Wheatgrass juice is a sweet green juice produced by pressing young wheat, barley or spelt plants. It's bursting with natural vitamins, phytochemicals, minerals, chlorophyll and enzymes and is an excellent health supplement. What's more it can be grown easily and inexpensively in your own home.

Growing Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass grows best in trays of soil, positioned in indirect sunlight at a temperature of about 65-75 degrees F.  However, if you prefer not to bring soil into your house,then use one of the soil-free growing methods as these work nearly as well. Trays need to be placed in a suitably lit growing position such as on a well-lit but fairly shaded windowsill (this could be either indoors, or in an out house, garage, conservatory or porch).  If you are short of space, then trays can be stacked on top of one another, perhaps by installing shelves across the width of a window, or by using a floor rack.

One of the pioneers of growing and using wheatgrass juice was Ann Wigmore of the Hippocrates Health Institute who recognised its health benefits more than 30 years ago. She also invented the use of wheatgrass implants for therapeutic purposes. You will find comprehensive growing instructions of how she grew wheatgrass in trays of soil in her book The Wheatgrass Book. Elaine Bruce, who runs the UK's Living Foods Programme also uses soil in her trays, which she mixes with home-produced organic compost, rock dust and coir. Complete growing instructions are given in her book Living Foods for Radiant Health.

Soil Method

In the warmer months of the year I use a garden soil/home-produced garden compost mix to which I add some seaweed meal.  I place a 2.5cm layer of this mixture in the bottom of my seed trays, which are then seeded with two-day sprouted wheatberries. I then moisten the soil and place another tray over the top, which is left there until the grass shoots reach about 2.5cm tall and then removed. The trays are kept in a rainproof, plastic-covered propagator rack outside my back door.

Hydroponic Method

1.  Soak the spelt berries in a jar of water for about 9-12 hours, drain off the water, then sprout the berries in a sprout bag/sprouting jar for about 2 days until they have a small shoot and rootlets. Rinse once/twice daily.

2. Spread the sprouted spelt berries evenly over the bottom of the gravel tray and cover with another tray to keep out the light. Rinse once/twice daily using a seive.

3. Place the covered tray inside a large, clear, plastic bag, folding the bag loosely around the edges so that some air can enter.  (There should be about 25-28cm of air space above the tray when the bag is fully extended.)

4.  Continue to rinse daily. Remove the top tray when the grass shoots are about 2.5cm high, raising the plastic bag upwards, as the grass grows taller. 

5.  Rinsing Instructions: When the berries are undeveloped the easiest way to rinse them is to simply tip them into a sieve and rinse them under a running tap for about 30 seconds. However, as the shoots develop and the berries start to root, just flood the trays with water under a running tap instead. Be sure to drain off excess water afterwards. Carefully tip the tray upside down, whilst holding the spelt mat firmly in place so that it doesn't fall out.

6. The grass is ready for harvesting when it is about 15-25cm high. Cut it with a pair of sharp scissors. I use spelt berries most of the time because I find them easier to grow and less prone to mould than wheat berries.

If you are short of time and regular rinsing does not appeal you may like to consider the various hydroponic and automatic sprouters that are available such as the Freshlife Automatic Sprouter  (from the Organic Gardening Catalogue) and the EasyGreen Auto Sprouter (from the Fresh Network) which can also be used for wheatgrass production. These automated sprouters are rather expensive, but they can be useful for those who do not wish to spend time rinsing.

Juicing

In order to juice the wheatgrass you will need to purchase a special juicer. Suitable juicers include the Miracle Manual Juicer, the Matstone (aka Samson), the Easy Health Manual Juicer and the Green Star (Green Power).  These juicers can be purchased from suppliers such as The Organic Gardening Catalogue, the Fresh Network, Raw Living and Ethical Juicers.  Note: Long pieces of grass can  jam up the juicer. Therefore, I find it easier to wash the grass and cut it into 3-5cm lengths before juicing.

Taking the Juice

Grass juices should always be taken on an empty stomach about 30-45 minutes before a meal. A typical daily intake would be about 1-2 ounces of freshly squeezed juice, although more can be taken if using the juice for therapeutic purposes.  It is better to increase your wheatgrass intake gradually as it can have a powerful cleansing effect.  Try mixing the wheatgrass with other juices such as carrot, apple celery or tomato until you are used to the taste. Always drink the juice soon after pressing.

Recipe Suggestion:  Juice 1 large carrot and 2 small apples, plus a good handful of fresh wheatgrass.  Gradually increase the amount of wheat grass used.

Nutritional and Other Benefits

Grass juices are highly nutritious, containing chlorophyll, protein, over 80 different enzymes, the essential fatty acids linolenic acid and linoleic acid and a wide range of vitamins and minerals including all of the B vitamins, vitamins A, C, E and K, selenium, iron and calcium. These green juices are often used by alternative practitioners for healing purposes such as for treating cancer and skin disorders and for building up the blood and immune system. Few clinical trials have been conducted on these supposed health benefits though. Interestingly, experimental tests have shown that abscisic acid (present in wheatgrass juice) can cause deterioration of tumours in animals.   One of the most notable anecdotal cases is that of Eydie Mae Hunsberger who tells of how she successfully overcame breast cancer using wheatgrass juice and a living foods diet. Full details can be found in her book entitled 'How I Conquered Cancer Naturally'.