#FoodWasteFriday: Regrow Those Food Scraps!
This week we are excited to highlight a neat way to reduce the amount of food waste that goes into your garbage bin by turning your usually-discarded produce ends into more food!
This re-growing activity is suitable for all ages and can help to foster a spirit of renewed connectedness to our food system and awe of nature. (Also, it can make you feel just a little bit like you are a kitchen botanist or chemist, which is a delightful bonus in our humble opinion!)
Photo: Simple Bites
The How-To:
There are quite a few foods that you can transform from a scrap into a food-producing item. Below we broke these food items down into what parts you’ll be using to re-sprout your food, making this kitchen gardening journey an easy one to get started on!
TOPS
Here is a list of produce tops you can use to grow some easy-to-grab countertop greens and flavor additions:
Radishes
Pineapple
Celeriac (celery root)
Beets
Turnips*
Parsnips*
*Please note, both turnip and parsnip greens may cause a sun-induced dermatitis reaction for some people. Handle with care if you have sensitive skin.
To grow your tops:
Cut off the top of your produce item and place the top in a shallow container with a little warm water in the bottom. The bowl should be kept in a sunny and relatively warm place.
Turn your sprouting top every few days and water as needed.
Harvest you when ready or transfer into potting soil or a garden plot to continue propagation and growth.
BOTTOMS
Here’s a list of bottoms you can grow for some easy-to-grab countertop greens and flavor additions:
Romaine lettuce
Bok Choy
Onions
Lemongrass
Leeks
Green onion
Garlic
Fennel
Celery
To grow your bottoms:
Cut off the bottoms of your produce item and place it in a shallow container with a little warm water in the bottom. The bowl should be kept in a sunny and relatively warm place.
Turn your bottom every few days and water as needed.
Harvest you when ready or transfer into potting soil or a garden plot to continue propagation and growth.
Ready to try your hand at kitchen gardening, but want a little visual assistance? Don’t worry, we have you covered! Food Revolution Network and DIY and Crafts have a great list of visuals and videos you can view to support your re-growing efforts.
