(snip)
Could anyone enlighten me on the differences between amaranth, lamb's
quarters and quinoa? It still isn't clear to me. This year, I am growing
(from seed purchased from Salt Spring Seeds) grain amaranth--quite tall,
just starting to flower in earnest, multi-coloured-- and quinoa--tall
again, colourful HUGE seed heads. I am hoping to be able to grow these in
sufficient quantities to replace rice in our diet, and I'm wondering about
the possibility that:
1) the wild amaranths and pigweeds will contaminate my crops and make it
difficult/impossible to be confident I'm saving the best seed, OR
2) maybe I should just let the wildlings grow as they will and harvest
*their* seed.
tia,
Diane Ridout, Instructor, ACP.............................................
Kwantlen University College, "Talk
12666-72 Avenue doesn't
Surrey, BC, Canada V3W 2M8 cook rice," they say.
Tel: (604) 599-2964 Voice mail 9837.......................................
> From: Diane Ridout
> Could anyone enlighten me on the differences between amaranth, lamb's
> quarters and quinoa? It still isn't clear to me.
The chenopodiums are a different family from the amaranths. The lamb's
quarters and the quinoa are identical to the eye as seedlings. I prefer to
transplant quinoa seedlings instead of direct sowing for that reason.
I have not observed any cross-pollination between several species of
amaranth that I grow, including wildlings, highly domesticated species,
and only recently domesticated species whose genetic variability is
rather astounding. Certainly there would be none across families.
The grain amaranth seed that I have saved and replanted has always
resulted in grain amaranth. Similarly, the quinoa seed that I have saved
and replanted has produced only more quinoa.
I prefer to use the quinoa ground into flour for bread. The grain amaranth
would, I think, make a suitable substitute for your a portion of your rice.
In either case, a 100% substitution could be a bit of a shock to the
taste buds, and I suggest you start out at the 5% level initially.
My first harvest of grain amaranth many years ago came in late afternoon.
The next morning, I found it moldy. I should have spread it on cookie
sheets and put into the oven to dry overnite with only the pilot flame going.
You will want to reduce the moisture content to less than 10% rather
quickly, even if you have not had the time to clear out the chaff. Actually,
the chaff and the grain are similar in size and weight, but after drying are
quite dissimilar in weight, making the winnowing process much easier.
tom
zone 5a, NE Illinois, -21??F Min
http://www.anet-chi.com/~manytimes
That's very good to know, Tom. Thanks for the information.
I planted the quinoa and amaranth as suggested by SSS, in marked rows, and
I had no difficulty in weeding them at all (thinning was another matter!)
with this method. They are beautiful things, aren't they? I've even read
that they are being used for cut flowers. (Not that I ever would do that!)
Today, I went out and had a good look at all the amaranth, quinoa and
pigweeds I could find, and the pigweeds are *quite* different in their
seedheads, producing far less seed than the cultivated plants. I pulled
out all that were anywhere near the cultivated plants, to be on the safe
side. It wasn't that difficult, anyway, but I guess I didn't need to do
it, after all, did I? :-)
> I prefer to use the quinoa ground into flour for bread.
How do you remove the saponin from your quinoa? I'ver read of all sorts of
different methods, from using many water changes in a blender, to tying up
the grain in a cloth bag and running it through a cycle in the washer!
What have you found most convenient, yourself?
> You will want to reduce the moisture content to less than 10% rather
> quickly, even if you have not had the time to clear out the chaff. Actually,
> the chaff and the grain are similar in size and weight, but after drying are
> quite dissimilar in weight, making the winnowing process much easier.
I'll definitely keep that in mind for when I harvest my first (much
anticipated!) quinoa and amaranth. Thanks very much for all the
information, Tom.
Diane Ridout, Instructor, ACP.............................................
Kwantlen University College, "Talk
12666-72 Avenue doesn't
Surrey, BC, Canada V3W 2M8 cook rice," they say.
Tel: (604) 599-2964 Voice mail 9837.......................................
Elec. pwr. is very expensive here, so I provide the agitation by shaking a
quart mason jar until sudsy, then changing the water, and repeating the
process 3 or 4 times. It helps to have big hands and shoulders; NGPs can
be helpful too. Do a batch every day when you normally would be jogging
or whatever, and soon all the grain will be washed.
It is not an inspired breakthrough method, but seems to fit a lifestyle
where you grow much of your own food.
tom
zone 5a, NE Illinois, -21??F Min
http://www.anet-chi.com/~manytimes
Sounds like a very practical method, Tom (and also excellent
exercise--look out Jane Fonda et al., when I'm done with my quinoa!)
BTW--What are NGPs? I thought: Newly Geared Prams, Nits Given Pablum,
Nervous Giggly Parents, Nice Gangly Pubescents, and even Nouns Gerunds and
Prepositions, but none of *those* seemed helpful for shaking jars. (???)
Thanks for passing along this helpful information about washing quinoa.
Diane Ridout, Instructor, ACP.............................................
Kwantlen University College, "Talk
12666-72 Avenue doesn't
Surrey, BC, Canada V3W 2M8 cook rice," they say.
Tel: (604) 599-2964 Voice mail 9837.......................................
