The Microgreens Entrepreneur Podcast

In this episode I'm joined by Katie and Jon Tlush from Tlush Family Farm near Philadelphia. Among other things, Katie and Jon are growing and selling both mushrooms and microgreens, growing both indoors.

This is a really interesting episode, especially if mushroom growing is something you have been considering or are interested in.

Katie and Jon have grown their business very quickly, and provide lots of good information and motivation throughout the episode.

Discussed in this episode:

• How within 9 months, Katie and Jon have outgrown their basement grow room, and are ready for a commercial facility.
• The whole process of mushroom growing - how you do it, the challenges, where to sell them etc.
• Running a microgreens business as a couple.
• Hydroponic and aeroponic farming.
• Indoor edible flower growing.
• 
  

Links mentioned in this episode:

Tlush Family Farm Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/tlushfamilyfarm/

Tlush Family Farm Website:
https://tlushfamilyfarm.com/

True Leaf Market Link:
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com/trueleafmarket

Seeds Ireland Link:
https://seedsireland.ie

The Microgreens Business Blueprint
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com/onlinecourse

Microgreens Business Mini Course
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com/minicourse

Microgreens Business Beginners Guide:
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com/ebook

Microgreens Entrepreneur Instagram:
https://instagram.com/microgreens_entrepreneur

https://microgreensentrepreneur.com

In this episode I'm joined by Sho Kasuya and Tony Ross from Creative Urban Farms in New Zealand.  Tony and sho are business partners and manage to run their microgreens business from seperate households, while also keeping full time jobs and having young families!

An interesting thing about ton and Sho's partnership is that they didn't know each other before going into business together.  So this is a really good episode to listen to if starting a microgreens business in a partnership is something you've been considering.

Tony and Sho also have other interesting business projects going on, including bee keeping and designing outdoor growing spaces. We cover this in the episode too.

Discussed in this episode:

• Starting a microgreens business in a partnership.
• The logistics of running a microgreens business from two locations.
• What it's like running a microgreens business in New Zealand.
• What makes a successful business partnership.
• Renting bee hives and bee keeping as a subscription service.
• Time management skills.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Creative Urban Farms Website
https://www.creativeurbanfarms.co.nz/

Creative Urban Farms Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/creative.urban.farms/

Microgreens NZ Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/474840587108230

True Leaf Market Link:
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com/trueleafmarket

The Microgreens Business Blueprint
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com/onlinecourse

Microgreens Business Mini Course
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com/minicourse

Microgreens Business Beginners Guide:
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com/ebook

Microgreens Entrepreneur Instagram:
https://instagram.com/microgreens_entrepreneur

https://microgreensentrepreneur.com

Basil microgreens are a very popular variet with chefs, they have great flavour and their leaves are beautiful too. While it is not the most profitable microgreen to grow, it is certainly a good one to know how to grow. In this episode I share with you the growing tecnique I use grow Basil thats grows tall and is easy to harvest.

In this episode you will learn:

• How to grow Basil microgreens.
• What seed density to use.
• How long to keep them in blackout.
• A way to keep Basil growing straight and long while in darkness.
• How long until you can harvest Basil.
• The expected yield.
• The value of Basil microgreens.

Links mentioned in this episode:
True Leaf Market Link:
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com/trueleafmarket

The Microgreens Business Blueprint
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com/onlinecourse

Microgreens Business Mini Course
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com/minicourse

Microgreens Business Beginners Guide:
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com/ebook

Microgreens Entrepreneur Instagram:
https://instagram.com/microgreens_entrepreneur

In this episode I'm joined by Brigid McNally, a college student running her own successful microgreens business. Brigid has built up a client base of home delivery customers and restaurants. During the summer of 2021 she shut down her business and took a break. Tune in to the episode to hear how it went for her.

In this episode you will learn:

• How to prepare your customers before taking a break.
• If taking a break had any effect on Brigids business.
• How Brigid uses email marketing to stay in touch with her customers.
• Why keeping track of your inventory is so important.
• Why it's important to not be afraid to spend money to make money.
• Why starting a business is not only about making money, but also personal growth.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Brigids Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/pvxfarms
Brigids Website:
https://pvxfarms.com
Brigids Email:
[email protected]

Microgreens Business Beginners Guide:
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com/ebook

True Leaf Market Link:
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com/trueleafmarket

Microgreens Entrepreneur Instagram:
https://instagram.com/microgreens_entrepreneur

Microgreens Entrepreneur Website:
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com

In this episode I'm joined by Jonah Krochmalnek from Living Earth Farm in Ontario, Canada. Jonah has been growing microgreens professionally since 2013. He has went from starting out in his parents spare bedroom to creating and owning a large scale, automated indoor microgreens farm.

Jonah shares so much valuable knowledge in this episode. Here is some of what is discussed:

• How Jonah scaled from a spare bedroom to growing and selling 1500 trays of microgreens a week.
• The ideal lighting for microgreens to produce the best results while also being energy efficient.
• The best climatic conditions for growing microgreens and why everything needs to be in balance to have the best results on your microgreens farm.
• Why the soil you are using could contribute to your microgreens yields being inconsistent.
• The costs of the machinery used in large scale microgreens production.
• Why the system you have in place is so important for the consistency of your business.

Links mentioned in this episode:
Jonah's consultancy webpage:
https://www.livingearthfarm.ca/consulting

Jonah's email address:
[email protected]

Living Earth Farm Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/livingearthtoronto

Jonah's video with Curtis Stone:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9kRQVFeASI

Microgreens Business Beginners Guide:
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com/ebook

True Leaf Market Link:
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com/trueleafmarket

Microgreens Entrepreneur Instagram:
https://instagram.com/microgreens_entrepreneur

Microgreens Entrepreneur Website:
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com

In this episode I'm joined by Patrick Brown for his second appearance as a guest on the podcast. Patrick is running a microgreens business named Moms Micro Garden, and in the last year he has taken a business that did 100 trays of microgreens a week to 500 trays a week! So there is a lot to learn on scaling a microgreens business in this episode.

In this episode you will learn:

• How to scale up a microgreens business.
• Why taking good care of your employess is so important.
• Why hiring the right people is vital.
• The actual costs of having employees.
• Some great tax tips.
• Insurance policies to have in place to make sure your business succeeds.

Links mentione in this episode:

Microgreens Business Beginners Guide:
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com/ebook

Patrick's Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/moms_microgarden/

Patrick's Email:
[email protected]

Moms Micro Garden Tik Tok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@moms_microgarden

Moms Micro Garden Website
https://www.momsmicrogarden.com

True Leaf Market Link:
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com/trueleafmarket

Microgreens Entrepreneur Instagram:
https://instagram.com/microgreens_entrepreneur

Microgreens Entrepreneur Website:
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com

Do you always find yourself with a full to-do list? But it doesn't seem to be getting you where you want to go? Don't worry, it's really common, and in this episode I'm going to share with you how you can start being more effective with your time and make real progress.

In this episode you will learn:

• How to identify things that aren't working for you in your business (or life).
• How to deal with these things that aren't working.
• How to focus on the things that are actualy bringing you results in your business.
• How to prioritise what's on your to-do list to make sure you make the biggest impact on your business with the time you have available.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Microgreens Business Beginners Guide:
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com/ebook

True Leaf Market Link:
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com/trueleafmarket

Microgreens Entrepreneur Instagram:
https://instagram.com/microgreens_entrepreneur

Microgreens Entrepreneur Website:
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com

The One Thing Book
https://amzn.to/3jMFqTX

Focal Point Book
https://amzn.to/3DOzMIO

In this episode I'm joined by Laura from Hand Grown Greens. Laura is a former nurse turned microgreens business owner.

She has an inspiring story to share on how she went about changing her life, by transitioning out of a job she was not so passionate about, to now working at something she really enjoys, while also having time to spend with her family.

If you are someone with kids who is thinking about starting a microgreens business, this episode is definitely for you.

Discussed in this episode:

• Laura's story of how she changed her life for the better.
• How she manages to run her business while caring for 3 young kids.
• How she grows her microgreens both indoors and outdoors.
• How selling through a distributor could possibly free up more time in your business. 
• Laura's online prescence and her passion for teaching others about microgreens business.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Laura's guide
https://handgrowngreens.com/freeguide

Laura's Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/handgrowngreens

True Leaf Market Link:
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com/trueleafmarket

Microgreens Entrepreneur Business Beginners Guide:
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com/ebook

Microgreens Entrepreneur Instagram:
https://instagram.com/microgreens_entrepreneur

Microgreens Entrepreneur Website:
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com

I'm joined in this episode by Wendy Glénisson, a Belgian biologist turned microgreens business owner on a mission to have her business certified organic.

Unfortunately, through no fault of her own, Wendy she has not had much luck so far in getting her business certified organic. A European law that is open to different interpretation by different European countries is the problem.

Wendy is battling to have this law changed and needs the support of her fellow microgreens growers to sign a petition she has created to have this law changed. The petition can be found here.

This episode will be of particular interest to you if you  are based in Europe and you would like your microgreens business to be certified organic, and even if you're not in Europe but becoming certified organic is something you're interested in, this episode will inform you of some information that you'll need to research for your own location.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Wendys Petition:
https://secure.avaaz.org/community_petitions/fr/la_presidente_de_la_commission_europeenne_ursula_v_certifiez_bio_les_micropousses_cultivees_dans_du_terreau_et_pas_sur_un_milieu_inerte_/?cLnFcab&utm_source=sharetools&utm_medium=copy&utm_campaign=petition-1261545-certifiez_bio_les_micropousses_cultivees_dans_du_terreau_et_pas_sur_un_milieu_inerte_&utm_term=LnFcab%2Bfr

Wendys Website:
https://www.micropoussesbio.be

Wendys Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/wendy_glenisson

True Leaf Market Link:
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com/trueleafmarket

Microgreens Business Beginners Guide:
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com/ebook

Microgreens Entrepreneur Instagram:
https://instagram.com/microgreens_entrepreneur

Microgreens Entrepreneur Website:
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com

In this episode I'm Joined by Richard Tricker from Sow Fresh, a business that was born in the pandemic because of Richards passion to help people grow their own food at home.

Along with providing the grow kits to the public, Richard supplies them to chefs too, letting them grow their own, and providing them with advice and supplies on an onging basis. Hearing this might give you some food for thought, and help you generate some other ideas of how to deal with chefs and restaurant customers.

Richards background is in recruitment, and he also gives some great tips on hiring people. Make sure to tune to in to hear all of this, and Richads story.

Discussed in this episode:

• Why it's important to promote growing more food at home.
• Why having a business you are passionate about is important.
• An alternative way of doing business with restaurants as a microgreens business owner.
• Why recruiting the right people for your business when the time comes is crucial.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Sow Fresh website:
https://www.sowfresh.com

Sow Fresh Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/sowfreshofficial

True Leaf Market Link:
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com/trueleafmarket

Microgreens Business Beginners Guide:
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com/ebook

Microgreens Entrepreneur Instagram:
https://instagram.com/microgreens_entrepreneur

Microgreens Entrepreneur Website:
https://microgreensentrepreneur.com