A collection of articles to make your life greener
Microgreen Magic
Microgreens are the tiny gourmet superstars that enthral both professional chefs and home cooks with their powerful aromas, bright hues, and remarkable nutritional profiles.
Compost Gold
Composting plays a crucial role in sustainable gardening practices and shines triumphant in the world of urban farming. Composting transforms yard trash and kitchen scraps into nutrient-rich gold that energises soil and nourishes plant life. It is a dance of breakdown and rebirth.
Welcome Spring
Enter the world of urban gardening to celebrate the arrival of spring. Your urban oasis is calling you to sow your seeds as the world wakes from its winter slumber. Our Spring Urban Farming article is a portal to a world of new possibilities, whether you're an experienced green thumb or a newbie gardener.
Green Dreams
Starting an urban farming journey is exciting and opens the door to a world of fresh produce, vibrant colours, and the satisfaction of creating your own green haven. However, before you put on your gardening gloves and pick up your trowel, there's an important decision to make: what should you grow?
Urban Farming for Beginners
Urban farming is the practise of growing food in populated areas, such as cities, towns, apartments and flats, anywhere resources or space may be scarce. It enables individuals, families and communities to grow their own fresh, wholesome food.
Growing Over Winter
Now that winter has arrived officially, everyone is beginning to move inside to stay warm, but can we still grow microgreens over winter? During the Winter months it can be challenging due to lower light levels and colder temperatures however, with the right setup, and attention you can successfully grow microgreens anywhere. Check out our resources below to help you grow over these cooler months.
Which Microgreens Grow Fastest?
Kiwigreens Urban Farms first seed line released are all fast growing. The expected harvest time is included in the seeds description when purchasing in the shop giving growers a clear idea of what to expect. As the weather begins to warm Kiwigreens Urban Farms will release slower growing Microgreen seeds for growers to enjoy. Visit our shop for a full selection or contacting us directly to learn more about our range, new releases, quality standards, shipping options, and customer satisfaction.
Where Can I Buy Microgreen Seeds?
Kiwigreens Urban Farms are a reliable source for Microgreen seeds, we offer affordable prices and ensure that the seeds supplied for growing Microgreens are from reputable suppliers and are untreated, this is important especially if you plan to consume them at the Microgreen stage.
What is Urban Farming?
Sustainable Urban Farming refers to the practice of growing and harvesting food in urban areas using sustainable and environmentally friendly methods. It includes cultivating crops, raising animals, and producing food products in urban settings, such as rooftops, balconies, community gardens, and other available spaces.
Who can Grow Microgreens?
Growing microgreens at home is an excellent way to get fresh and healthy produce right from your own kitchen. Microgreens are easy to grow and require minimal space, making them a great option for urban gardening and those with limited outdoor space.
Pea Tendrils
Pea shoots are a nutrient-rich microgreen that are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They are a good source of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as folate, iron, and fibre. In addition to their nutritional benefits, they also have a mild and sweet flavor that makes them a versatile ingredient in many different dishes.
Varieties of Microgreens
Everyone knows how delicious broccoli is but when it’s in its microgreen form it has a charming sweet and nutty flavour.
To compare nutritional value of broccoli as a microgreen and its fully grown counterpart. You only need to eat 30g of microgreens compared to over 500g of fully grown broccoli.
Benefits of Eating Microgreens
There are many benefits to Microgreens, let’s visit a few….
Boosts the immune system
Rich in vitamin C, microgreens help to protect your body’s overall immune system. They act as an antioxidant by stabilizing volatile molecules that can damage cells. Vitamin C helps with collagen production which also helps heal wounds and maintain strong blood vessel walls.
Radish Talk
Most people have tried a radish or two in their lifetime, commonly seen as a small root vegetable that delivers a spicy punch, often red on the outside and white on the inside. Radish in Microgreens form are very much the same, delivering a spicy punch (although milder). Just as regular radishes come in many colors and cultivars, so too do radish microgreens. You’re probably familiar with red radishes, but full-sized radishes also come in many colors and shapes from white to black, to pink, and even purple.
Why Eat Microgreens
There are many reasons to eat Microgreens, flavour, garnishing or even availability but we think the main reason you should be considering eating Microgreens is because they are packed with Nutrients, full of Vitamins, Minerals and Antioxidants.
Early research into Microgreens indicates that they contain up to 40% more phytochemicals (beneficial nutrients and components) than their fully-grown counterparts. Though these little greens are small in size, they pack a mighty punch, containing extremely high levels of powerful vitamins, minerals, and health-supporting components.
One of the mightiest Microgreens is Broccoli. Broccoli contains high levels of compounds that once consumed convert to Sulforaphane. Sulforaphane has potent cancer preventative effects and is also widely being investigated for its benefits for cardiovascular health, diabetes, inflammatory conditions, anti-aging properties, autism, and more.
New Beginnings
With 2022 nearly over Kiwigreens want to wish everyone a Happy New Year.
Has everybody set there New Year Resolution yet? We have, Kiwigreens Urban Farms 2023 resolution is to provide people with tips and resources to not only purchase fresh microgreens from us but to also grow their own microgreens and live a healthier and sustainable lifestyle.
Not everyone has the patience, time or even space to grow their own vegetable garden, but microgreens could be the answer for people wanting to add a little pizazz, nutrition or flavor to their meals.
Join our mailing list to keep up to date on our weekly blogs and recipes as we begin to share with you the benefits of Microgreens and how easily they can be included in any lifestyle.
Smoothies
You can’t get this wrong, just chuck everything in your blender and blend! Change it up and add your favorite fruits to suit your taste. Using a mild tasting microgreen like Pak Choi or Broccoli means you can add more without affecting the flavor.
This is by far the best way to get extra nutrition into the fussy eaters in your life. If you have any ice block Mould’s then try making ice blocks with your smoothie mixes, perfect for sunny days.
Can you eat Microgreens everyday?
There are many different ways to add microgreens to your meals, these are some of our favorites.
Garnish, super easy add a pinch of microgreens to your snack or meal. Not only are adding nutrition but that garnish can turn your dish into a work of art
Salad, using our ready to eat salad mix bags we add our favorite salad extras like red onion, tomatoes, cucumber or cheese a light drizzle of dressing and its ready to eat
Blend it, we often add microgreens to our smoothies or ice block mixes. You don’t taste it so easy to hide from the kids and great for anybody with a sweet tooth.
Steamed or wilted, try stirring through a handful of microgreens into your rice risotto, pasta or stir-fry’s. Bean sprouts are great lightly steamed and added as a side dish replacing silver beet or spinach
How to eat Microgreens?
The options are limitless when it comes to eating microgreens, our ready to eat mix bags can be quickly turned into a delicious salad. If you like more of a spice, then ask about adding a spicy extra of mustard and nasturtium to your purchase.
Don’t be fooled into thinking you can only eat microgreens raw; you can also add these to stir-fry’s, Sautee them with mushrooms and even wilt them on to any dish. Bean shoots are amazing steamed and added to a side dish to your main meal, if you love spinach then give this a go.
Avocado & Pak Choi Salad
Let’s get ready by washing your Pak Choi, or microgreen of your choice. Once washed you will need to dry your greens with a salad spinner of lay out on some paper towels and pat dry. Leave to air dry.
Prepare you avocado by slicing in half, removing the nut then scooping out so you have two whole halves, then slice long ways in thin strips.
Slice your dried seaweed into long strips
Combine in a bowl the Pak Choi, avocado, seeds, nuts, seaweed, and dressing. Mix lightly together careful not to break the avocado up.