Micro Greens, Another Exciting Addition to Your Kitchen Garden

Microgreens are tiny edible greens grown from vegetable or herb seeds.  They are harvested when very young – just 1-2 inches long including the stem and leaves. Microgreens can have wonderfully clear, intense flavours and they are certainly a very pretty addition to your plate, with their delicate and often colourful appearance.

Micro greens are simply “early” versions of greens or herbs that are less than 14 days old. Small in size “micros” are exceptionally tender and intensely flavored. Specifically selected for their unique flavor or color, micros are a stunning visual and flavorful addition to almost any plate.

Power-packed
More health experts are turning to microgreens for their nutrient value. Don’t let their size fool you; the mini leaves have more nutrients than grown leaves. In fact, a study has shown that the minis might have four-40 fold more concentration of nutrients. While sprouts contain proteins, other varieties of microgreens like young radish, has vitamin C. Red cabbage leaves have vitamin C and K and cilantro has lutein and beta-carotene. Also, young broccoli is packed with sulforaphane, a compound that is said to inhibit cancer activity in cells.

What are they?
A microgreen is that stage of a plant’s growth when its first leaves appear. These can be leaves of tiny greens, lettuces or herbs, harvested when they are young and about an inch or two tall. Microgreens are used to enhance flavour in dishes and as a visual component. They are young seedlings, so they have a fresh taste. Grown from the same seeds you use when you plant a crop, they are harvested in just a week or 10 days. They are not to be mistaken for sprouts. And once cut, you have to consume them quickly or else the colour starts to fade, the freshness decreases and it starts growing (optimum taste is when it’s between one and three inches).

Please let us know what you think.  If you have more questions, please contact Vijayalakshmi K Rao – kvlrao2@gmail.com.

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Is “conscious, socially responsible business” just a fairytale?

narayan k murthy

These days, I sleep less and dream more.   I dream about building a business that will be profitable and scalable, but built upon the concepts of positive value creation in the domains of people and planet.

Well, many see this message has already been diluted beyond recognition.  Plenty of businesses and their promoters trumpet going green and being socially responsible, but most of those produce and promote products that are unhealthy both for the people and the environment.

So, what do I mean by ‘conscious’?  I believe whatever the business produces – be it a product, service or waste, it is not harmful to the environment and is enriching as well.

And by the phrase “socially responsible”, I feel organizations should positively impact the health and livelihoods of all their key stakeholders – customers, suppliers and employees.

Today, just a handful of for-profit organizations around the world are generating overall…

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How can we decide for our children, if we can’t do it for ourselves?

narayan k murthy

Returning from my morning jog, I ran into my neighbor who was walking back after sending off her kids to school.  She seemed unusually stressed, unsuited for a beautiful Bangalore morning.  As we exchanged our pleasantries, I could not ignore her worried demeanor and quizzed her.

“Oh boy, my son’s exams have started.  He has to do well, you know”, she said.

“Mmm.  What class is he in?”, I asked.

“In 9^th standard.  It is a rat race out there!  In a year he will be writing his board exams.  He should start doing well from now on”, she replied.

Is this it?  Is this even the right attitude for parents?  Why are exam scores valued more than a child’s all-around abilities?

Einstein’s famous quote came to my mind –
“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created…

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