Even in the tiniest little area, we love to grow things. Right now we are staying with grandma who does not want a garden in the backyard so we are making due with a tiny balcony. As I was making hummus the other day- which I make raw by first sprouting my garbanzo beans- it occurred to me that if they sprout, they must be able to grow! I know, I'm quick that way. So we planted one and now it is growing. I have never seen a garbanzo bean plant and it really never even occurred to me that they grow on green plants. But that is what modern living has done to many of us. We know so very little about the foods we eat.
Here is our little garbanzo bean after about one week! Very energetic and eager to get growing.
The other seeds we're trying right now are chia seeds. Yup, from the chia pet fame. Apparently chia seeds were used by Native Americans as an excellent food source. They are sort of up and coming in the health food scene as a nutritious seed that expands in your stomach making you feel full after eating it. We add them to our dried fruit and nut bars. They are virtually tasteless and difficult to eat on their own since they are so tiny. Imagine eating a handful of miniature poppy seeds- it's kind of like that. But super good blended together with raw cacao nibs, coconut oil, agave and goji berries and hemp & sesame seeds- chilled and then cut into squares. We are all very curious to see what kind of plant this turns out to be. We looked up pictures and they grow quite large and when they would go to seeds the Indians would just swipe their hands across them and gather the seeds without even needing to get off of their horses. Now that's fast food!