In this episode, Vitaly of Urban Micro Gardens shares his journey on the microgreens business he co-founded with his father in 2020. From starting in a 1,500 sq ft space to scaling up to a 6,000 sq ft facility, they now produce around 1,000 trays of microgreens weekly—supplying top restaurants in Chicago.

Vitaly talks about the challenges they faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of maintaining a clean growing environment, and how they’ve built strong, long-term relationships with chefs. He also dives into their newest venture—freeze-dried microgreen powders under the brand First Leaf, set to launch soon. Learn about their R&D process for nutrient retention, insights into scaling a farm, and their vision for expanding into the health supplement market.

To learm more about Urban Micro Gardens check out https://www.urbanmicrogardens.com/ & https://www.instagram.com/urbanmicrogardens/

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-FREE Microgreens Training Webinar (The BEST way to start a microgreens business at home in just 6 sqft of space): https://freedomfarmers.com/op/microgreens-training/link/135/

-Microgreens Mastery Podcast (how to turn your passion into your full time income): Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/718scaESgiJA474OggzGDP?si=ccc5e3289a7d4454Apple Podcasts- https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/microgreens-mastery-from-seeds-to-profits/id1705782028

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About Me:As a young child, Jonah Krochmalnek, the visionary founder of Living Earth Farm, experienced the sheer delight of a ripe homegrown tomato from his dad's garden. It was a taste of pure magic, a simple pleasure he wanted to make accessible to all.

​After leaving the corporate world, Jonah volunteered at a local farm, igniting his passion for farming. In 2013, he took a leap of faith and launched a microgreens business right out of his parents' modest 150 sqft spare room. Little did he know that this humble beginning would grow into the 5000 sqft facility known today as Living Earth Farm – one of Canada's premier organic microgreen growers.