Growing Microgreens | Upcycling

Times are so weird right now. We’re supposed to be limiting the amount of times we go to the grocery store, while also cooking at home more. We also are getting take out from local restaurants in hopes that they will still be here when things get closer to normal. And we still can’t use our own bags or containers, so we inevitably end up with more trash.

We upcycled this takeout container to grow some microgreens in! Luckily these didn’t have anything messy in them, just a couple summer rolls from a local Vietnamese restaurant, so we gently wiped them clean with a rag and a little bit of water. We cut off the flaps and composted them.

During this unprecedented time of uncertainty, it is empowering to know you can grow something at home, even with no land! These things grow fast - they will be ready for harvest in about two weeks after you plant the seeds. 

And it costs so little to start. We are firm believers of “use what you have” first. Clearly we didn’t buy anything special for the container - you can use almost anything, but keep it shallow (think smaller sized takeout containers, egg cartons, etc.). Dirt is...well, dirt cheap. Fortunately, we had some dirt we harvested from our compost recently that we were able to use, so it was basically free, just slightly labor intensive. The seeds are just a few dollars and last a while. We have been getting into the habit of always having some seeds on hand because at this point, who knows what life is going to throw at us next. 

Microgreens are an amazing addition to anything you’re cooking - add some as a garnish on top of soups, put on sandwiches, tacos, pasta...they are incredibly versatile! It is so nice to have fresh ingredients readily available to quickly add to a dish. 

Once these are harvested, we can dump the remaining soil back into the compost. The container can probably get a few uses out of it, but once it is ready to be retired it can also be composted!