Category: General

I began my planting journey at the onset of the pandemic. My first experience as an urban farmer was surprisingly pleasant. I was so excited to harvest so that I can serve it to my family, especially our kids. I would even say, ‘Guys, have some vegetables. It came from our greenhouse’. I would often get a silent nod. After saying the same line three times, in three different meals, they began to laugh at me. Then I’d say, ‘Why? It’s organic!’

It made me think that they actually don’t care about the veggies coming from the greenhouse. They also do not care about it being organically grown. They simply do not like eating vegetables.

As a parent, I have tried different ways to convince my kids to eat their greens — mixing in soup, making salad, buying malunggay bread, vegetable chips, etc. I have also tried vegetable supplements — all to no avail.

The turning point was when I came across microgreens. A friend was telling me how easy it was to grow it. He would show me microgreens grown on tissue paper and other soilless medium. I simply ignored it at first, until I came across articles on these so called superfoods which is microgreens. Why superfood? Well, microgreens are said to be up to 40 times more nutritious than their adult versions.

I researched some more and discovered more wonders. Some institutions serve microgreens to their guests and patients because they are rich with vitamins C, K and A, micro and macronutrients. Some even have anti-cancer and anti-Alzheimer’s components. So I tried to grow them to see for myself. It took only 10 days to harvest. When I tasted it, I noticed the subtle taste of some and the nutty and spicy flavor of other varieties.

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My desire to feed veggies to my kids was renewed. I offered them various microgreens. They all tried it without resistance. Afterwhich, one of them called out her preferred microgreens for future reference. The other two just quietly got their share and tasted it. So far, for several weeks now, I have been serving them these superfoods and they are willing to try and accept them. That for me is positive change.

Since then I resolved to grow a number of trays / punnets weekly so that I can have a steady supply to feed them. Now that it has become acceptable to my children, I just thought of thousands of parents who might be having the same struggle as me. This thought has encouraged me to learn and prepare more so that I can share the good news about microgreens.

I hope this helps.

“Planting is not for me because I don’t have a green thumb.”

This statement is so powerful that it disempowers those who say it, sucking all the courage to even touch one tiny seed.

I used to think like that.

I thought there were people who could just throw seeds on the ground, and they will magically grow just because this person has a green thumb. I also thought that there were those who would just touch a plant, and it would wilt and die — just like in the movies, when a dark shadow hovers over the forest, the trees turn brown or black. Guess what? I believed it to be true.

Many years before, I tried caring for roses but they eventually died. This discouraged me and I thought I just didn’t have a green thumb and planting was not in my DNA.

But during COVID lockdown and quarantine, I had nothing to do at home, so I thought of trying my hand at planting once again, with the help of a good friend, who became my mentor and advisor. Now, I have several plants in the greenhouse. Some have died, but some are flourishing, especially my tomato leaves which should be bearing fruits.

I also planted lots of basil — oh how I love and thank them for being so forgiving. And I also have various other leafy vegetables that we enjoy harvesting and eating. Through the dry and wet seasons in this pandemic, I learned things I used to ignore in my science classes. I now understand better the relationship between temperature and humidity. I didn’t even bother about humidity before, but now when it’s rainy, I’m more conscious that I might over water the plants. If it’s too hot, I think about whether the plants are getting enough air and shade, so I visit them more. Same goes with the microgreens which is just beside me as I work from home.

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Growing plants is actually science — Natural Science, Physics and chemistry altogether. I appreciate it now more than ever. I totally agree on teaching students to plant but that’s another topic. That’s my husband’s department. Planting is science… people who throw seeds on the ground to make them magically grow is actually not magic. These are germinating seeds that fall on the soil. Oh even a tissue paper can also grow sprouts. We are given several choices to plant. There’s the traditional soil planting, hydroponics, aquaponics, aeroponics. Take your pick.

There are people more than willing to lend a hand in giving tips and advice on how to make planting work. Youtube, FB groups, your friends, Yo Greens… so many choices.

So it’s not about the color of your thumb. It’s your choice, your will and determination that will make it work.

I have chosen, and I now belong to the green thumb society.