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Alfalfa: How to Dry and Preserve for the Backyard Gardener.

July 13, 2012 By: Anna7 Comments

Alfalfa Drying

Alfalfa Drying

So I got you growing alfalfa in your backyard.  You just cut it down and holding it in your arms.   Then you realize,  “Anna, you totally  forgot to tell me what to do next.” Oops!   I guess I was so caught up explaining how to plant it and harvest it in my previous post that I forgot about the last steps.

(Also, Anna, why am I growing alfalfa?  Oops again, I am really writing this whole alfalfa series backwards. I should have started with the health benefits.  Blame it on my dyslexia.  Next post, promise.)

Okay, okay, put the alfalfa down somewhere and read on.  I  lay it in a protected non-sunny room to dry it.  This time, I put in on a bunch of towels around my laundry room. (I used about 6 towels.) Don’t crowd the stems.  Let them have room to breath.

How to Harvest the Leaves

Watch the below video to see how I harvest the leaves.

For those Ninga Gardening warriors, it is no different than taking oregano leaves off of its stems once it is dry.  Then store it in a glass jar away from the sunlight.

And now you have alfalfa for your smoothies! Or perhaps you want alfalfa tea? I plan to use it in my smoothies.

I am not going to kid you. It smells  like grass when you first harvest it.  But when it dries, the smell isn’t as strong.

Okay, Anna.  Love the Alfalfa Idea but Not Growing it.

Just in case you are intrigued about alfalfa  but think I am totally nuts, you can buy alfalfa powder or tea .  (By the way, hubby would agree with you.  He thinks growing two beds of alfalfa is just nuts.)

Certified organic  Alfalfa Leaf Powder* can be purchased here. It is also available in Alfalfa Leaf Tea* as well.

Again, Anna, why are we buying alfalfa?  I am getting to the health benefits.  Hold your horses.  Next Post. Next Post.

Join the Conversation:

  • Do you grow alfalfa?  If so, any problems?
  • Would you consider growing alfalfa?
  • Does your significant other or relatives think you have a gardening screw loose?  If so, why?

 

Similar Posts:

  • Alfalfa the Green Wonder: Learn About its Health Benefits
  • Alfalfa: Growing and Harvesting for your Backyard.
  • How to Make Kale Powder. Good for Your Health and Save $.
  • Kale Smoothie: One a Day Keeps the Doctor Away
  • Green Pepper Leaves Are Delicious! {+Recipe}

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About Anna

Anna Hackman is the editor of Green Talk, and owner of The Naked Botanical and a avid (okay obsessed) gardener. She also loves video and podcasting and hosts Green Talk TV and Green Talk Radio. Her most important role is being a mother of four boys.

Chat with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest , and Google+.

Comments

  1. 1

    Deanna Kwiatkowski says

    April 19, 2016 at 4:37 pm

    Okay let me start by saying loved reading this and I feel very much like you out in the garden! Farmer’s grow alfalfa and I tried asking about the crops (having purchased the seed already) I wanted to know have you seen it go to seed? If so would you mind posting some pictures? It’s in the legume family is it a pod?

    Reply
    • 2

      Anna@Green Talk says

      April 19, 2016 at 4:42 pm

      Deanna, yes I have saw it go to seed but they are so tiny you can miss it. In fact, they will germinate outside of the bed all over the place but not around your crop. Alfalfa won’t allow new seed near it. It is a tiny brown seed so small you could miss it. Little purple flowers. Anna

      Reply
  2. 3

    Sean says

    August 1, 2017 at 9:04 am

    How long will i need to Dehydrate Alfalfa in a Dehydrator at home ,I want to Powder it,to give to my Birds.

    Reply
    • 4

      Anna says

      August 4, 2017 at 10:43 pm

      Sean, probably about 24 hours. You have to strip the stems and you might want to use something to lay the leaves on. They are small and will fall through the cracks of a dehydrator shelf. Anna

      Reply
  3. 5

    Brendan says

    September 11, 2017 at 5:06 pm

    I just purchase organic alfalfa seed and plan on growing it in my unheated high tunnels on upstate NY from fall through the winter.
    My goals is to make tea, juice it and dry it.
    Any advice?

    Reply
    • 6

      Anna says

      September 11, 2017 at 8:57 pm

      Brendan, I don’t know how it will do. It generally likes colder weather since is part of the pea family. I find it gets tall and big around May in NJ.

      One thing about alfalfa–You can’t overseed it. It hates its own seeds. It is a perennial with a long tap root.

      I dry it but it has a tremendous amount of sticks since the leaves once dry are quite small.

      I like the idea of juicing it.

      Reply
  4. 7

    Brendan says

    September 11, 2017 at 5:08 pm

    Should have written in upstate NY not on upstate ny

    Reply

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