Welcome to the world of microgreens, the tiny powerhouses that are revolutionizing the concept of home gardening and urban farming.
As we journey through this green revolution, you’ll discover how these miniature plants can transform your garden into a self-sustaining, nutrient-rich haven and why they are essential to sustainable living practices.
In permaculture systems, microgreens, seedlings of vegetables, and herbs play an essential role. They enhance soil fertility, promote biodiversity, and provide a sustainable source of nutrient-rich food, revolutionizing home gardening and urban farming practices.
In this post, we will look at the role played by microgreens in permaculture, a sustainable development system replicating the patterns observed in natural ecosystems.
But that’s just the beginning. Read on to delve deeper into the world of microgreens and their transformative role in permaculture.
INTERESTED IN MICROGREENS?
Join the community
Join more than 50,000 other health-conscious individuals and couples who visit our site and receive weekly emails from us to help them grow more microgreens to live healthier and longer lives.
The Green Giants: Unpacking the Role of Microgreens in Permaculture
Microgreens, often called ‘green giants,’ are the seedlings of vegetables and herbs. Despite their small size, they are packed with nutrients, often containing higher nutrient levels than their mature counterparts. They are easy to grow, require minimal space, and are ready to harvest within a few weeks, making them a perfect fit for urban dwellers and home gardeners.
On the other hand, permaculture is a design system for sustainable living and agriculture. It emphasizes working with, rather than against, nature. It promotes biodiversity, soil health, and waste reduction, creating a harmonious and self-sustaining ecosystem.
When microgreens meet permaculture, a symbiotic relationship enhances your garden’s productivity and sustainability. Integrating microgreens into your permaculture system improves your health and well-being. It contributes to a more sustainable and resilient food system.
You can explore more sustainable growing methods in my post “Beyond the Windowsill: Growing Microgreens on Your Balcony or Patio.”
The Power of Microgreens in Permaculture
Microgreens have been gaining popularity for their nutritional benefits and role in sustainable agriculture, particularly permaculture. Permaculture, a system of design for the development of sustainable urban environments, was invented by “permanent agriculture.” It’s about harmoniously integrating the landscape with people to sustainably provide food, energy, shelter, and other material and non-material needs.
Microgreens fit perfectly into this system. They need little space. They are easy to grow. And they can be harvested within a few weeks. They can be grown all year round, providing a constant supply of fresh produce. They are an ideal crop for urban dwellers with limited space but who want to grow their food.
The environmental benefits of microgreens are significant. They require less water and nutrients than mature plants, making them more sustainable. They can be grown hydroponically, reducing their water and land requirements. Hydroponics is used to grow plants without soil, using mineral nutrient solutions in water. This method allows for precise control over the nutrients the plants receive, reducing nutrient waste.
A study by Goldstein et al. (2019) examined the environmental performance of a vertical hydroponic system in Stockholm, Sweden. The study found that electricity demand, growing medium, packaging materials, and transportation greatly influence the system’s environmental performance. The study suggested that addressing these factors could significantly reduce the system’s environmental impacts.
The study found that using LED lighting systems for plant growth significantly contributed to greenhouse gas emissions. However, the researchers noted that growers could overestimate the impacts of electricity demand, as the producer purchases electricity from only renewable sources. The study also highlighted the potential for reducing impacts by utilizing unused spaces in buildings for vertical farming, thereby reducing the need for additional infrastructure.
The choice of growing medium also significantly influences the system’s environmental performance. The study found that replacing conventional soil with coir, a fibrous by-product of the coconut industry, could significantly reduce environmental impacts. Similarly, replacing plastic pots with paper-based counterparts could substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The study concluded that vertical hydroponic systems, such as those used for growing microgreens, can produce resource-efficient food in urban environments. However, it also highlighted the need for further research to understand the potential for urban symbiosis, where growers use urban wastes and residues for growing media, nutrients, water requirements, and energy demands.
Microgreens play a crucial role in permaculture by providing a sustainable, resource-efficient method of food production. They are ideal for urban environments, where space is limited, and the demand for locally grown, fresh produce is high. By making thoughtful choices about lighting, growing medium, and packaging materials, you can significantly reduce the environmental impact of growing microgreens, creating more sustainable urban food systems.
Practical Application: Integrating Microgreens into Your Permaculture Garden
Integrating microgreens into your permaculture garden is a rewarding venture yielding nutritional and environmental benefits. Here’s how you can get started:
Choose Your Microgreens: Start by selecting a variety of microgreens that you enjoy eating. Some popular choices include radish, broccoli, and kale. These microgreens taste great, packed with nutrients.
Prepare Your Soil: Microgreens prefer a well-draining soil rich in organic matter. You can prepare your mix using compost, coconut coir, and perlite. Remember, healthy soil is the foundation of a successful garden.
Sow Your Seeds: Scatter your microgreen seeds over the surface of your soil. There’s no need to bury them; a light covering of soil is enough. Make sure the soil is moist until your seeds germinate.
Harvest and Enjoy: Most microgreens are ready to harvest in 1-2 weeks. Use a pair of scissors to cut them at the soil level. Enjoy your microgreens fresh in salads, smoothies, or garnish.
Compost Your Soil: After harvesting, you can compost the remaining soil and plant roots, returning valuable nutrients to your garden and completing the permaculture cycle.
Wrap-Up: The Future of Gardening is Green
Microgreens are more than just a culinary trend; they represent a shift towards sustainable and resilient food systems. Integrating microgreens into permaculture practices can create productive and beneficial gardens for the environment.
Whether you’re a home gardener, a sustainability advocate, an entrepreneur, or an urban dweller, embracing microgreens can profoundly impact your health, garden, and the planet. It’s time to think small and grow big with microgreens.
INTERESTED IN MICROGREENS?
Join the community
Join more than 50,000 other health-conscious individuals and couples who visit our site and receive weekly emails from us to help them grow more microgreens to live healthier and longer lives.
Related Questions
Can I grow microgreens outdoors?
Yes, you can grow microgreens outdoors, but there are a few things to consider. Like all plants, microgreens need a good balance of sunlight, water, and nutrients to thrive. They are typically grown indoors because it’s easier to control these conditions. But they can also be grown outdoors with the proper care.
What can I do with harvested microgreens?
Microgreens are incredibly versatile. You can use them in salads, sandwiches, smoothies, or as a dish garnishment. They’re a great way to add a nutritional boost to your meals. For other great recipe ideas, consider purchasing my microgreens cookbook Eat Now! Microgreen Soups: 15 Savory Low-Fat Pocket Recipes, https://www.amazon.com/Eat-Now-Microgreen-Soups-Microgreens-ebook/dp/B087BXQSDT/ and Eat Now! Microgreen Juices: 25 Savory Pocket Recipes, https://www.amazon.com/Eat-Now-Microgreen-Juices-Microgreens-ebook/dp/B08DQLLGYS/.
Are microgreens better than full-grown vegetables?
Microgreens are more nutrient-dense than their full-grown counterparts. However, both have their place in a balanced diet. Microgreens offer a quick and easy way to increase your vegetable intake. Explore more in my post “Shopping Bag Choices: Microgreens vs. Vegetables.”
Share the Guide
Ready to start your microgreen revolution? Begin by exploring different types of microgreens and experimenting with growing them at home. Please share your experiences and progress with us in the comments below. Don’t forget to share this post with your fellow green thumbs and sustainability advocates. Together, we can create a greener, healthier world.
And, for a wealth of knowledge, read the post “The Beginner’s Nutritional Guide to Incredible Microgreens” to explore more about microgreens.
References
These references provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of microgreens in permaculture, their impact on sustainable farming, and their potential for commercial farming. They also offer insights into the practical applications of permaculture principles in rural and urban settings and the potential for permaculture to contribute to local and global sustainability efforts.
- Fiebrig, I., Zikeli, S., Bach, S., & Gruber, S. (2020). Perspectives on permaculture for commercial farming: aspirations and realities. Organic Agriculture. DOI: 10.1007/s13165-020-00281-8. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13165-020-00281-8. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s13165-020-00281-8.pdf
- Barbour, K. (2019). Backyard activisms: Site dance, permaculture, and sustainability. Choreographic Practices. DOI: 10.1386/CHOR.10.1.113_1. https://dx.doi.org/10.1386/CHOR.10.1.113_1. https://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/bitstream/10289/12950/10/Barbour%202019%20CP%2010%201%20pre%20copyedit.pdf
- Glore, A. (2015). A Worldwide Tour of (Almost) Permaculture. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development. [DOI: 10.5304/JAFSCD.2015.053.007. https://foodsystemsjournal.org/index.php/fsj/article/download/352/336
- Goldstein, B., Hauschild, M., Fernández, J., & Birkved, M. (2019). Testing the environmental performance of urban agriculture as a food supply in northern climates. Journal of Cleaner Production, 211, 416-427. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/15/4124/pdf?version=1564563560
