Throughout September, the Guelph Tool Library will be distributing 225 Grow-at-Home Kits as part of Seniors Food Security Program at three locations in Guelph. Each kit contains either sunflower or pea seeds, growing containers, and detailed instructions to help seniors grow fresh, nutritious microgreens right at home.
“The Grow-at-Home Kits build on the success of our Living Better on Less for Seniors program and the GROW Community Garden,” said John Dennis, Director of the Guelph Tool Library. “They give seniors another way to grow fresh food, share knowledge, and build greater food security right at home.”
The Guelph Tool Library hopes the kits will make it easy and enjoyable for seniors to grow their own fresh microgreens while gaining practical experience that can be shared with family, friends, and other members of the community.
Abby Richter, Registered Dietitian at the Shelldale Family Gateway, welcomed the initiative: “We are so happy to have microgreen kits to distribute to seniors at The Guelph Community Health Centre from the Guelph Tool Library. This will support seniors in having more sustainable and reliable access to vegetables. This is very important now, with more and more seniors having challenges affording enough healthy food.”
Microgreens are young, edible seedlings of vegetables, herbs, and other plants. They are generally harvested about 7 to 14 days after planting, once their first leaves have developed. Although they are only about one to three inches tall, microgreens can provide a concentrated source of nutrients and plant compounds. Once harvested, they can easily be added to everyday meals, including salads, soups, sandwiches, and other dishes.
The Grow-at-Home Kits also include an instructional support guide prepared with Heidi Torreiter of Grounding in Nature and the Guelph Enabling Garden. For seniors who prefer visual instruction, the Guelph Tool Library has also prepared a step-by-step instructional video, available through the Guelph Tool Library YouTube channel.
The Grow-at-Home Kits are part of the Guelph Tool Library’s broader Seniors Food Security Program, which also includes gardening activities at the GROW Community Garden, food preparation programs with seniors, and educational sessions focused on food security.
Find out more about this, and other GTL programs here.