When encountering something new, it is sometimes helpful to go through the five w’s to learn more about the subject. Who. What. When. Where. Why. And while How doesn’t exactly start with a w, it is still a useful question to ask. So when it comes to learning about sprouting, these questions can give you a foothold into a new world of raw food management.

To begin with, you might wonder what exactly sprouting is. Simply put, sprouting is the process by which you soak a certain type of seed or nut until it is ready to grow a new plant. At that point, sprouters drain off the excess liquid and rinse the seedlings regularly, encouraging them to grow tiny shoots of plants, which can then be eaten raw.

Next, you could ask who would go through all of the trouble to sprout their own food. Many raw food enthusiasts enjoy the process of sprouting their own food, as it is much less expensive than purchasing the same sprouts from the store, and means they can grow a variety of sprouts that otherwise might be difficult to find in the open market.

You can also ask when is a good time to do sprouting at home. When done indoors, sprouting can be done any time of the year, provided there is a little sunshine coming in through a nearby window. Depending on the type of sprout you are growing, they can take as little as a few days to grow to the point where they can be harvested and eaten.

You might also wonder where you would go about sprouting within your own space. Sprouting does not take up a great deal of room; many people use a glass canning jar, to make rinsing as easy as possible and take up as little counter space as possible. The amount of space required is limited only by the amounts you wish to produce, and your own creativity in setting up a sprouting station.

Next, why would anyone want to go to such great lengths to grow their own sprouts? The sprouts that you grow can offer you a ton of wonderful health benefits, and tend to be even better for you than the nut or seed that they were grown from. All of the energy that the young plant requires to grow up big and strong are stored in those tiny shoots, and are easily accessible by your body once consumed. The sprouts contain, depending on the variety, a multitude of vitamins, proteins and fatty acids that can be a great healthy addition to any raw food diet.

Of course, the “how” of sprouting is very important. Seeds or nuts are generally allowed to soak overnight to soften their outer parts and allow for the germination process to begin. After soaking, the seeds are drained to prevent rot or moulding, and can be left at room temperature to begin sprouting. After about a day, you should begin to see tiny plants emerging. While they grow, the seedlings will need to be rinsed a minimum of three times a day, to ensure they remain moist but not damp, and rinse away any traces of mould before they can attack the sprouts.