Hello Archus I use shade cloth to protect the sprouts from direct sunlight and birds,squirrels,chipmonks and other critters.I put some pepper spray along the base and back for the squirrels so they cant smell the sunflowers.I had one chew a hole through the shadecloth and he went in and took a nap in the wheatgrass flat.I got the grow racks that come with the shadecloth at farmtek.com there located in chicago.Now if I can only get the deer to stop nibbling on my young apple trees.The bread is a 7 grain sprouted bread that I buy at the health food store and it is cooked then frozen.You can check it out at foodforlife.com,its 15 degrees here in central Il. but spring is coming soon.Jeff.