Article Tease: DIY Microgreens
It’s finally spring – one of my favourite times of year. The scent of a warm breeze on your face. The sight of little green shoots coming up in the garden beds. The promise of fresh foods in the coming months. It’s almost enough to forget what the deep, dark winter months were like. Almost enough – but not quite. Shaking the last few lentils out of the bag, farm share boxes getting lighter and lighter, and grocery bills soaring as more imported veggies make their way into the basket. During Canadian winter, when all sensible farms have gone into hibernation, good vegetables can be hard to come by. However, if you’re not afraid to get a little dirt under your nails, there are a couple of ways that you can have fresh greens on relatively short notice any time. Good to supplement salads, add to green juice, or bulk up your sandwiches, microgreens aren’t difficult to grow, have a low start-up cost, and are super nutritious.
Whether you’re looking at growing a few garlic chives to spice up your soup, or a tray of crunchy pea sprouts, the start-up kit is the same. You’re looking at a few trays, a bag of soil, some plant spectrum fluorescent lights, seeds, and you might also want a misting bottle. Trays can come from anywhere. I got mine from a local farmer, but they can often be found in gardening stores or anywhere that sells bulk farming supplies. However, they can also be repurposed from soy milk containers, margarine tubs, soda bottles, berry containers from supermarkets – the list goes on. Be creative! It’s easy to make these on a budget. The most important thing is that there is drainage in the bottom – so get out those multitools and put your awl to work, or find something else that’s pointy, and make sure to punch lots of holes in the bottom.
– Submitted by Melissa Legge
That’s right, the next issue of T.O.F.U. will be providing you some great tips on growing your own herbs, vegetables and fruit in your humble abode. We’re hoping to get your green thumb working, not only through the digital pages, but in some real dirt.
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