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.

Fall Harvest & Comfort Foods: Elevating Warm Soups and Bowls with Microgreens

Hearty fall comfort food meets fresh living greens: savory butternut squash breakfast casserole topped with crisp, nutrient-packed broccoli microgreens. Now that we are in November and the temperatures cannot make up their mind if it is fall or still summer, we can finally start thinking about comfort food. Even here in Northeast Florida, when that first crisp breeze rolls through, nothing hits the spot quite like hearty soups, warm grain bowls, and savory casseroles like the

Dawn Halter

2 days ago2 min read

Kalea Flora, kale microgreens character icon for Tasty Little Leaves Microgreens.

Flora Family: Kale Microgreens for Osteoporosis & Bone Health

Itsy's Science Corner Itsy Cella Flora (right) introduces her cousin, Kalea Flora (left) Itsy Cella Flora here! 🌱 Let’s talk about Vitamin K and Calcium 🔬 When someone mentions bone health or osteoporosis prevention, what’s the first thing that pops into your head? Giant horse-pill calcium supplements that taste like sidewalk chalk?💊🤢 Let’s trade those for two tablespoons of fresh, crisp green confetti that actually taste good. 🥗✨ Broccoli might get all the hype for su

Dawn Halter

Nov 53 min read

Behind the Clamshell: What Day 3 of Your Grow-on-Demand Microgreens Order Looks Like

Day 3 of germination: Healthy white root hairs growing on a clean hydroponic mesh tray. When you buy grocery store microgreens, you’re getting produce that was harvested days (sometimes a full week) ago, transported in trucks, and left sitting under fluorescent lights waiting for a buyer. When you place your order with Tasty Little Leaves Microgreens, your greens don't even exist yet. Because we operate on a strict grow-on-demand model, we don't sow a single seed until your o

Dawn Halter

Oct 292 min read

Itsy Cella Flora character wearing green glasses next to science microgreens illustrations

Flora Family: The Power of Anthocyanins in Red Cabbage Microgreens

Itsy's Science Corner Itsy Cella Flora here! 🌱 Let’s talk Anthocyanins in microgreens. You: "Wait... antho-WHAT-ins? Why are we talking about fancy big words?🤔" Itsy: "Anthocyanins are a type of water-soluble antioxidant. They are what give many microgreens their striking red, purple, and blue hues." You: "So what is so important about the color? 🤷‍♀️ I mean it isn't green, so the colorful mix is nice, but what else makes them so special that they have a class all of thei

Dawn Halter

Oct 222 min read

Lighting & Lumens: Understanding Microgreens Light Requirements

They Say It Is Darkest Just Before Dawn 🌅🌱 4:30 AM: "0 dark 30" as my dad used to say. Sunrise or dawn is typically between 6:00 AM and 7:30 AM depending on where you call home. So when the microgreens start their workday here at Tasty Little Leaves Microgreens at 5:00 AM, it is still pitch black dark outside. As you may or may not know, plants work by converting sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into oxygen and energy-rich sugars. This process is called photosynthesi

Dawn Halter

Oct 153 min read

Piper Flora, cartoon character representing purple radish microgreens for the Flora Family at Tasty Little Leaves.

Flora Family: Purple Radish Microgreens - A Natural Way to a Healthy Gut Biome

Itsy's Science Corner Itsy Cella Flora here! 🌱 Let’s talk about chemistry and how it affects the body's gut health or microbiome. You: "Hey there Itsy. What does chemistry have to do with the body?" Itsy: "Good question. The body is a huge chemical factory🧪🏭. It is all a balancing act. One chemical affects another, then another one down the line is affected. Those chemicals are what make the body's organs function. How well they function is based on that balance." Yo

Dawn Halter

Oct 84 min read

Indoor microgreens farming comparison serving chicken nuggets with fresh microgreens

"But Mom, Do I Gotta?" The 2 Tablespoons of Microgreens Hack

"But Mom, Do I Gotta?" Sound familiar? Or is that your voice still playing in your head from when you were a kid? It probably goes something like this: Mom: "Go wash up. It's time for dinner. We're having your favorite. Chicken Nuggets!" Kid: "Yeah!" while excitedly running to the table after washing up. You sit at the table and then look at the plate. All excitement falls from your face. You look up and moan, "but Mooommmm, do I gotta have broccoli?" Mom: With an indul

Dawn Halter

Oct 13 min read

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

Sep 243 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

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