Setting up a Sprouting Lentils Micro Farm

Alright so for my first official post on here I decided to pick a topic that has saved me a bundle both on my home made chicken feed (post with recipe to come) and on my own weekly grocery shop too. Sprouting lentils!

I don't know about you guys but lentils were always those kind of mushy things that my Mom loved putting in soups and stews. It wasn't until I came across a fascinating pin (yes I'm addicted to Pinterest!!) that I realized that lentils could be so much more versatile.

Not only are lentils a fantastic source of plant based protein which is fantastic for humans and chickens alike, but they are also cheap to buy at under 1 Euro per large bag (dried) and they store in their dried form for months if not years in the cupboard without going bad. There are many different types of lentils out there but the main three that I use are red, green and giant lentils and a 500g bag of them can feed me and the chicks for around a week so super cost effective.

To set up your own micro farm all you really need are suitable containers (I use the ones that my veg come packaged in from the supermarket as I'm a big fan of both upcycling and anything free!) a fairly fine sieve and a bag of lentils. Anything that you can start up for less than 1 Euro has to be worth a try in my book!!

OK so for my set up I use one of the larger veg containers with a smaller one inside (that way you get double story sprouting area and save on your kitchen surface space) with a third small tray for a lid like so....

As you can see my micro farm is already in action. In reality you can use any size/shape container that you want depending on your usage needs and the time you want to devote to it. I currently have 10 trays on the go, so 5 stacks like the ones shown above which I find more than meets my needs and that of my chicks. The key to having a nice tray of lentils ready and waiting for you every morning is a phased approach. Basically you will need to start off a new tray of dry lentils every day if you want to harvest a new tray each morning. Again you can experiment with this approach in order to meet your needs so have a play around until you find what works best for you.

Step 1. make sure that your containers are totally sterile by giving them a good scrub in warm water and soapy liquid. Make sure that you rinse them thoroughly though as soapy lentils are not a pleasant taste!!

Step 2. spread a layer about 3 lentils deep evenly across the bottom of your tray and then add enough water to come around 1 cm higher than the lentils. This ensures that they have enough water overnight to soak up fully so they should be nice and fat and ready to sprout by the next morning.

Morning comes and you should have a nice tray of fat little lentils waiting for you.

Step 3. take your sieve and drain the lentils over the sink giving them and the container a good wash with cold water. This prevents the lentils going stale or moldy so it is vital that you wash them regularly (at the very least every other day if you live in a cold climate but daily is recommended)

Once washed put the lentils back in the tray and start yourself a fresh tray of dried lentils soaking ready for tomorrow then its just a case of rinse and repeat and within 3 days you should have some nice juicy lentil sprouts which chickens absolutely adore. Don't be afraid to sample the fruits of your labor yourself either. I find that they are great in salads, sandwiches, soups and stews and they are incredibly good for you so keep on experimenting!

#Food #Chickens #MicroFarm