soy beans

[Simon Stenkle]

Anyone have experience growing soy beans at home? What is a good source of information on producing soy-derivative products?

simon

[Fudge]

I grow several strains of edible soybeans in Eastern Ontario. These varieties came from Salt Spring Seeds on Vancouver Island. Check their web site for open pollinated seeds. I steam, shell and freeze them or eat them as a Japanese style snack called Edame (Steam and add coarse salt.) They have a nut like flavour. Industrial type soy beans are quite unpalatable but I imagine you could find recipes for soy milk etc with a Google search. I believe the production of tofu is quite complicated and beyond the scope of the small farmer.

Farmer John

[Pat Meadows]

Not at all. I've made tofu at home, many times. It's really not complex at all, and no expensive equipment is required.

A soy-milk maker (available to the home market for under $100) would be a big help, though I never had one when I was making tofu so they're certainly not required.

Anyone who is interested in making tofu would probably be greatly helped by getting a copy of 'The Book of Tofu', by William Shurtleff and Akiko Aoyagi. Very clear and thorough directions.

The same authors have another book entitled 'The Book of Tempeh' - clear and thorough directions for making tempeh - which is also easy and not complex, although a 'starter' bacteria is required (similar to yogurt). The starters are available online, and not costly.

Anyone attempting to *sell* home-made tofu and/or tempeh would probably need inspection and approval by the relevant Board of Health, just as in the case of selling any other home-made foods.

Pat