Renovation & Design
Renovation & Design
Microgreens add unique flavour to dishes
I should have realized gardening would be one of my callings back in Grade 1. A science experiment where we had to sprout seeds saw me faithfully watching over mine.
I can still recall the fascination of watching that first sign of life emerge from the previously dormant seed. I just thought it was miraculous a plant was growing from this seed.
When my sprouts were tall enough, I potted them and proudly took them home. My mother suggested I plant the young plants in the garden in an area I could call my own. Once planted, I thought Mother Nature had nothing on me. Later the same day, my father stopped to pull a few weeds from the garden as he came home from work. Yes, he pulled out my plants! I don't think I ever saw my father more remorseful.
My little story offers a segue to today's column on growing your own microgreens -- sprouted seeds or legumes. Microgreens are different from sprouts in that they are grown in a soil-free potting mix as opposed to water for the sprouts. While the seed, root and stem are eaten with sprouts, with microgreens, you cut off the stem at soil level and do not eat the root or seed.
The seeds were connected to a salmonella scare with sprouts that has surfaced on several occasions. According to Health Canada, between 1996 and 2005 raw alfalfa sprouts and mung bean sprouts contaminated with salmonella have been linked to a number of outbreaks in British Columbia, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta, as well as in the United States.
The Health Canada website also discusses potential causes of the salmonella: Scientists believe the most likely source of contamination is the seeds that are used to grow the sprouts. Since you do not eat the seed in microgreens, the health hazard is not the same as with sprouts.
Microgreens have been made popular by gourmet chefs in major restaurants. The chefs are always looking for something new and interesting to add distinctive flavour to dishes. Microgreens fill that bill nicely and can be used as garnishes for a punch of flavour or as a salad themselves.
There are many crops to try as microgreens. Lettuces, spinach, mustard, radish and arugula are among a few. Other vegetables such as broccoli, beets, celery, cabbage and even carrots can add interesting flavours to dishes or make great salad blends.
Microgreens are extremely easy to grow and can be grown on any sunny kitchen counter or windowsill. All you need is a shallow tray, some seeds, sterile potting mix and water. I like using the plastic clamshells bakery products come in. Dampen the potting mix, but not so that it is sopping wet. It should be moist, but not dripping. Fill the tray or clamshell with 2.5 centimetres of the potting mix.
Plant the seeds as per the instructions on the packet. I recommend using certified organic seeds, which you can find in most garden centres or online from a supplier such as Mumm's Sprouting Seeds, a Saskatchewan company with a good selection of certified organic seeds.
When planting the seeds, try to get them in a single layer and not touching each other. Use a spray bottle to water the seeds and soilless mix. If the tray or clamshell does not have drainage holes, aim for keeping the soil moist, but never wet. You can always punch some holes, but it really is not necessary if you are careful not to overwater.
You should be ready to do your harvesting in about five days, but taste your microgreens at different stages. If you like the taste at a particular stage, harvest and enjoy. When harvesting, cut off the plants at the soil level, but be careful not to include any of the potting soil itself. Harvest the plants daily until no new sprouts are emerging.
Some of my favourites include radishes and celery. I love to add these two microgreens to salads.
The great thing is you can try a new variety every two weeks. Having new flavours from your own homegrown produce adds interest to meals. Just make certain you tell your nearest and dearest they aren't weeds.
-- Postmedia News
Gerald Filipski is a member of the Garden Writers Association of America.
Renovation & Design
ASK THE INSPECTOR: Crawl-space issue uncovers bigger problem
QUESTION: I have a question about my home and hope you can provide some advice or at least relieve my troubled mind.
Last November I purchased and moved into a small "slab" house in the Crescentwood area of Winnipeg, a wartime house built in the forties. It has a crawl space. The furnace and hot water tank are in the crawl space, and not much else except a sump pump. The outer concrete "walls" are insulated. The beams and flooring are open and visible from the crawl space.
When I purchased the home, I did not want to write an offer that was "subject to an inspection" because I was afraid I would lose out to another purchaser. After taking possession, I have found that I have a few concerns.
The first issue is that the crawl space smells mouldy, especially in the summer. I've made every effort to ensure the downspouts are not clogged and water is directed away from the foundation. The sump pump is functional and kicked in a few times during the downpours we experienced in the spring. Because of the dampness in the crawl space, is there potential for rotting of the beams and flooring?
Secondly, should the home be tested for radon gas? I've checked out the testing equipment at Rona. It appears to be quite a procedure.
I don't like surprises. Is there potential for any other problems with this type of home? I don't know if it is often done after possession, but is an inspection at this time something you would recommend?
-- Donna Parkhurst, Winnipeg
ANSWER: While I have received surprisingly few emails like yours, about problems discovered after possession of a home that was not subject to a pre-purchase inspection, I do many inspections after new homeowners have moved in. I will explore the concern you have with the damp smell in your crawl space while answering your other questions about further testing and inspection.
As anyone attempting to purchase a pre-owned home in our area has discovered in the last few years, it's become a very competitive process. While this appears to have its ebbs and flows, the strong sellers' market has continued, even as the economy has slowed.
Unfortunately, with this competition has come an unwelcome and disturbing trend, as you have seen. Inclusions of normal clauses in an offer-to-purchase that protect buyers' interests are being omitted. Chief among these are inspection and financing conditions, which used to be standard in most offers. Pressure to make "clean" offers is coming from sellers and listing agents even when only one or two offers are received.
While I empathize with you and all other buyers who have been pressured to eliminate this critical component of the normal due-diligence prior to purchasing a home, I don't understand the mass hysteria and general compliance with this dangerous trend. Without a pre-purchase inspection, this enormous financial commitment is truly taken at your own risk. Not knowing which components of a home will need replacement, upgrading or repair after possession often leads to situations like yours, with unforeseen problems.
To address your final question first, it would be an excellent idea to do a complete inspection of your home even after you have been living there for several months. You should still know the condition of the major components of your home so you can properly prioritize and budget for upgrades. Regular maintenance recommendations and general information included with the inspection will also be useful.
Solutions for minimizing or eliminating the mouldy smell from your crawl space would also be part of this process. While I could provide some of this information here, or you could research the issue online, there is no real substitute for a hands-on inspection and explanation provided by a trained home inspector.
As one example, the description of your home as a "slab" home is completely inaccurate. If so, it wouldn't have a crawl space. Slab homes are built directly on grade and sit on a concrete slab only, which is the derivation of the name. They don't often have floor joists, so your question of rotted framing would be a moot point if you truly purchased this style of home.
The question of radon testing is also a good one and more of a concern in a home with exposed soil in the crawl space. Radon will enter most dwellings through the soil beneath the building, and a large, open area like your crawl space will put your home at higher risk for soil gas intrusion as well as moisture damage to the floor components. I would caution that the testing kits available at retailers may provide some answers, but can be tricky for some people to use. Their placement, as well as accurate recording of the time of exposure, are critical to radon-testing equipment. It's advisable to consult a professional environmental engineer or radon specialist before testing. Most accurate testing requires a minimum of three months, done during the heating season when the home is largely sealed up. Again, details about this process would be available from an experienced home inspector and part of your pre-purchase or post-possession inspection.
Ari Marantz is the owner of Trained Eye Home Inspection Ltd. and president of the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors - Manitoba (www.cahpi.mb.ca). Questions can be emailed to the address below. Ari can be reached at (204) 291-5358 or check out his website at www.trainedeye.ca.
trainedeye@iname.com
