Read the full article in the July-August, 2025 Island Farm and Garden Magazine

When you envision farming, images of fields full of crops may come to mind. But farming today can take many forms—and believe it or not, there could be a full-fledged microgreen farm operating right next door to you!

Across Vancouver Island, we’re lucky to have several amazing Island Good producers who specialize in microgreens. Each farm brings something unique to the table, all while supporting local food systems and sustainable agriculture.

• A & S Microgreens (Cobble Hill): Offer over 40 varieties of microgreens grown indoors using non-GMO organic seeds and soil. They also produce freeze-dried fruit snacks made from 100% natural fruits without added sugars or preservatives 
• Eatmore Sprouts & Greens Ltd. (Comox Valley): A family-run business providing a wide variety of fresh, nutrient-dense sprouts and greens, including alfalfa, garlic, sunflower, pea shoots, clover, and broccoli. Their indoor facilities and greenhouses allow for continuous production, supplying Western Canada with a variety of sprouts and greens. (eatmoresprouts.com)
• Sirius Micro Farm (Errington): Grow a variety of nutrient-rich microgreens, including pea shoots, radish, broccoli blends, and mixes like Farmers Favourite and Beneficial Brassica. “Our Farmer’s Favourite is the favourite!” they shared. “It showcases a variety of microgreens, giving it a nice mild yet fresh taste and complements just about any dish. We’ve added triton and ruby radishes just for the pop of colour—because who doesn’t love some colour on their plates?”  
• Ultimate Microgreens (North Saanich): Grow fresh, healthy greens in a small indoor farm using organic practices. They offer home delivery in Sidney and North Saanich, and their blends, Ultimate Blend, Radish Blend, and Salad Blend,  include Red Radish, Daikon, Purple Kohlrabi, Red Kale, Bok Choy, and others.  

Microgreens are harvested during the cotyledon growth stage—this is when the first set of true leaves begins to emerge. Unlike sprouts, which are typically grown in water and consumed whole (including the root), microgreens are grown in soil or a soil substitute like peat moss. The growing medium provides nutrients that help the plant develop flavour and nutrition. Microgreens are usually vegetable or herb seeds grown for 7 to 10 days before being cut just above the soil line for consumption.

Despite their tiny size, microgreens deliver a powerful punch. They’re flavourful, colourful, and exceptionally nutritious—perfect for salads, smoothies, or even your summer burger. Carmen Wakeling, Owner, CEO of Eatmore Sprouts & Greens Ltd. adds “I’ll sprinkle them on top of pasta dishes, or I love to add sunflower shoots to my morning smoothie. They have a beautiful nutty flavour that really comes through nicely.”

Dallas and Luis from Ultimate Microgreens emphasize their versatility: “We wish more people knew that microgreens aren’t just garnish—they’re packed with nutrients, full of flavour, and a simple way to boost any meal while supporting local, sustainable farming. A small bite with a big impact! “  

Sharlene G. Ionescu from A & S Microgreens agrees. “Microgreens are a superfood. I am totally impressed with the health benefits of microgreens. Gram per gram provides more nutrients than any other natural food known.”  

As Eatmore Sprouts in the Comox Valley puts it, here are five solid reasons to eat more sprouts and microgreens:

• Vitamins! Up to 20x the vitamin content within a few days of sprouting.
• Enzymes! Up to 100x more enzymes than in raw veggies.
• Low calorie, high nutrition.
• Certified Organic and GMO-Free.
• Affordable. Adding them to your meals is an easy and inexpensive health upgrade.

And the benefits go even further. “They contain no sodium, fat, or other additives. For example, micro radishes, micro cabbages, and micro amaranth have high vitamin C, K, and E levels. In contrast, micro cilantro offers an abundance of carotenoids and a high concentration of lutein.” says Ionescu.

Of course, microgreen farming isn’t without challenges. Sirius Micro Farm notes that soil consistency can be a big hurdle: “Microgreens are finicky with any type of spores in the soil—getting clean, healthy soil can be a real challenge.” But despite the effort, the support they’ve received from the community makes it all worthwhile.

This omelette recipe from A & S Microgreens is a perfect protein-packed breakfast or lunch option that puts these powerful little greens front and centre. Ensure you use Island Good ingredients to make it especially yummy!

Microgreen, Mushroom & Cheese Omelette

Easy recipe: 20 minutes for preparation – 5 minutes for cooking. Yield 2 servings

Ingredients

• 4 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• 450g sliced mushrooms (any assortment)
• 125g of your favourite cheese
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 clove of garlic
• 25 grams of microgreens
• Salt and pepper to taste

Mushroom preparation

• Slice 450g of mushrooms.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat.
• Add the mushroom and cook until all liquid evaporates.
• Add 1 garlic clove minced
• Seasoned with salt and pepper to taste

Omelette preparation

• Crack 4 large eggs in a bowl
• Beat the eggs with a fork.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat.
• Melt 1 tablespoon of butter and swirl in the pan.
• Pour the beaten eggs into the pan.
• Quickly swirl and shake the eggs to cover the bottom for about 30 seconds 
• Once the eggs firm up on the bottom, lift the edges of the omelet up to let the uncooked eggs run underneath the omelet.
• Sprinkle the sautéed mushrooms and 125g of your favourite cheese on half of the eggs.
• Let cook for an additional 30 seconds
• Add 25 grams of microgreens on the eggs and flip the omelette in half.
• Slide into a plate.
• Garnish with toasted baguettes, if desired.
• Enjoy!

Next time you’re shopping, consider adding microgreens from an Island Good producer to your basket. When asked what “Island Good” means to them, Sirius Micro Farm didn’t hesitate:

“Island Good is such an amazing way to really showcase and support local farming. […] Nobody has time to read every label, but with the Island Good labelling, local products stand out!”

 Visit www.islandgood.ca to find more local farms and food producers near you!