Learning Leaf University

Welcome to your ultimate blog for all things small but mighty! Dive into the technical side of growing with our Microgreens 101 guides. Or, explore lifestyle tips, recipes, and fun facts over in The Micro Life. We break down the essential "whys" and "hows" of eating them. At the same time, we highlight the incredible health benefits packed into every tray. From cultivation secrets to quick culinary inspiration, discover how these tiny greens make a massive impact on your daily wellness.

A cartoon microgreen superhero character with leaf armor standing in a green city, surrounded by floating vitamins, tomatoes, carrots, and radishes, with a thought bubble saying 'Power-up with microgreens!'

Flora Family: How Microgreens Are A Superfood

Itsy's Science Corner Itsy Cella Flora here! 🌱 Let’s talk superfoods: Itsy: "What do you think the definition of superfood is?" Audience: (Silence... more silence, .....) "Ummm, I guess a food that is chock-full of all the good stuff our bodies need?" Itsy: "That would be proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. The human body needs all of them. Try again. What do you think of?" Audience: "Chia seed pudding and blueberries are all over my social media feeds. Them and cottage c

Dawn Halter

6 days ago3 min read

Microgreens water chemistry supplies including distilled water, Ocean Solution, pH Down liquid, and a digital pH meter.

Microgreens Water Chemistry: The Science of Precision Hydroponic Growing

Itsy's Science Corner Itsy Cella Flora here! 🌱 Let’s talk water. Have you ever been dehydrated or completely waterlogged? Going without water for very long (2-5 days, depending on the circumstances), can be detrimental to your health. And believe it or not, too much water in a short amount of time can be as well. Oh, and by the way, that means you can die from too little or too much water. Audience: "What? Come on now, Itsy, that's crazy talk. It is common knowledge th

Dawn Halter

Sep 173 min read

Floretta Flora, a winking cheerful green cartoon broccoli character from the Flora Family

Flora Family: How Broccoli Microgreens Quiet Chronic Inflammation

Itsy Cella Flora (right) introduces her cousin, Floretta Flora (left) Itsy Cella Flora here! 🌱 Let’s talk about how inflammation affects the body. Have you ever twisted an ankle or cut your finger? Most of us have at one point or another. Our bodies are wonderfully complex and have the ability to heal themselves. That's a good thing since I tend to be very clumsy. When you cut your finger or twist your ankle, your body's natural response to the pain from the injury is to

Dawn Halter

Sep 104 min read

Illustration of functional food, fresh produce, and a cyclist carrying microgreens to represent food as medicine.

Functional Medicine & Microgreens | Itsy Cella Flora Explains Food as Medicine

Itsy Cella Flora here! 🌱 Let’s talk about why so many people are turning to functional medicine—and how microgreens fit into the big picture. Physician: "So why are you here today?" You: "I just feel off. You know. I have the blahs." Physician: "How are you sleeping? How long has this been going on?" You: "Umm, I guess I sleep ok? That is when I sleep. How long? I don't know. For a while now." Physician: (They type on the computer for a moment, then grab their tablet, ta

Dawn Halter

Sep 34 min read

Microgreens Farming: Tools of the Trade (No Tiny Tractors)

Unless you’re actually in a specific trade, it’s hard to imagine what the daily grind looks like. Play a quick visualization game with me: Picture This The Carpenter: You picture a person wearing a heavy toolbelt who drives a truck filled with hammers, levels, and power tools. They can work with whatever wood or building materials presented to them. They have quick access to the exact right tool for the job. They have to adapt to the conditions of the work site on the fly.

Dawn Halter

Aug 273 min read

A gourmet appetizer featuring savory prosciutto and a generous topping of healthy microgreens as the garnish

How to Use Microgreens: Beyond the Restaurant Garnish

A stunning appetizer with microgreens Chef or Foodie, or Somewhere In Between I am not a classically trained chef. However, I have been known to throw together a meal with what I have on hand. Pulling different ingredients from the pantry, freezer and fridge then adding a dash of this spice or that spice to come up with something to eat. Sometimes those "throw together meals," as a friend of mine calls them, are fantabulous. Followed by a "You have got to give me this rec

Dawn Halter

Aug 203 min read

Itsy Cella Flora cartoon character wearing green glasses holding a science book and microgreens beaker

Microgreens Health Benefits & Modern Science Explored

Our Official Spokesperson Regarding Health and Nutrition Say hello to Itsy Cella Flora —our wonderfully quirky, leafy resident teaching scientist and official spokesperson for exploring the ins and outs of where medical issues meet microgreens research! None of us here at Tasty Little Leaves Microgreens are doctors or hold any medical degrees. However, we’ve learned plenty in life’s classroom through the medical school of hard knocks—not just with family and friends, but fir

Dawn Halter

Aug 132 min read

Soil vs Hydroponic Microgreens: Why We Grow the Way We Do

Our hydroponic setup: perfectly clean, lightweight, and completely soil-free. Even though microgreens are relatively new to the farming industry, there is a plethora of grow mediums to choose from. Originally, it all started with trays of soil. Then came coco coir, flood systems, and the Kratky method—the list goes on. To keep this short and sweet, let's dive straight into the great debate: soil vs. hydroponics. How The Microgreens Industry Came About Have you wondered how th

Dawn Halter

Aug 65 min read

Fresh, vibrant hydroponic microgreens growing densely in a tray at Tasty Little Leaves Microgreens, LLC

A Beginner's Flavor Guide: Which Microgreens Are Right for You?

A close-up view of our hydroponically grown microgreen tray—packed with flavor and nutrients. “I have such a hard time finding a vegetable I like and will eat. And my kids? It is a battle at the dinner table every night!” Does this sound familiar? For you or a friend? Most veggies have strong flavors. And unless they are floating in butter or cheese sauces, finding different satisfying ways to fix them is exasperating. Plus to eat a full cup of them? Uh, yah, no thank

Dawn Halter

Jul 303 min read

Side-by-side comparison of green microgreens on the left and pale sprouts on the right on a blue plate

Microgreens vs Sprouts: Let's Clear Up the Confusion

A side-by-side look at Broccoli microgreens (left) versus Broccoli sprouts (right) If I've heard it once, I've heard it 100 times since becoming an Urban Microgreens Farmer: "Are these just the same thing?" The debate of microgreens vs sprouts comes down to understanding that while they start from the same seed, they are vastly different in how they grow, look, and taste. Let's clear up the confusion by comparing them in 4 different ways. How Microgreens vs Sprouts Are Grown

Dawn Halter

Jul 234 min read

Traditional side salad with chopped lettuce, cucumbers, and tomatoes, topped with a mix of microgreens

Are Microgreens Just Tiny Lettuce Leaves?

Traditional side salad with chopped lettuce, cucumbers, and tomatoes, topped with a mix of microgreens Are Microgreens just tiny lettuce leaves? Believe it or not, the question is more complex than you may think. Depending on who is answering the question will depend on their answer. So let's ask 3 different people: The Master Chef: Unequivocally No! A microgreen is a complex flavor profile with a delicate texture. It can be used as an elevated garnish—not a salad base. �

Dawn Halter

Jul 163 min read

Close-up shot of fresh, vibrant green microgreens growing densely together

Grow On-Demand Microgreens: The Method Behind Our Madness

So, what does "grow on-demand" microgreens really mean? Simply put, it’s how we do business. Tasty Little Leaves Microgreens, LLC doesn't have a brick-and-mortar storefront—we are a completely web-based service. Because of this, our service includes cultivating, harvesting, and delivering pesticide-free, nutrient-dense living food directly to you. (And if we get technical about it, they aren't "chemical-free" because even pure water is a chemical! Plus, I add a clean, mineral

Dawn Halter

Jul 112 min read

Freshly harvested Tasty Little Leaves microgreens packed securely in a delivery container

Why is there a Paper Towel In My Microgreens? (How to Store Microgreens)

Your microgreens order has just been delivered. Aren't they beautiful? Time to get them in the fridge so that they will not wilt. Make sure they have air flow. We don't want these babies to freeze! I know you can't wait to add them to dinner tomorrow. Life has been life-ing! You haven't cooked; been eating on the run and haven't opened the fridge since they were delivered- when was that? Wednesday? Wait it's Thursday-over a week later! Cringing inside you go to the f

Dawn Halter

Jul 42 min read

Broccoli with microgreens with a quarter to scale

Quarter for Scale: What a Serving of Microgreens Actually Looks Like

Shrunk in size, but packed with power! According to a study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, microgreens contain 4 to 40 times more nutrients than mature vegetables. We're breaking down what a real serving size looks like using a visual comparison of grocery store broccoli florets versus our fresh, grown on-demand microgreens.

Dawn Halter

Jun 272 min read