As a city dweller in an 800 sq ft NYC apartment, I never thought I could grow my own food. But I was determined to find a way. I dream of having my garden filled with produce, herbs, and plants to nourish myself, my family, my community, and my environment with love. Food has indeed been medicine to help me on my holistic healing journey to overcome a chronic illness like lupus. This is why growing my own food is essential to me. But we have to take baby steps first. That's why I decided to embark on a journey to explore growing food in small indoor spaces. So, we grew microgreens on a makeshift window ledge in my kitchen! Yay!
Let me tell you more!
What are Microgreens?
Microgreens are young, nutrient-dense versions of mature plants, harvested within 5-10 days of germination. They're packed with vitamins and minerals like A, C, and K, as well as minerals like protein, calcium and iron. They are a nutritional powerhouse for health!
I first discovered the power of microgreens when looking for ways to lower inflammation in my body. I came across an article that shared the power of Sulforaphane, which is a compound found in cruciferous vegetables. When you eat broccoli sprouts (and microgreens), they provide up to 40x the amount of sulforaphane in comparison to eating just broccoli alone. Sulforaphane has been shown to have extensive benefits, such as a very promising chemopreventive agent against not only a variety of cancers such as breast, prostate, colon, skin, lung, stomach, and bladder but also against cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases and diabetes. Broccoli sprouts and microgreens, in general, are extraordinary to reach optimal health, especially for those dealing with autoimmune and chronic conditions! So I wanted to incorporate more sulforaphane in my life, which is abundant in microgreens!
Benefits of Growing Microgreens in Your NYC Apartment
Space-saving: Microgreens require minimal space and can thrive in small areas, perfect for urban gardening.
Easy to grow: With minimal equipment and care, sunflower microgreens can be harvested in as little as 7-10 days.
Delicious: Add a burst of nutty flavor to salads, sandwiches, and smoothies with these tasty greens!
Year-round harvest: Grow microgreens indoors, regardless of the season or weather.
Nutritious: Did we already talk about the extensive benefits of microgreens, especially to reduce inflammation in the body?
Cost-savings: Whilst it is an investment initially for the tools, its much cheaper than buying weekly at the grocery or farmer's market. I used to spent a good $10 for a few ounces of microgreens. But sheesh, once I kept making them myself ... I started to save tons money!
Enough said, I wanted to experience the benefits myself … so I grew Sunflower Microgreens to start!
My Experience Growing Sunflower Microgreens in My NYC Apartment
I started by preparing my makeshift ledge with a growing medium, which included soil and an acrylic tray. I use acrylic versus glass as acrylic brings in more sunlight, and we do not have the brightest apartment. We then scattered sunflower seeds on top of the soil. With consistent watering and indirect sunlight, I watched my seeds sprout and grow into lush microgreens within 7 days! It was truly a remarkable experience!Â
The taste? Nutty, earthy, crunchy, and of course, green! I enjoyed it in my salad and on top of sandwiches! I was hype!
Tips for Growing Sunflower Microgreens in Your Own Space
- Choose the right location: Select a spot with indirect sunlight (4-6 hours of direct sunlight can be too intense). This is why my kitchen window works.
- Water consistently: Avoid overwatering and ensure consistent moisture levels. You want to avoid mold.
- Harvest at the right time: Harvest when the greens are 1-3 inches tall, usually within 7-10 days.
I used a microgreens kit to get started. I purchased from Amazon and the instructions are easy and clear. Here are 3 things I needed to get started:
A window ledge to hold the microgreens. It is an acrylic ledge held by suction cups added directly on the window.Â
An acrylic tray to hold the soil, seeds and grow the microgreens. I use acrylic because it brings in more sunlight than glass.Â
A sunflower microgreens grow kit. It includes the soil and seeds. The instructions are included.
Excited to try broccoli microgreens also? Here are my favorite broccoli seeds. So far, I have grown radish, broccoli and sunflower microgreens. Check out my IG reel as I share my microgreens growing excitement!
Next will be buckwheat shoots, wheatgrass and arugula microgreens! Y'all won't be able to tell me nothing! hehe. I will share the journey :)
Note: I get a small commission from Amazon with your support. It is greatly appreciated to help me continue to share cool and exciting information with the community to help us live abundant lives!Â
Growing sunflower microgreens in my NYC apartment has been a liberating experience. It's shown me that even in small spaces, I can take control of my food choices and cultivate a deeper connection with nature.
Join the Urban Gardening Movement
Start growing your own Microgreens journey today and experience the joy of harvesting fresh greens year-round! Let me know what you think in the comments!
In Love and Microgreens Health!
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