THE WONDER OF WHEATGRASS

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When you drain the seeds prior to planting them, be sure to save the water they were soaking in and either drink it yourself or feed it to your plants or animals. (This liquid is known to wheatgrass fans as "Rejuvalac" and is said to be very healthful.)

Now, spread the swollen berries thickly over the moist soil so that seed touches seed. Cover the flat with a layer of wet newspaper and then a layer of plastic, and leave it covered for two or three days. When you remove the plastic and newsprint, you should see small whitish sprouts peeping through the earth (they'll quickly turn green when you place them in the light).

Set the flats in a sheltered spot, where they'll be out of the direct rays of the sun from about 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (full midday sunlight has a tendency to sap the strength of the plants). When the blades reach 5" to 7" high — usually within 6 to 14 days — the grass is ready for cutting. Until then, make sure the flats are watered at least once a day.

Harvest your crop with a sharp knife or a pair of scissors, slicing the blades as near to their base as you can. If the grass pulls out in clumps, rinse it carefully so that you don't get any soil in your juice.

Once the harvest is completed, turn the stubble over without breaking it up. (You might also want to add a few earthworms to the flats.) Cover the dirt with plastic — to keep it moist — and allow it to rest for about three weeks before replanting it.

. . AND JUICE IT

The folks at Hippocrates have a manual wheatgrass-juicing machine that sells for about $75. The grass must be pulverized and then pressed to extract the juice. (If you use an electric extractor or a blender, you'll risk oxidizing the chlorophyll in the grass.)

However, if you don't want to go to the expense of buying specialized equipment, an old-fashioned meat grinder will do the job . . . as will a mortar and pestle (squeeze and smash the grass, then strain the juice through a cheesecloth . . . the leftover pulp is a fine poultice for cuts, burns, and sores).

Of course, there's always the "original" method of extracting the juice: Simply place small bunches of wheatgrass in your mouth and chew them slowly. This method of "juicing" can be done anywhere, anytime . . . but it's best to partake of wheatgrass on an empty stomach.

When you begin drinking the juice, start slowly. Take one or two tablespoons of the liquid daily, at first. It's recommended that you consume it in the morning on an empty stomach, and avoid solid foods for about 20 minutes afterward. Sip the juice slowly, mixing it with your saliva before swallowing it.

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