Love a sprout?

Victoria Cosford

The business name ‘Sprout Lovers’ could not be more apt: people really love these sprouts! ‘They’re illuminating!’ exclaims one young woman who’s approached the stall with a bevy of children as I stand chatting to Michael Rose. ‘My daughter’s face lights up as we walk up to the stall – they illuminate the soul!’ e se with activated almonds. rchasing the same thing in the 15-odd minute I’m there appears, if not illuminated, exceedingly happy.

High praise indeed. Michael scoops out sprouts from their assorted containers, a blend he tips into

Sprout Lovers is the creation of Mullumbimby naturopath Ruth Hanrahan and, apart from the almonds, it’s all about sprouted legumes – adzuki beans, alfalfa, chickpeas and fenugreek,

Beekeeper’s sweet life

l its nutrients. activated f and lentils. ‘You’re eating something that’s alive, so you get maximum nutrition,’ Michael tells me. ‘Everything else you pick – a lettuce, for example – oxidises and loses its nutrients. Sprouts are an activated food, a radicalised food,’ he grins. ‘Very suitable

On the glorious Wilsons Creek property where Ruth lovingly tends them, only rainwater is used, which goes through seven filters and is tested every fortnight. ‘We’ve never failed a test in 17 years,’ Michael says. ‘Ruth,’ he continues, ‘is up at 4am every morning to ensure in the Northern Rivers.

Tanya and her husband Ben have about 140 hives dotted around the region from Eungella and Hastings Point to Tumbulgum and Brooklet. ‘Each of our hives house about 50,000 bees, which is a lot of bees and a lot of honey,’ says Tanya.

Ben’s father has been beekeeping for more than 50 years and the couple, who now run the family honey business, From The Beez To You, are not only passionate about keeping bee numbers thriving but also about ensuring locals have access to honey in its raw, natural state.

Every Thursday morning, Tanya brings tubs of raw honey, creamed honey and fresh honeycomb from her hives to Byron Farmers Market.

‘Supermarket honey tends to be overly sweet and more runny than raw the sprouts are neither over-soaked nor over-rinsed. Ruth’s spot on with her timings!’

I ask if there’s a preferred sprout but Michael says that 98% of customers go for the mix. Another woman tells him, when he asks her what she likes to do with her sprouts, that they ‘rarely make it out of the bag’; yet another makes a point of thanking him for being there. I had no idea – clearly I, too, have been illuminated.

Sprout Lovers are at Mullumbimby Farmers Market every Friday 7-11am

Michael Rose from Sprout Lovers honey. It’s also pasteurised to extend shelf life, which reduces some of the nutrients,’ Tanya says.

‘Sometimes it is supplemented with imported honey from Argentina, India and China, so you don’t really know exactly what is in the honey. Whereas all our honey is untreated. We extract it from the hives and leave it in its natural state, which means it has all of the good stuff such as pollen and propolis.’ Propolis is believed to have a number of health benefits, including helping to heal wounds and fight infections.

From The Beez To You has four main varieties of honey: Brush Box, Ironbark, Rainforest and Coastal Heath. ‘Coastal Heath, with its strong flavour and caramel undertones, is my favourite,’ says Tanya, ‘but if you are looking for something a bit lighter in flavour then the Brush Box is a good choice.

It’s really delicious and mild.’

You can find Tanya and her range of raw honey at Byron Farmers Market every

Thursday morning.

Byron Farmers Market is held Thursdays 7-11am at Butler St Reserve and Bangalow Farmers Market is Saturdays 7-11am behind the Bangalow pub.

Volume 38 #06

19–25 July, 2023

Editor: Eve Jeffery

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