A farmer who is delighted when people enjoy healthy plant based diets. I find peace in blogging about food and nutrition. Very passionate about improving the world system and ending hunger and poverty
Everyone need to eat healthy food but sometimes people might not behaving the resources to grow their own food. Using traditional methods of growing, it cost us a lot of money and we also need a lot of space and water.
so today I here for those who does not have land but they want to want fresh vegetables.
Do you know that you can also have your own fresh supply of vegetables even if you live in a single room, the question is how?
All you need is organic seeds, water and a colander.
I know someone is saying how can that be? And what is it that I can grow?
ok, be attentive, I am about to let the cat out.
so the vegiew that you can grow are sprouts, can you imagine, they do not need light.
so let’s get in our indoor farm and let’s farm.
choose fresh organic seeds which has the highest probability of germinating we need 100% germination to avoid molds .
soak one part of sees to four parts of water overnight. Make sure your seeds are smart.
in the morning drain and rinse the swelling seeds
take a clean colander and put the seeds and cover them with a clean towel .Make sure their enough moisture.
Place the colander in a dark place, keep checking the colander and after every 8hours wash and rinse again. After 2-5 days, you will be having your supply of fresh spouts.
nb: make sure you are use fresh organic seeds and you apparatus are smart and also your water must be fresh .
I will let you know what happens if you do not do so in the next blog.
We did not have water supplies for the past three days and it is so painful to watch my vegetables succumbing to excessive heat waves currently prevailing this season.
When I woke up today, I went straight to the garden to check on my vegetables. Most of my vegetable varieties are failing to withstand the heat worse still , there is nothing that I can do, all I could do is watching them withering and wilting. My day was very bad.
Yes I know that we have been experiencing water woos for more than a decade but this problem had not directly affected my business. We are used to spend only a day without water but this week it’s the third day.
It’s now horrible to set my eyes in the garden, it’s so painful to watch my herbs which were growing vividly looking stranded and dying.
So to relieve myself, I decided to spend much of my day in the green house, everything is normal, plants are doing pretty good, they are not even worried about what is happening to their colleagues out there.
I spent more than twenty minutes gazing on my Microgreens which are doing well in a passive hydroponics environment. They seemed not to care about the heat which is outdoors. Everything is fine for them. It seems as if they are growing on minute bases.
When I got in the greenhouse in the morning, they were about 3cm tall, but when I got in again in the evening, they are more than 5cm tall.
Looking at this growth rate, I realized why people are now concentrating on indoor farming and greenhouse farming.
Everthing is just good, no need to worry about the scorching heat and water shortages.
What is happening in my area is a wake up call, it’s high Time we need to concentrate on growing Microgreens and sprouts which does not need a lot of water .
Another advantage of growing Microgreens is you enjoy a variety of vegetables even when you do not have space. The quickly mature and usually you able to move your growing kits to areas with have best growing conditions when whether changes.
Every problems gives us an opportunity to come up with new ideas. So today I spent my day thinking on how I could improve my farming technologies to suit our Zimbabwean context
Next time I will open down my innovation which correct the problem of water shortages and heat waves.
I am writing this article for people who are very lazy and those who are very smart and do not like to play around with dirty.
So today I would like to talk about passive hydroponics,
what is it?
I know you want me to get straight into it so lets go
Passive hydroponics is a simple method of growing vegetables and other crops in non circulating oxygenated water.
Its obvious that someone is asking this question, “how?”
Stay put! What you need to understand is plants need oxygen, nutrients , carbon dioxide and nutrients to survive
So how can oxygen be present in non circulating water?
Naturally water is made up of oxygen therefore, the plants can still grow with the natural oxygen within the water but for the best growth you might need an air stone and also you can add hydrogen peroxide to allow more oxygen for your plants.
From the experience that I have, here is a list of herbs that easily grow in water without any problems
Mint
green onions
Chives
leeks
garlic leeks
oregano
sweet rocket
Basil
lemon grass
rosemary
Thyme
the list is endless but you can start with these ones
The most important thing is to do your best agronomy practices so that the roots won’t rot
We are now supplying amaranth microgreens in large quantities because there has been a increase in demand for this indegenous weeds.
We decided to supply amaranth in the form of microgreens so that youths can also benefits from the phytonutrients and all minerals possessed by this edible weed
Generally amaranth is consumed by people who are suffering from chronic diseases and incurable diseases like cancer and HIV. It is well known in Africa as an immune booster. So if your immune system is compromised, consider eating so few grams per week.
The most appealing way to eat amaranth is to mix it with other baby greens in your salad. This give a very appealing colour at the same time blessing you with a health life.
Hie my friends! It s been long without any interaction, My schedule has been tight, what made me to write something to you is a client that I met yesterday. She is very interested in Microgreens but since this is something which is new in my country, people are just skeptic about trying Microgreens, so she said please explain to me what microgreens are? She vividly explained to me what sprouts are and what baby greens and the next utterance was , “then explain to me why you are saying Microgreens are more beneficial than all vegetables I know.”
So this question made me realise that I was not doing much to let my fellow Zimbabweans know what Microgreens are? This is why a Iam writing this blog. In this blog , I will let you know why Microgreens are considered to be better than mature vegetables, so let’s go!
What are Microgreens?
Microgreens are vegetables that are grown and harvested within a period of 7- 21 days depending on the seed variety being used. Microgreens are harvested when they have just developed the true leaf.
Difference between Microgreens and sprouts.
Some people are tempted to believe that Microgreens and sprouts are just the same. There is a big difference between sprouts and microgreens
Sprouts are harvested within a period of less than a week, whilst microgreens are harvested when they are more than a week old
The stems and leaves of microgreens are the only ones that are consumed but for sprouts everything is eaten including the roots.
sprouts are prone to bacterial diseases such as salmonella and E coli but the chance of getting food poisoning is slim for Microgreens
Now let’s look at the difference between Microgreens and baby greens.
baby greens are a little bit mature as compared to Microgreens usually harvested after three weeks from the day of planting but Microgreens are harvested between seven and twenty one days. Some plants cannot be eaten as baby greens because their stems can be bitter e.g. sunflower greens cannot be left to become baby greens because the stem because very bitter.
It has been researched and concluded that it more beneficial to eat Microgreens than mature vegetables. Different studies carried out in America shows that microgreens have more healthy benefits than mature vegetables. It was discovered that on average , Microgreens have a nutrient content which is at least seven times of that of mature vegetables. This the reason why many people from developed countries prefer to eat Microgreens than mature vegetables and herbs. Microgreens are great source of minerals such as potassium, iron, zinc, magnesium, copper and other minerals. So if you have an ailment which needs these minerals then with Microgreens you will never go wrong.
Another important thing is Microgreens are packed with anti- oxidants, their nutrient content is in vitamins. A study carried out in America showed that microgreens have magnesium, vitamins and anti- oxidants which are up to 40times higher than recorded for mature vegetables. This means that microgreens are the best option for those with compromised health and vegans
Varieties
Microgreens are grown from different seed varieties of cereals, vegetables and herbs , we can have wheatgrass Microgreens which are used to make wheatgrass juice and smoothies 🥤. Microgreens can be made from legumes such as beans and chick peas and lentils. The image below shows chickpeas microgreens
We at Bono Salus we have started our own blood builders and immunity builders Microgreens using locally sourced seeds of blackjack and amaranth. This has been welcomed by many chefs who sell traditional and indigenous food sources. Our blackjack and amaranth Microgreens have helped many people with ill- health and the health conscious people who want to improve their health through plant based food. Our clients toss blackjack Microgreens in their favourite smoothies, salads and sandwiches
health benefits of microgreens
Microgreens helps in the blood building process. Those who usually buy our blackjack and amaranth Microgreens use them in place of spinach and beetroot. Nursing mothers usually blackjack Microgreens especially first 2month just after giving birth. Many people claim that it cleans their immune system and help improve their blood.
People with heart diseases, diabetes are also recommended by their doctors to consume a lot of microgreens.
How to include Microgreens in your diet?
Microgreens can be included in a variety of dishes such as sandwiches, wraps, salads, smoothies , garnish, topping etc.
So those who enjoy pizza, burgers, omelettes and curries, Microgreens are the best option.
Problems which can be expected in microgreens growing:
Microgreens are usually grown in a fairly moist environment so they are prone to salmonella and E coli, so to avoid food poisoning, you need to buy Microgreens from well experiences farmers who use quality seeds and grow media.
NB: Microgreens are not GMOs, they are organically grown using organic seeds , organic fertilisers and grow media made from naturally occurring material like coco peat and saw dust from indigenous trees.
I hope this blog will help you understand that microgreens are more valuable as compared to mature vegetables, you need to understand that many restaurants and hotels in developed countries are now opting for Microgreens because:
they nutrient dense
flavourful
So the bottom Line is microgreens are the best options for the health conscious community.
Our skin is a living organ that report to the outside world what is happening silently inside us. The main indicator that something is wrong is the dullness of our skins. At times we might not know what we are suffering from but our skin can report that our body needs attention. So if your skin is not glowing, here is a smoothie that you can consume religiously and everything can turn to your side.
Fruits and veggies that you need
One cucumber 🥒 sliced
One orange 🍊 peeled and diced
One beetroot diced
one carrot 🥕 diced
one small ginger peeled and diced
juice lemon 🍋 squzzed from one lemon
small pineapple 🍍 peeled and cubed
half cup of beetroot Microgreens.
One teaspoon honey – to taste.
Gather all the above ingredients and blend them up until smooth and drinkable, you can jump honey if you do not want this. To get the best consistence, half a banana 🍌 is very ideal.
Blackjack is a weed that is known to have healing powers especially in Africa. People with compromised immune systems usually feed on dried and fresh blackjack. The fun part of this is many youths in my country do not appreciate this miracle weed. So we have come up with an amazing way to allow people of all age groups to consume blackjack.
We are now doing blackjack microgreens which you can mix with other salads, this will allow you to enhance the nutrient content of your food without even realising that you are eating blackjack.
Today we want to improve your blood using blackjack and beetroot so we have decided to make a smoothie for you.
Here is how to prepare your smoothie:
fruits and veggies needed:
one big banana chopped.
two big plums with pith removed.
half cup frozen raspberries
half cup blackjack microgreens.
half cup beetroot microgreens.
one cup cold water.
instructions.
chop your fruits into small cubes and put everything in a blender, add half cup of cold water and blend for 3seconds, add some more water up until you reach the desired consistency.
NB: you can replace water with animal based milk or plant based milk, I usually put water because I am not a fun of animal milk which is readily available here.
When your smoothie is ready, serve immediately, anytime is smoothie time! You can drink in the morning, afternoon and evening.
Continue doing this religiously up until you get desired results.
You can also blend in seeds and nuts to fight anemia..
I had a wonderful time during the just ended Easter holidays. We went to celebrate Easter in the village, we had an opportunity to eat a lot of traditional meals. Out of all the meals that came my way , I enjoyed Sadza with nyeve mixed with tsunga ( African mustards). I had never tasted the beauty of African vegetables since I was born.
The meal was mouth watering, that is why I am sharing the recipe.
Resources needed:
half bundle – tsunga.
a bowel ful of freshly picked nyevhe.
one big tomato.
one small red onion
garlic leeks.
basil leaves.
salt.
peanut butter.
preparations
wash all your vegetables and cut them into small pieces
in a medium sized pot add all your vegetables except garlic leeks and basil
Add half cup of warm water in the pot
turn on your stove and cook the contents on medium heat until the contents becomes tender, you can add water were necessary.
When you are sure that your vegetables are well cooked, turn on your stove to low heat , add salt and peanut butter to taste, apply peanut butter generously but not too much, leave it to simmer for ten minutes and add the garlic leeks and basil , mix well together and remove from stove, serve immediately with sadza.
We are all happy that we have managed to see this new year, but it will be much better if we get into this new year very fit and fine. Everyone needs to be healthy but if we are to check around, more than 80% of the adults are suffering mentally, emotionally and physically.
There is a great role that we must play to improve our health. The moment you give up on yourself , is the same time your health will drastically deteriorate. If you do not care for yourself, who else can do that for you? No one! Keep reminding yourself that you are the master of both your physical and mental health.
I know, someone is saying this:
Ok, yes, I am the master of my health, so what should I do to enhance it?
Here are the tips for a better life:
Change your mindset: One of the most important things to do is to change your mindset. For example, if you are sick, see yourself improving, not dying. So if this happens you will start looking at ways to improve your physical and mental health,
Health diets: one of the ways is to change your diet, yes it’s true, shift from unhealthy food to healthy nutritious food. This type of food is found in a balanced diet. Make it a point to include fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts and lean meat in your dishes so that you have a balanced diet. All these food sources must be in equal proportion. Some of the food sources that can help you improve your health are Microgreens and smoothies made from organically sourced fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds and herbs. It’s wise to prepare your smoothies at home so that you are 100% sure that you are using organic products.
Exercising. There is no remedy that can beat exercising, and the best and affordable way is by walking. Make it a point that you walk at least twice a week. What surprises me is that there are people who do not appreciate that they are better off walking than driving. When you are walking, especially in a forest you will definitely experience the touch of nature and your mind will be relieved and even your thinking capacity can improve. During the just ended holidays, we spent some time in the village,this was a great opportunity to hike and experience a better environment in the mountains and forests. The sound of birds chirping brought a sense of peacefulness to us. Some people enjoy cycling, it also gives them peace of mind and physical fitment since they will burn their fat in this process.
Reading : Make it a point to read fascinating stories which can be fiction or even real stories. Reading can relax your mind and can also help you think outside the box. Nowadays , life has been made easy. You can listen to audiobooks even if you are doing other things like walking or driving.
Writing: This is a technique that I use if I want to fight depression and stress. I am an introvert so when I am writing, I write as if I am talking to someone . In my writing it seems as if we are in a dialogue with someone, even if I am alone. So what happens is I exchange words as if I am talking to a real person. So at the end of the day I get relieved and if I was angry with someone, my anger is relieved and I create peace in my mind and I also silently create peace with my offender. This technique has worked for me for a quite long period of time. There are so many people who are always surprised when I do not react when there is need for a serious verbal reaction. What they do not understand is that I react with a pen and paper, and I leave my anger on paper and I even ask for forgiveness on paper. This clears my mind and heart. At times instead of praying a verbal prayer unto God, I just write what I am thinking. So writing is important because it gives us an opportunity to think twice so at the end of the day we do not say things that are not necessary leading us to creating peace with the community around us.
Games: you can also enhance your mental health through games that you like and playing them with people who appreciate your company. I like chess a lot so when I am feeling pressure, I usually go on my laptop, play chess for even an hour or I can even invite other people so that we can play together. This is very helpful to me because it clears my stress. So what I can just tell you is look for a game that you can play alone with computer, which at times can shape your brains but at the same time renewing your mind
Music: learn to select the type of music that makes you feel happy. Do not choose the kind of music that makes you cry. I usually do not want to listen to music or even videos that remind me of my dirt, miserable and painful past. If you listen to such music, it means you are trying to bring your past into the present and it’s very difficult to try and forget something that you deliberately invited in your mind so the best way to avoid past pain is to listen to such kinds of music that will make your blood flow with joy and happiness.
Socializing with others. You can also be better off by just talking to people who appreciate your presence. This is a technique used by out goers. When you share your problems and happiness with others you get to know techniques that can be used to overcome certain problems.
Being alone: There is a time in life where you do not need anyone around you and you will be at peace alone, when people try to come to you, you feel very lonely in the midst of a group of people. So this drains your energy and you can even feel like you are an outcast. So you end up feeling sick when other people are around, so the best therapy is to be alone even if other people can label you crazy. At times I find it easier to be alone than to be in the company of many people who do not add any value to my life.
A moment in the forest is also a good therapy
So not all these strategies can work for everyone but it’s my hope that one of these strategies might help you in your health conscious journey.
There is no one prescription that works for everyone but at times we need a concoction which can help us to be better as each day passes.
It’s my hope that one of these strategies has worked for someone or it is going to work for someone.Our motto this year is : 2023 best health and wellbeingfor everyone .
hey ! My friends, I hope you are well and you are in the holiday mood. This holiday, I want you to grow your microgreeens so that you enjoy fresh vegetables straight from your garden. So I want to teach you how to grow cilantro/coriander Microgreens.
So let’s go!
We are using the soil method, you need:
3 trays.
water
spray bottle.
Put some soil in a perforated tray, make sure you leave about 2cm above soil so that you will be able to water your seeds.
sprinkle some coriander seeds on top of the soil making sure that you create an even blanket but make sure that there are no seeds which are sitting ontop of other seeds.
Cover your seeds with a thin layer of fertile soil
Mist spray up until the soil is moist.
take one of the unperforated tray and let it sit ontop of the tray with the seed
take the trays and allow them to sit in the bottom tray, this is done so that water does not spill over
take your trays and put in a dark room to allow germination to take place .
NB: keep checking your moisture content up until most of the seeds have germinated
I have recorded and posted videos for this process on YouTube so you can follow the steps on the video to make sure you sow your seeds correctly.
so I will write about what we will do after germination.
