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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] starting out with micro-greens

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  • From: "breck" <bcarden AT breckinridgegroup.com>
  • To: "'Market Farming'" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] starting out with micro-greens
  • Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:48:18 -0500

Hey Richard would you mine discussing your process in a bit more detail. I’ve been playing around with this idea.

How are you seeding? Seed plates? Sprinkle?

Do you ever mix different veggies in the same tray? Do you think the different germination/growing rates would make this problematic?

Are you able to stack for delivery?

How is the chef using; as a garnish or as a salad?

How long do they keep the flats? I guess they are using them within a couple of days or are watering and keeping under lights.

Do any of them display for customers?

What does your sales pitch entail?

 

At your winter market; maybe you could sell it for $13 plus a $2 deposit on the tray/mix. This would get them to come back to you each week. Perhaps you could use a mix of veggies in each of these trays. Folks might like the novelty and freshness. They could feel like a real farmer harvesting their own produce. I am going to grow some out for 9 or so days then bring them up and place on my kitchen counter to see how they last to get a better perspective.

 

 

Thanks,

Farmer Breck

Breck Carden

Carden’s Garden

2400 E Hwy 22

Crestwood, KY 40014-7704

breck AT breckcarden.com

www.breckcarden.com

 

 


From: market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Richard Stewart
Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 1:09 PM
To: Market Farming
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] starting out with micro-greens

 

Curtis

 

I sell flats of micros to restaurants.  I am in the testing stage right now supplying 1 restaurant with orders of up to 8 flats a week and two other restaurants with random weekly orders from one to six.

 

I use a chrome type rung metal shelf system with 40w fluorescent tube lights at each level.  I use a second shelf for germination.  I grow in plastic flats that measure 10"x13" and are 1" deep.

 

I water the soil prior to seeding and then mist the dry seeds once set.  Seeds are simply on the surface of the medium.  This gives me about four days with need to water.

 

I am currently growing Mizuna and Radish micros.  Mizuna is sprouting within three days and sold in nine.  Radishes are close to that.  I am doing beets as well, usually Bull's Blood and will be trying out Arugula here soon.

 

I sell each tray for 13.00.  Locally a lot of growers are using 1020 trays which provide a bit more area and sell for around 15.00.

 

I am hoping to sell micros at one of winter markets, fresh cut from a tray.  Still working on the pricing there.

 

My medium is a mix of river bottom sand (fine as mortar sand) with composted leaf/garden soil and 3+ year composted horse manure.  it makes for a light fluffy material.  Seed density is such that after I get the trays back I have a second growth which I eventually plan on feeding to chickens in a large rotation plan that I am hoping to start at a small scale in 2010.  I figure the seed and micros are perfect for the chickens.

 

Richard Stewart

Carriage House Farm

North Bend, Ohio

 

An Ohio Century Farm Est. 1855

 

(513) 967-1106

 

 




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