seed, your environment will be your biggest challenge.Wheatgrass in usually grown indoors. For those who ask, yes it can be grown outdoors. It can be grown outside if you have a shady location.Wheatgrass can be grown outdoors during the fall and spring months before the weather gets too hot.Wheatgrass does not like being over 90 degrees F. It prefers 60-70 degrees F. During the hot days of summer, the black growing trays will absorb the heat of the sun and can easily overheat the roots.

Wheatgrass can be grown outdoors during the winter months if kept from freezing. The colder the weather the slower it will grow. Aso remember the childhood poem, birdie, birdie in the sky. You will have to protect your wheatgrass outside from birds flying overhead, prowling cats and other critters.

For consistent wheatgrass production, cleanliness and protection, its just better to grow wheatgrass indoors. Since we have customers from hot humid Florida to cold dry Utah, it’s hard for us to tell you which location in your home is the best. You will need to experiment as to which location in your home does the best.

With the proper seed, soil and environment, the following directions should get you started. Wheatgrass does not need direct sunlight. If you have adequate sunlight to grow plants indoors, you should be able to grow wheatgrass. Wheatgrass Seed needs at least 60 degrees F. or higher to sprout. Once the little seedlings reach a height of 1/4 to 1/2 inch high, you can lower the temperature. You will find it grows slower under 60 degrees F. The best temperature is between 60-75 degrees F. with good air circulation.

The warmer the temperature, the faster it grows. Keep in mind, the slower it grows with a cooler growing temperature, the longer it has to draw up the rich minerals from highly mineralized Genesis Wheatgrass Soil. (reference the link to Genesis Wheatgrass Seed). If the temperature starts getting above 80 degrees F., you will need to increase air circulation. Wheatgrass does not like being over 90 degrees F.. Keeping it a little on the dry side, instead of the wet side will help control mold. Mold likes it hot and wet with little air circulation.

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