Photo credit: Zenith Micorgreens – example of Farm to Fork service: they delivery from their farm to homes and restaurants directly, no stores or middlemen, so growers get a fair price and you get a great price for top quality, fresh, organic food
Microgreens are a Terrific Solution To Supply Chain Issues!
I dream of a time when we all live in healthy and affordable housing made completely of hemp that includes a Green Wall of edible plants, like an indoor greenhouse that requires practically no maintenance and looks beautiful.
Microgreens are perfect for this. And they are something I think everyone should and could learn to grow easily.
Being able to grow some, or all, of your daily greens and herbs in your own home would solve so many problems in the world, especially during these times of uncertainty and insane inflation.
In the meantime, there are an increasing number of farms that are growing microgreens and delivering them directly to people’s homes and to restaurants, cutting out the middle man and therefore cutting costs associated with shopping in stores with food imported from far away.
What are Microgreens?
Microgreens are simply very young vegetables. They are edible plants harvested anywhere from a few days to three weeks after planting. This is when the first true leaves ( the leaves that are undergo photosynthesis) appear.
Here are some surprising facts about the benefits of Microgreens.
Microgreens are more nutritious than full grown veggies.
Broccoli microgreens have been tested and proven to have 40 times the nutritional value as their full grown counterparts. Most other microgreens are between ten and forty times more nutritive than their full grown version.
Microgreens are a fast food solution compared to traditional gardening or farming: they can be harvested and eaten between 7 to 10 days after planting.
After spending two or three days sprouting in the dark, or under a dark covering, the plants are ready for sunlight or artificial light. Within a few days, usually a week or so, they can be harvested and eaten. Having greens that are as fully flavoured as full grown plants that can be grown in a week instead of two or more months is an amazing advantage over traditional gardening.
The short growing time also reduced the chances that insects or pests can munch on them.
Growing microgreens indoors ensures that weather conditions won´t delay the harvest.
The short growing time ensures that you can provide healthy food for your family within a week if you need to, regardless of what is happening in the outside world.
Talk about quick food security!
You can grow your own greens indoors year round, in a small space since the harvest times are so quick and consistent. No need to plant a large garden just to make sure you have enough to live on during the winter.
Microgreens are affordable.
Compared to buying lettuce or vegetables that have been transported from far away, often imported from other countries, the cost of growing your own microgreens is significantly less.
The equipment required to start growing is around $400 USD for a rack, trays, and lights. Seeds and soil costs vary depending on your location and the transportation costs from seed stores such as Mumm´s Sprouting Seeds. If you are lucky you have a supplier locally. Some people start out using sunflower seeds purchased from a local pet store. Many people cut costs by foregoing buying microgreens trays and making their own, , out of plastic containers they have repurposed as growing trays, such as take away containers or the big plastic containers used in many bakeries for donuts, croissants or cupcakes. Grow lights such as full spectrum bulbs and LED light strips can often be purchased from local hardware and lighting stores.
It doesn´t have to cost a lot to get started, and you can avoid paying inflated prices at the supermarket for greens that aren´t nearly as fresh as what you can grow yourself at home.
Microgreens are environmentally friendly and sustainable.
You can grow microgreens without any of the toxic chemicals used in commercial growing operations and even local gardens since fertilizers, insecticides, and fungicides are not necessary for a successful harvest.
Not only does chemical free growing give you and your family truly healthy food, it prevents toxic contamination of our water supplies and doesn´t contribute to depleting our soils, which is a an increasingly large problem related to traditional farning.
We can avoid putting harmful chemicals into our bodies, our land, the waters and the air, and let the planet rest and heal by going indoors and growing microgreens in vertical farms for a few years, or for the rest of our lives.
Vertical farms are even possible in large urban centers, preventing precious forests and natural ecosystems from being uprooted and cut down to make way for more traditional farms in order to feed our ever growing human population.
Just think: if each family grew its own microgreens, how much healthier we all would be, and how much money we could save. It could lead to the large scale change in our food supply systems that we need,and usher in a time of direct farm to fork delivery systems that are more environmentally sustainable, healthier for people and the planet and more delicious that what is available now.
Microgreens are Different than Sprouts
Microgreens are not the same as sprouts, and are more nutritious.
Sprouts are younger than microgreens, and are the stage of first growth when the seed has sprouted but does not have true leaves yet.
Sprouts can grow completely in the dark and they grow and can be harvested within two or three days after sprouting.
Sprouts grow completely in water, without soil, unlike microgreens.
Microgreens can be grown in water too, using the Kratky method (desribed in an upcoming article), but usually they are grown in an inch or two of soil or a growing medium such as clay beads or hemp mats.
Research has proven that by harvesting the plants when they are so tiny, just after they have grown their first true leaves, they pack a powerful nutrituional punch.
Microgreens offer numerous health benefits due to their rich nutrient profile. They are high in vitamins A, C, E, and K, as well as minerals like calcium and magnesium, which can support immune function and overall health 14.Key benefits include:
- Antioxidant Properties: Microgreens contain antioxidants that help reduce oxidative stress and lower the risk of chronic diseases 35.
- Heart Health: Certain varieties, like red cabbage microgreens, can lower LDL cholesterol levels, reducing heart disease risk 23.
- Cancer Prevention: Compounds such as sulforaphane found in microgreens may have anti-cancer properties 23.
- Gut Health: Their high fiber content supports digestive health and promotes beneficial gut bacteria 24.
Sprouts grow in one to three days and do not need sunlight or soil.
Microgreens grow a little longer, to the cotydxx stage , which can take up to three weeks. Because they grow in sunlight, and absorb nutrients from the soil, Microgreens are more nutritious than sprouts.
Microgreens are less risky to produce than food grown in traditional ways. They are not prone to weather conditions or reliant on getting enough natural sunlight to get a good harvest. No more worries about hail damage or flood or drought conditions! Growing microgreens indoors in controlled conditions also eliminates pests and insect damage. No need for pesticides, fungicides or fertilizers – easy to grow organically. This is better for humans and the earth.
Not much space is needed: Even a small space in a house or apartment has enough space to spare for a rack the size of a bookshelf on which microgreens can be grown.