I’m always on the lookout for good ideas for starting sustainable small businesses that are low cost and easy to implement. Microgreens are small plants midway in size between sprouts and baby greens. Besides being used in salads, they can be used as a garnish on food such as fresh basil on pizza. Microgreens and sprouts are super nutritious and tasty, and also profitable as shown by this video. This guy turned a hobby of growing things into a business that saved his home. Grow your own food, get healthier and cut your grocery bills.
YouTube
YouTube has lots more videos about microgreens.
Watch for other interesting home-based business ideas in the coming months. Even if you have a job, having a little extra cash won’t hurt anything.
I hit upon a big improvement over the method in this video. I watched another video where they use shallow trays with soil: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA8p5IT91H8
The shallow trays work great, but the soil is costly and can spread pathogens that cause mold, etc. We’re using ground coconut husks. It’s cheap and works great.
Another possibility is growing them in a mesh greenhouse like this: http://www.trademe.co.nz/home-living/outdoor-garden-conservatory/greenhouses/auction-648561329.htm (Use a typical greenhouse in cold climates.) Air could freely circulate through the mesh, but insects couldn’t get to the plants. No one would likley buy the insect damaged microgreens. We’d probably improvise our own mesh greenhouse with materials we can buy locally. I think this will ultimately be more efficient and productive than growing them in garden beds.
Ive done similar for my kitchen and to feed chickens. I wonder how to price something like this. The gas to deliver it and the electric bill makes it hard to see much profit.
It probably depends on the restaurants in your area. It could be profitable if you have enough higher end restaurants who want your products. This implies a healthy economy where people can afford to go out to eat.