Microgreens are a brilliant superfood and take very little effort to grow. This article from Alice, CEO and founder of Teeny Greeny, explores how microgreens can benefit both our health and our planet.
Microgreens are packed with nutrients
Without doubt, microgreens are the healthiest vegetables you can eat, and they have the added bonus of being easily grown at home. This is a huge benefit as you can easily grow a batch of microgreens on a Sunday/Monday evening for you and your family to enjoy the following week.
Broccoli is the king of microgreens as it has so many of your daily nutrients including Vitamin A, B, C and K. It is also a fabulous source of dietary fibre and protein. Broccoli is teeming with the antioxidant sulforaphane, so much so, that they have 50 times more than their fully-grown adult counterparts. Not bad for a Teeny Greeny!
One of the second most nutritious greens is kale. Fully grown kale is somewhat of a superfood in itself but when growing this plant on a micro-scale, it is far more nutritious. This is a leaf that is loaded with goodness. In just one cupful you can enjoy well over the adult recommended daily allowance of vitamins A, C and K, giving significant benefits for both brain and eye health.
Microgreens are quick to grow
One of the major benefits of microgreens is that it takes them less than a couple of weeks to grow. However, just like the time it takes to grow fruit and vegetables varies, the time it takes to grow microgreens varies. Teeny Green took this into consideration when designing their kits. Part of the decision about which seeds should be included in each kit was based on the time the seeds took until they were harvestable, with the intention of having similar times in the same box. For example, this means when you grow your seeds in their Micro-Immunity kit the broccoli, rocket and kale will all be ready within a day of each other so you can enjoy all three at the same time!
Watch here to see how to grow microgreens in step-by-step videos or watch a FREE Microgreen Masterclass.
Microgreens are sustainable
Sustainability is a huge passion of Teeny Greeny and has consequently been a core value within the business. Microgreens are more sustainable than other crops you’d buy from the supermarket that have been mass produced and transported hundreds of miles. One of the many benefits of microgreens is that you get so many nutrients without needing to grow a plant for an extended period of time. As a result, you cut down on the amount of water needed to produce and also the amount of space needed to grow them. For an ever increasing global population, this is a huge benefit and one that should be increasingly utilised in the future.
Teeny Greeny think about sustainability all through the product life cycle. Teeny Greeny Microgreen Grow Kits are designed, tested and then created in small batches, meaning there is no waste and any resources are not stripped to meet mass demand at nominal cost. Sell less but do better is their approach.
They also want to give back to the world and make it a better place for our kids to live in. Currently, 1% of TG turnover (that’s turnover not profit) goes to 1% for the planet, a further 2% each season go to other causes!
Microgreens are great for mental health
Not only are they easy, delicious and nutritious, but they are also a great way to improve your mental health. In recent years, a gardening revolution has begun due to the increased scientific evidence that gardening can improve our mental health. Gardening can be a peaceful task that can work wonders when we are stressed or under pressure. Not only can gardening be relaxing but it can also be a place where you can feel a real sense of accomplishment, boosting confidence and self-esteem.
Microgreens are particularly good because they grow quickly which means that sense of achievement can be attained sooner and can keep you more engaged. This quick growing period is especially useful if you are growing your greens with young children who may lose interest quickly.
The Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) own research shows that four in five teachers who signed up to the RHS Campaign for School Gardening found that gardening has had a significant positive effect on students’ mental health and wellbeing. Furthermore, in 2014, researchers from the University of Exeter Medical School found strong evidence to support the fact that people living near green space experienced less mental stress. By greening up your shelves or windowsill, you are creating a green living space and carrying out a relaxing activity which both are shown to improve your mental health.
About Teeny Greeny
Teeny Greeny have Taster Kits to give you an introduction to growing microgreen. Once you understand the benefits, you can purchase one of the MicroFarm kits which contains everything you need to continuously grow microgreens. Finally, once you’ve finished your kit you are going to want to grow more so they provide Refill Kits.
Happy Growing!
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