Greetings one and all!

Before I ask my questions, allow me to tell you what I do. I've
been growing my own wheatgrass for the last three months with much
success. I've scoured the Internet, library and bookstores for any
resources on growing and wheatgrass in general (though it just
occurred to me today to check Yahoo.groups for you - yahoo!!!).
Currently I've got sixteen 16" x 16" flats growing on shelves in my
backyard in Southern California.

I get my seeds from the local Whole Foods grocery store. They're
organic wheat berries for $0.69 a pound. Don't know exactly what
kind they are. They also sell hard red wheat berries (not listed as
organic) for $0.59 a pound. I soak them (un-rinsed) overnight for
12 or so hours, then pour the contents (water and all) into the
flats I kept from when I was buying them for ($10 each - that got
expensive real fast) from the same Whole Foods store. In these
flats I have about an inch of SuperSoil potting mix (lots of peat
moss in it). I water it with tap water from my hose (shower
setting), then cover it with 8 layers of damp, clean white
newsprint, celophane and an inverted empty tray. I leave it stand
for 6 days. When I uncover the sprouts, they're about 1/2 to an
inch tall and white from lack of light. They quickly turn green and
grow beautifully. I water daily. I get approximately 32 oz. per
flat. After I've harvested one crop of wheatgrass, I let it grow
back once more for a second crop (usually about 12-14 oz.). Then I
compost the carpets. I re-start the process every other day and
this sustains three adults who collectively consume about 12-14
ounces of juice a day.

Now for the questions:

1. Naturally, since I don't rinse, use peroxide, etc. I have noticed
some (though not a great deal of) mold down at the roots. Why
should the mold concern me? Is it because it will inhibit the
growth of the wheatgrass? Or, more importantly, could it be a
health concern for me and my family? I do carefully wash my grass
before I juice it.

2. I've got Ann Wigmore's The Wheatgrass Book, as well as Wheatgrass
Nature's Finest Medicine by Steve Meyerowitz, and I noticed in the
bibliographies that they were citing studies from the 1920's, 30's
and 40's, with very little in the way of modern scientific studies
concerning the beneficial effects of wheatgrass (and, yes, I am
aware of Dr. Hagiwara's studies, but he does have a financial
interest in promoting wheatgrass, so I'd also like to see other
studies as well). There's a lot of "can be", "may be" and "is
believed to be" written in my sources when discussing the benefits
of wheatgrass. I noticed (having read the 79 posts I found with
this group) that someone did ask about this, but I found no
responses pertaining to that post. I would be most interested on
any recent scientific data anyone knows about.

3. Related to the above. Are there any other good books or
resources appertaining to wheatgrass that anyone would like to share
about?

4. Does anyone out there have a problem with "critters" digging
around in their newly sprouted wheatgrass? I put out rat traps for
a few nights, without any takers. Birds, perhaps?

Forgive the lengthiness of this post. These are questions that I
haven't found answers for. I DO believe that wheatgrass juice is
beneficial. I DO want to get the most out of my crop. And I DO
appreciate all the great stuff I read so far in this group, and look
forward to your answers and future posts.

Sincerely, Peter