Microgreens and Permaculture Ethics: Care for Earth, People, and Fair Share
Hi! This is Ola and I am excited to write my first article on MP Seeds blog!
Some of you might know me as the person who answers your emails, replies to your WhatsApp messages and picks up the phone when you call. But beyond customer service and sales, I care deeply about nature and permaculture. I am working here, because I truly believe in what we do. Let's explore the connections between permaculture and microgreens!
Table of Contents:
- Permaculture Ethics and Fair Share Farming
- Growing Microgreens Sustainably
- Earth Care = reducing resources + increasing efficiency
- People Care = individual + community well-being
- Fair share = individual & community well-being
- Conclusion
1. Permaculture Ethics and Fair Share Farming
We will start with the basics- what exactly is permaculture?
Long story short- it is a design philosophy that mimics natural ecosystems to create sustainable and self-sufficient food systems. Developed in the 1970s by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in Australia, it was created as a response to industrial agriculture’s negative impact on the environment, aiming to promote regenerative food systems.
Mollison and Holmgren defined 3 values that can be used as a compass for designers and decision makers who believe in this design system. These ideas were inspired by traditional indigenous knowledge systems, ecological science and their dreams about a better world.
1.1 Earth Care
This first value is understood by taking care of the planet by protecting natural systems, regenerating soil, preserving biodiversity, and using resources responsibly.
One can apply this idea in many ways. Composting and using organic fertilisers is a simple and great step to put this into action. Another one is "no till"- as avoiding plowing or disturbing the soil protects soil structure, preserves microbial life and reduces carbon emissions. Also agroforestry is a useful practise- integrating trees and shrubs into farmland supports biodiversity, stabilises soil, reduces erosion, and provides habitat for beneficial flora. One more is rainwater harvesting and efficient irrigation like drip system.
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1.2 People Care
This ethic focuses on supporting human well-being by ensuring access to food, shelter, community, and education. It emphasises compassion, cooperation, and meeting our basic needs in a fair and green way.
There are many different ways to bring this idea to life in today's farming world. Let me list just few of them for you- accessible urban gardens, fair share farms, ethical labor practices or building trust between suppliers, farmers and clients (growers and eaters).
1.3 Fair share
This idea is also called "return of surplus". It involves redistributing extra resources—like time, energy, fresh produce, or money—to support Earth Care and People Care. It encourages limits to consumption and growth, so that everyone (including future generations) can thrive.
Here are some methods for farmers to implement into modern agriculture: starting food distribution programs, building cooperatives and other diverse network of local food production or joining slow food movement which values quality over mass production.
2. Growing Microgreens Sustainably
Sounds great in theory, right? I guess you're wondering- how can it actually apply to growing microgreens?
Big ideas can be overwhelming. But they're meant to guide us in small steps. Sure, it would be nice to drop everything and move into a cave, but that's not how daily life works. It's worth trying to change one small thing though—one step at a time. Let's dive deeper into vast possibilities of creating a greener world - both in small and big scale cultivations.
3. Earth Care = reducing resources + increasing efficiency
The permaculture ethic of Earth Care emphasises nurturing and preserving the environment. Cultivating microgreens aligns with this principle perfectly.
Minimal Resource Use
You don't need a lot to grow microgreens or sprouts at home- just water, energy and a bit of space. My trays take half of the surface of my dinner table (one half for me is enough and I can admire my babies while working!). Mat used to grow them in a shoe drawer (Karo still remembers this strange violet light glowing in the night out of the cabinet). Utilising eco-friendly substrates like coco coir or coco mats further reduces environmental impact.
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Reduced Food Miles
By producing microgreens locally, individuals decrease reliance on store-bought fresh produce, thereby lowering transportation emissions and promoting fresher consumption. Many of our clients offer fresh deliveries up to your door!
Waste Reduction
Growing microgreens at home helps reduce food waste by allowing you to harvest exactly what you need. Since they’re easy to grow in small quantities, you can enjoy fresh greens without worrying about excess spoilage. Plus, leftover plant matter can be composted, turning it into valuable soil for future crops.
Onion Barbara grown on my balcony.
Efficient Production
Commercial microgreens farming can yield substantial produce in confined areas, optimising land use and preserving natural habitats. Microgreens thrive in small spaces, they just need a bit of water, light (sun of artificial) and care. Little indoors gardens. Isn't it amazing?
Growing Regardless of Weather and Season
Microgreens can be cultivated year-round (especially important for farmers from countries with few cold months, right?), they grow indoors or in controlled environments like greenhouses. This allows growers to bypass the limitations of seasonal weather, ensuring a consistent and sustainable food source from their farms, regardless of external conditions.
👉 There’s even more to discover – explore ,,Why are Microgreens Good for the Environment?" article to learn even more about it.
4. People Care = individual + community well-being
The principle of People Care focuses on supporting human well-being, community engagement, and equitable resource distribution. Planting microgreens aligns with this principle in several impactful ways.
Accessible Nutrition
Growing microgreens at home allows individuals and families to have fresh, nutrient-dense food at their fingertips, promoting better health and well-being. You add some yellow pop corn here, a sprig of radish there, and your dish is richer in nutrients. Not to mention how cool it looks!
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Educational Opportunities
Small-scale farms offer an excellent opportunity for learning, whether it's through personal exploration or by teaching others about sustainable farming and nutrition. Natalia prepared starting kits and instructions for kids at local kindergarten. Can you believe they have already grown their own peas? Sprouts will be next!
Providing Healthy, Local Food
Large-scale microgreens farms bring fresh, affordable, and nutritious food to urban areas or underserved communities, ensuring that more people have access to healthy food. Microgreens often pack more vitamins and minerals than fresh vegetables or fruits, making them a fantastic value for their nutrient density.
Economic Empowerment
Microgreens farming can create job opportunities and support local economies, empowering workers and contributing to community growth. There's no need for specialised knowledge—growing microgreens is something you can learn relatively quickly.
5. Fair share = individual & community well-being
The Fair Share rule emphasises equitable distribution of resources, ensuring that everyone has access to the necessities of life. When applied to microgreens cultivation, it manifests in various impactful ways:
Sharing Surplus Harvests
Home growers often produce more microgreens than they can consume. Sharing this surplus ensures that excess produce doesn't go to waste. You can share with your friends (like I do), with your cats (like Natalia does) or with your coworkers (like our colleagues from warehouse do). I don't know a person who would say "no" to a gift like this!
Natalia's cat, Kiciuś, enjoying Popcorn
Educating and Sharing Knowledge
By teaching others how to grow microgreens, experienced cultivators empower others with valuable skills. This knowledge encourages self-sufficiency in food production. Many of our clients offer online courses and webinars regarding this. We share our knowledge on our website on the blog—if you're reading this, you're probably already aware of that!
Investing in Sustainable Practices
Implementing eco-friendly cultivation methods reduces environmental impact and promotes the health of the planet. By sharing these practices with other producers, large-scale cultivators contribute to industry-wide sustainability.
6. Conclusion
In the end, cultivating microgreens is more than just a way to grow food indoors—it's a small but meaningful way to live out the core ethics of permaculture. Whether you're farming on a big plot or on very small scale, tending to one tray in your kitchen each week, you're contributing to a healthier planet, stronger communities, and a fairer food system. With just a little space, some care, and a handful of tiny seeds, your home can become a garden of fresh produce and purpose—filled with microgreens and even edible flowers, no matter the season. Summer or winter, every farm, big or small, starts with one tiny sprout.