🌱 Growing Microgreens Indoors: Nutritious, Quick-Growing Greens for Every Season (Yes, Even in Winter!)

At Earth Keepers, we want to spread how growing your own food isn’t just for gardeners with tons of acres of land. This article is for those who may not have a backyard, who may not have perfect weather and who may not be able to bend over. This is for those who are looking for an alternative to traditional gardening.

In our prior post, Why Building Community Around Local Food Matters More Than Ever, we shared the benefits of how locally grown food makes us so much healthier. Now you can be part of that and enjoy the luxury of self-grown, with one of my favorite ways due to ease and reward — Growing microgreens indoors.

What do you need? Just a sunny windowsill, a few trays, and a desire to grow.

After you follow these easy steps, in 7–14 days, you’ll have nutrient-dense greens that are up to 40x more nutritious than their mature counterparts — ready to sprinkle on salads, sandwiches, or soups.

Let’s grow something good — right from your kitchen.

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🌿 What Exactly Are Microgreens?

You may have seen them grow in trendiness at your local smoothie-shop and here’s why everyone is getting into microgreens. Here’s the details… They’re not sprouts (which grow in water), and they’re not baby greens (which grow outdoors). They’re the perfect middle stage — bursting with flavor, color, and nutrition. Microgreens are the tender, young shoots of any vegetables and herbs — harvested just after their first true leaves appear.

And the best part?

You can grow them year-round, even in the middle of winter — no greenhouse needed.

Our favorites include:

• Broccoli
• Radish
• Pea shoots
• Sunflower
• Kale
• Cilantro
• Basil

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🍽️ Why Microgreens Are a Superfood for Seniors

For those of us focused on healthy-aging, microgreens are a powerhouse:

• High in antioxidants – Support brain health and immune function
• Rich in vitamins C, K, and E – Vital for bone and heart health
• Packed with enzymes – Aid digestion and nutrient absorption
• Low effort, high reward – Perfect for limited mobility or small spaces

“I grow pea shoots on my windowsill. I eat them every morning with avocado toast. I feel like I’m giving my body what it needs — which makes me happy at this age.”

— Margaret, Earth Keepers Pioneer

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🪴 How to Grow Microgreens Indoors (5 Simple Steps)

You don’t need to be a farmer for this project. Just follow this beginner-friendly routine:

1. Choose Your Seeds

Use organic, untreated seeds labeled for microgreens (not garden seeds).

• I suggest you start with pea shoots or sunflower — they’re large, easy to handle, and grow fast.

2. Pick Your Container

Use a shallow tray (2–3 inches deep) with drainage holes.

• Have any takeout containers? This is a great way to upcycle!
• You can also use a dedicated microgreen growing tray.

3. Add Soil & Seeds

• Fill the tray with 1 inch of potting mix
• Sprinkle seeds densely but evenly (like a snowfall)
• Press them gently into the soil

4. Water & Cover

• Mist with a spray bottle until damp
• Cover with another tray or lid to create a mini greenhouse
• Place in a sunny windowsill (south-facing is best)

5. Harvest in 7–14 Days

• Remove the cover once seeds sprout
• Water lightly every 1–2 days
• Harvest with clean scissors when first true leaves appear
• Eat immediately — they’re at their peak!

🌿 Pro Tips: Reuse the soil for your next batch — just top it off with fresh compost. To help your seeds germinate quickly, pre-soak larger seeds (like mung beans, wheat, peas, beetroot and sunflowers) in warm water for a few hours or overnight.

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🏡 Why Making Gardening Accessible to All Matters for Earth Keepers

At Earth Keepers, we’re building a regenerative senior community where people grow forward — not just older.

And microgreens are a symbol of that.

• They’re accessible — no back pain, no heavy lifting
• They’re resilient — they grow in any season
• They’re regenerative — they give back more than they take

In our future community, we’ll support growing with:

• Shared indoor growing stations
• Resident-led microgreen workshops
• A “Harvest & Share” table in the communal kitchen

Because food isn’t just fuel — it’s a way to stay engaged, give back, and grow something meaningful.

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🌿 Final Thought: You’re Not Just Growing Greens — You’re Growing Purpose

You don’t need to wait for spring.

You don’t need a big plot of land.

You don’t need to be young.

You just need a window, a tray, and the willingness to try.

And in two weeks, you’ll have something real — something alive — something that says:

“I’m still growing.”

👉 Want to Do More Than Growing Microgreens?

Join the Earth Keepers community for more ideas on how to live green and save green.

👉 Schedule a Call to Learn About Our Community

Because retirement shouldn’t mean slowing down —
It should mean growing forward.

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