The Magic of Sprouting Beans
by Shawn Linehan
It seems appropriate to begin the new year by planting seeds. Why should having a garden be limited to those with big yards or warm weather? Anyone can sprout beans right in their kitchen in the dead of winter.
A bean is a hard little thing when dormant, but given the right circumstance, it will begin to grow, eliminating the toxic enzymes that helped keep it dormant and releasing nutritious enzymes instead. These enzymes liven the digestion, making sprouts a wonder food that is packed with Vitamin C, minerals, and protein. Allowing beans to sprout also reduces cooking time or even eliminates the need for cooking altogether.
The smaller the bean,
the yummier it is to eat raw, without cooking. Mung beans,
french green lentils, and raw sesame seeds are some of my favorites for
tossing into salads, eating as a side dish, or sautéing with eggs. I
also sprout garbanzo beans before turning them into falafel. (Well, ok, my hubby Ken turns it into falafel – the recipe is on my blog.)
We also like to sprout kidney and black turtle beans before cooking a dinner of
beans and rice.
It might seem
intimidating at first because it takes a few days for beans to sprout,
but all you have to do is soak them in water, rinse, and let them sit.
They sprout on their own like magic! Visit my photo gallery for step-by-step instructions and soon you'll be planting seeds and reaping a bounty of goodness.
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Future Farmers and ediblePortland
Portland, Oregon
Since I've been talking about planting seeds, I thought
I'd mention the article "Agriculture's Bright Future" in the latest issue of ediblePortland magazine. The story is about FFA of Oregon (formerly
Future Farmers of America) and its hardworking student members. I was asked to do the photography for the story, and during the shoot, I was impressed with the professional
and sincere attitudes of the students. Kerry Newberry wrote a great
article that describes them perfectly. Here are links to the ediblePortland article on them and an extended gallery of photos I took for the story.
The edibleCommunities publications comprise 33 magazines across the U.S. based in areas with thriving regional cuisine. They provide rich content on local foods, who grows it, and where to get it. The publications are free and can usually be found at food co-ops and grocery stores like Whole Foods. Check the edibleCommunities website to find the one in your region.
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Highlights from 2009
A new year is also time for looking back and assessing progress. This past year
has been transformative for me. I didn't expect that embarking on this journey
into learning about food and sustainability would so thoroughly change
how I live. First, I want to thank the staff at all the farms and
businesses that allowed me to photograph them and answered my multitude of questions. I'd also like to thank my friends, family,
and colleagues for supporting my adventures and offering much-needed
encouragement to continue with the newsletters. It has been a lot of
work, but your comments have made it feel worthwhile. Lastly,
I'd like to thank my childhood friend and amazing editor, Margie McKelvy, one of the smartest and wordiest people I know. If
you need a clever, witty linguist, please contact me and I'll put you in touch.
To recap the year: I visited cattle, vegetable, and mushroom farms, a fish hatchery, and an apiary.
I found fantastic food, bike, and dairy co-ops. I discovered that fashion can be elegant, practical, and sustainable at the same time (thanks Nau!). I've made new friends, photographed artists and artisans, and met Bob of Bob's Red Mill. Seeing as how I am based in Portland, of course beer and bikes came up, but I also covered some farms in my native NC.
I've also had to photograph chickens MANY times – they move so fast! But all that effort was worth it, as I am honored to have one of my photos on the cover of a calendar. Patrick Barber designed a chicken calendar for Zenger Farm as a fundraiser, and it's not too late to get one and support a great educational farm at the same time.
I've got more photos and adventures to share in the coming year, including straw bale housing, organic certification, angora rabbits, and CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture). So, let's toast to 2010, and I hope you have a sproutrageous new year!
Here's a hard link to this newsletter if you'd like to print it and/or share it with a friend.
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Black turtle beans that have sprouted.
Sprouted mung beans
Rachel Thomas of Hillsboro, Oregon with her winning FFA dairy cow at the 2009 Oregon State Fair.
 An FFA student grooms her pig in preparation for the Swine Show at the Oregon State Fair.
I actually got to play in the dirt at Oregon Tilth's Luscher Farm. Photo by Conner Voss.
A photo from my trout fishing adventure on the McKenzie River. Photo by Tiffany Haugen.
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