Bonus 18-Connor Hiebel-From Seed to Success: The Power of Microgreens

Herb: 00:00:19

Today I have the pleasure of introducing Connor Hiebel. Connor is the founder of Amelia Island Microgreens, created when he was 14 years old to overcome chronic pain by letting food be thy medicine.

With over a decade of growing experience, he created a kit to help others grow microgreens at home. His company has been featured in Forbes and entrepreneur, won a FedEx grants and and supports schools through a buy one, give one program.

Connor is also the author of let's Get Growing and the upcoming and the upcoming the 4% edge. So welcome Connor. It is a pleasure to have you here. Microgreens is something I've kind of been interested in, so I'm really looking forward to this.

How did you get in? It says that you had some chronic pain, but how did you find microgreens and how did you decide to go that route?

Connor Hiebel: 00:01:10

That is a really great question. And first of all, thank you for having me on. I am super excited for this.

So I started growing microgreens because my whole life I've had genetic health challenges. And when I was 7, it got to be to the point where I couldn't get out the door. I couldn't go to school. I was in medical homebound.

I went to the doctor and they did a thermography scan which showed that I had more inflammation than any adult they had seen. And I was seven. I knew that I had to do something. So what do you do? A lot of my friends went the holistic medicine.

I mean, went the western medicine route, but we decided to go the holistic side and let food be thy medicine. That's when I found microgreens.

And they really became something that helped me heal because they're more nutrient dense than your mature vegetables and they're super healthy for you. And so to be able to have something that was fresh and life, I really think I know it made a huge difference in me.

And within eight months, I went back, got another thermography scan, and it was like night and day. It was so much better. And so it's really powerful when you start eating and growing your own food, what that difference can make.

So fast forward to Covid. I was feeling better and I saw that the world wasn't.

And that's when I decided to use my then 7 years of microgreen growing experience to teach people how to grow their own food.

Herb: 00:02:29

So one more quick question before you jump in. So for our audience who doesn't necessarily know, what are microgreens and what kind of plants do you do you grow for microgreens?

So let's let's just kind of exactly was my question. Oh, perfect.

Connor Hiebel: 00:02:45

Great minds think alike. So microgreens are the stage right after a sprout. So you have the seed, then you have the sprout, and then you have the microgreen.

And the reason why microgreens are gaining such attraction right now is because they are 40 times more nutrient dense than your mature vegetables. So if you think of having a head of broccoli versus having a head of microgreens, a handful of microgreens is going to be so much better for you.

And they're fresh, live, and it's completely clean. You get to decide what goes on it. So it's pesticide free, organic, heirloom, non gmo.

And they take seven days to grow, which means that anyone can grow them, even young kids. So they're really great for teaching kids how to take care of something and how to grow their own food.

Kristina: 00:03:29

So can any vegetable be a microgreen?

Connor Hiebel: 00:03:32

That's a great question. So yes, as long as it, the stem of it is not poisonous.

So your nightshades, like your potatoes or tomatoes, those have poisonous stems, so you don't want to use those. However, you can be growing broccoli, kale, collards, cabbage. There's one of my favorites is wasabi microgreens. It's nice and spicy. It's real wasabi.

A lot of people in America haven't had real wasabi before. This is real wasabi. There's also like cantaloupe and watermelon. You can grow all sorts of vegetables and fruits as microgreens.

Kristina: 00:04:12

Wow, that might be really interesting. Because I am not a green person.

I don't usually like broccoli and all those kinds of things, but they can be grown as a microgreen and taste a little bit different. I might actually be able to eat them 100%.

Connor Hiebel: 00:04:27

And because they're so nutrient dense, they do taste different than our traditional vegetables. They have more of a vibrant taste to them as well. So you know how some people taste cilantro and it tastes like soap to them.

There's like a genetic thing there in microgreens. If you grow microgreen cilantro, there's a chance that those type of people will be able to eat cilantro. And it tastes good.

So sometimes it's just how it's grown. So for sure it would be good. You can also hide it in stuff a lot easier, like in smoothies, sandwiches.

You can even dehydrate it it or freeze dry it and put it as like a finishing salt put in with some salt.

Herb: 00:05:02

Do. Do microgreens taste the same as the fully developed plant?

So, for instance, I know that garlic does because I have, like, broken off the little tops of my garlic plants, and I've eaten them, and it's like, why don't we put this in the food? Why do we for so long until we get these dried bits? Because. Because I started just, like, chopping off the green tops of my. Of my garlic plants.

So I started eating lots of things in my garden that weren't necessarily typical the way to eat them.

Connor Hiebel: 00:05:36

So awesome.

Herb: 00:05:37

So do I know garlic does, but do the others? For instance, like Christina said, she doesn't necessarily like the taste of broccoli. Does a broccoli microgreen still taste like broccoli?

Connor Hiebel: 00:05:48

It does, and it tastes a little different. So it has that same broccoli taste, but sometimes it'll be a little bit of a more mellow or more louder flavor.

So it just kind of depends upon each microgreen. So for broccoli, it's. I would say it's about the same, but it's in a smaller form, so it may not be the best one.

I would suggest maybe more like a kale or collard, for example. With kale, I find that kale can kind of be bitter in its mature stage. I find that in microgreens, it's very tender, mellow. I don't really taste it.

It's not that bitter taste. So a lot of the bitterness or the stuff that may not taste as great will be different in microgreens.

So it's kind of one of those things that's kind of. I would suggest experimenting and trying it differently because it will taste different for everyone.

Kristina: 00:06:34

Excellent.

So you were talking about how these are easy, easily either hidden or kind of incorporated in, so kids get their, you know, fruits and veggies a little bit easier. Help our parents, though, how to get parents started. And then also, like, if they wanted to introduce it to their kids, what would be a first step?

Connor Hiebel: 00:06:55

Yeah, so let me share a story first that really encapsulates how much. How important growing microgreens with your kids is.

So when I first started Amelia island microgreens, I was 14, and it was right in the middle of COVID and we had set up a little booth, and this kid came over who had no interest in any fruits or vegetables. None was only eating chickens, chicken nuggets, and hamburgers. That was it. Nothing else.

And he came over and he saw the microgreens and he was really curious about growing them, like, how to see. See how. How to take something that was a seed and grow it into a vegetable. And so his mom got him the kit and he started growing them more for fun.

He was like, I am not going to eat these microgreens. Very clear. Started growing the microgreens.

And because he was growing his microgreens, he started to want to eat them because he felt that ownership and that pride that I grew this. When kids grow their own vegetables, they are significantly more likely to eat it.

So then he started eating his microgreens, which is really huge because this kid was like, I am not eating any vegetables at all. Started growing and eating them, then started eating vegetables.

So I highly recommend getting your kids in the garden, or even better, growing microgreens because it takes only seven days. So it helps with their short attention span. Gets them where they're able to grow a plant as well as having it right on the kitchen countertop.

You don't have to go outside, don't have to worry about weeding or bugs. So it's really incredible for kids.

Herb: 00:08:17

Yeah, I was going to say, you know, just. Just thinking about being a kid, it's like, I tasted everything and I never grew out of that.

So there are times where I'm walking through the forest and it's like, oh, I wonder what this tree tastes like, because I'll see the little bit of the green growing right at the edge. And I'm like, you know, I watched this show where it's like, if you're living, if you're, like, stuck in the woods, you could eat.

Get a little bit of vitamin C. And so I would, like, taste things and eat things. So, yeah, if kids are thinking, oh, that's gross, I don't want to eat that. But then they're suddenly growing it and they're having their hands in it.

Then every once in a while they're going, oh, I wonder what this tastes like, and put it in their mouth because they're kids and they can't help it, and they might not like it, but then they'll do it again, and then they'll do it again, and eventually they're going to start eating it because they're playing with it and it's their hands. And. And so, yeah, I can absolutely see all sorts of brain science and just human kind of the way we go about things, going into all of that.

So great story and a way to incorporate that.

Connor Hiebel: 00:09:21

Yeah. And it's so cool because not only do you get your kids Eating vegetables.

You're also teaching them science about how a plant starts to grow, about how it gets its sunlight. And when you're able to start incorporating it as a homeschooling or an extracurricular activity, it really helps.

And that's one of the reasons why I am in the process of starting the let's Get Growing Youth foundation to get kids in schools to be able to grow microgreens and be able to learn how to do it right in school.

Herb: 00:09:49

Okay?

Kristina: 00:09:50

So it's cool.

Herb: 00:09:51

Kids make big messes, and they turn little things into big spaces. So for the parents out there whose kids like, oh, I want to get into microgreen, how much space is it going to take up?

How much time is it going to take up? Because one of the reasons I didn't want to get involved is like, oh, this is going to be a mess.

This is going to be too much, and I'm going to want to do it, but it's going to get neglected.

Kristina: 00:10:13

Or we're thinking about families in apartments, right? So.

Herb: 00:10:16

So how much space does it take up? What's like, what's the smallest you can go? How big can you go and how much time does it take?

Connor Hiebel: 00:10:23

So that is all a great question. And the first thing I'll say is, you may not have a green thumb, but you have a microgreen thumb.

As long as you can keep a plant alive for seven days, you can grow this. I have a succulent graveyard. I'm going to be completely honest. I have a succulent graveyard, and I can grow microgreens.

So as far as the size, so this is the kit that I have. So it's not. Not too big. And you can see on the picture, this is what microgreens look like when you grow them.

And this is about as big as you really need it. So in here, you'll see you have your tray. So this is what you grow your microgreens on. I'll take everything else out.

So you can see this is as big as it gets, just this size. So you can put this on your kitchen countertop on your kitchen table. If you have an RV, we have people who grow them in RVs.

And the cool thing is once.

Once you get to about day five, if you were to turn it upside down like that, the microgreens would all stay in there so it won't get all messy after that time. And it's really incredible. So what you do is you get your soil like this, and you would hydrate it, and it'll become the soil.

So it'll get a little messy. So just be prepared for that when you have kids. And once you. It's hydrated, you go ahead and you put it across your tray and this is where it gets.

That's where it's messy. But the kids absolutely love it.

Then you take your seed packet like this, and on here we have a little QR code that takes you to a video on how to grow microgreens. So if you get confused, you can always go to that. Spread it all across here and get it as evenly as you can.

Then you take your spray bottle, mist it along there, and then you just put it in a cool dark space, put some tin foil on it just so that it's simulating germination, which is another cool thing you can teach kids about is about how plants grow. So it's super simple. I believe that all kids can do it.

And it also helps them when they're getting used to the mobility of their hands, learning how to spray water, put seeds on, evenly, get their hands in soil. So I think it's super incredible for kids to grow them.

I know when I started, when I was seven, to be able to grow microgreens really helped me because I was at a point where I wasn't feeling well. So getting outside was really hard. And so to have something that I could cultivate in that state really helped.

And especially to learn how to grow my own food and to be able to experience that joy, because it's sad how little kids get to experience that.

Kristina: 00:12:46

That is amazing. And exactly. So I would.

What I hear you say is, you know, kids as young as five, with a lot of help, seven, pretty independent, and then on up they can go. Go for it on their own.

Connor Hiebel: 00:12:58

100.

Kristina: 00:12:59

Yeah. Excellent. Yeah. And you know, when you are we.

Because we sometimes work with families who have kids who are disabled, who or who are medically fragile, those kinds of things.

So giving them something like you said, that they can take ownership of, they can get to easily and they can help grow and see the life happening, just kind of bring a little bit of joy, a little bit of spark back to them. So that is a great ulterior motive for growing your microgreens. Right. Just helping them live.

Connor Hiebel: 00:13:26

And there have been a lot. There have been statistics showing that when you have something growing in your house, your mood improves and your stress level goes down.

And it's the same with microgreens too. So it's really powerful.

Kristina: 00:13:38

Amazing.

Herb: 00:13:39

Yeah. And I was like the textures and stuff. So you Grow a set of greens. You harvest your greens. Do they come back a second time?

Is it like you harvest it once and then you have to start over? How much do they get out of the kit? Out of. Out of a grow? How. How often do they have to start over?

Connor Hiebel: 00:13:59

That is a great question. So with your grows, you'll only be able to harvest it once.

If it does come back, you won't be getting any nutrition because the nutrition comes from the seed itself. So think of a chicken and an egg. The egg's more nutrient dense because it has to grow whole chicken. Same with your seed.

It's going to have to grow a whole plant. So getting that nutrition from that seed. And so if it did regrow again, it wouldn't be super nutrient dense.

So what you do is you lift up the soil, it'll have the soil and the roots. If you have chickens, you can go ahead and give them the root carpet, is what it's called, the soil and the roots. And then clean out your tray.

You can also throw it away or compost it and then clean it out and start again. And the great thing about starting again is then you get a different variety of microgreens. We have over 11 different varieties of microgreens.

And so you have so many different options to choose from.

Kristina: 00:14:49

That is wonderful. Awesome.

And actually, I want to jump back to the beginning of your story a little bit, because you said that you were very sick and you were homebound, basically. Right. And that you had to basically probably do school from home and things like that.

And so is that where you decided to do a little bit more research and stuff about the microgreens, or was it because of the holistic medicine? Well, how kind of. How did that go? Are you interested?

Herb: 00:15:15

Yeah. How did you find out about the microgreens? Was it you're like, oh, parents found out about it? Were you researching it?

And then it was like, microgreens? Why would I want to do that?

Kristina: 00:15:25

Yeah.

Connor Hiebel: 00:15:26

So I was at a farmer's market, and I saw microgreens, and I was really interested in what they were. So we ended up doing a class that taught us how to grow the microgreens, which was really cool. And I noticed that the tray was. It was kind of.

It wasn't as good as mine. It was more flimsy. And I was like, want to do something better than this?

So that's one of the reasons why I created a kit that was really specific, is so that I make sure that I get all the things that really I wish I had when I started that will reduce mold and all of that type of stuff. So I was at the.

I was growing the microgreens with this group, and it was really cool to see the potential of what I could do and to be able to grow them was so huge. So it was a little bit of research and then a little bit of finding the right people.

Herb: 00:16:11

So. So how was it? I mean, that just sounds so interesting that. That your.

Your school group, your learning group, followed your interest and is like, hey, I heard about this micro green stuff. And so your class pivoted and learned about it and grew it as a class for part of your learning. So I'm. That is awesome.

That is what we are actually trying to help people with. And so, you know, so that you just kind of like throwing that in there. It's kind of like that.

If you want that for your children and you don't know how to get that, you know, that's kind of how. That's kind of what we do. We kind of help people get to that.

Connor Hiebel: 00:16:52

That is awesome.

Herb: 00:16:53

And so that. That you just are throwing that out there, like, oh, yeah, I just did that. Like.

Like, that's not one of the most incredible things that you could have possibly had an experience from. From your education. Brilliant. So congratulations on that. And then to take it into a business building activity again. Well done.

So many kids don't get any opportunities like that. So you took your nutrition and you took your business, and now you're spreading it out to help other kids. It's like that. That's. That's brilliant.

So thank you for. Thank you for sharing that.

Connor Hiebel: 00:17:27

Yeah. And thank you. And that's a really good addition as well.

Once kids start growing their microgreens, if they feel like they're an entrepreneur, growing and selling microgreens is really good business because people want microgreens. You can go into restaurants, you can sell to customers. There's so many people who want what you would.

Herb: 00:17:43

Farmers markets.

Connor Hiebel: 00:17:44

Exactly. Farmers markets. And so it's really a great way.

Herb: 00:17:47

And they're saying, I grew this. They're gonna, you know, they're gonna sell.

Connor Hiebel: 00:17:51

Like, right now, 100% instead of a lemonade stand.

Kristina: 00:17:55

Because you do microgreen stand on the corner.

Connor Hiebel: 00:17:59

Yeah, definitely. And there's such a good profit margin there that I would highly recommend any kids wanting to learn entrepreneurship to grow microgreens things.

Kristina: 00:18:07

Yeah, excellent. Perfect.

So you are an on a mission kind of now about getting this into schools and things like that, or maybe even homeschools, all those kinds of things. What kind of is your plan? Is this podcast part of that plan to get the into those areas, or what else are you doing to kind of bring this forward?

Connor Hiebel: 00:18:27

That's a great question. So this is one of the ways that I'm spreading awareness of growing microgreens.

Whether it's growing them with a DIY kit, whether it's growing them with a structured kit. Just being able to grow microgreens with your kid, it's so important because it teaches them to be able to be.

To be able to care for something a lot of people think of, like dogs and cats, to care for something. This is something simple. It also teaches them how to grow their own food, which is something that we've kind of lost over the years.

And so be able to.

Herb: 00:18:56

In your book, I see your book kind of in behind you, over your corner there.

Kristina: 00:19:01

Yeah.

Connor Hiebel: 00:19:01

So this is my book on teen entrepreneurship. So it has both growing microgreens and entrepreneurship. So it's everything I learned in. In my six years of having a business.

Herb: 00:19:11

So what is the age group that that's targeted for?

Connor Hiebel: 00:19:15

So I would say from like, 10 up, and it's for everyone. It's not just for teens. And it's really great because it helps you move into that state of being able to grow and expand.

I had a friend who had really a hard time reading books, and he was like, you know, I'm going to buy it. I'll see if I can read it. Started reading it, and then all of a sudden he was reading until 1am and he was like, I don't tell people this.

I won't tell people this. He's a pastor, and he said, I cut my devotion time in the morning short so I could finish reading your book.

Kristina: 00:19:50

Nice.

Connor Hiebel: 00:19:51

Everything that I started with, it talks about my story. It goes more in depth on how I got into microgreens, as well as how to really start and run your business.

So it's really great for teens ready to start growing their business.

Kristina: 00:20:04

Excellent, Connor. Perfect, perfect, perfect. All right, so we need you to make sure that you get to our audience right now.

How do they get a hold of you or how do they follow you so they can get their microgreens so they can follow your journey and show support, all that kind of stuff.

Connor Hiebel: 00:20:20

text the word microgreens to: 26786

And what you'll get there is my free microgreen masterclass that'll take you from microgreen beginner to microgreen grower. So it'll help you understand you and your kids how to grow microgreens easily and effortlessly.

And then you can also go to my website, AmeliaIsland microgreens.com forward/101. And that also will take you to my website as well.

And then from there, if you go on YouTube, you'll be able to see me, Amelia island, microgreens, and any other social platforms.

Kristina: 00:21:02

Excellent. That is so wonderful.

Herb: 00:21:04

All of that will be in our show notes, so you don't have to remember it, but we did want you to so that. So that if. If people were driving, they might be able to take notes or write it down if they can't get to the show.

Connor Hiebel: 00:21:15

That's a good idea. Exactly.

Kristina: 00:21:18

Awesome. Connor, is there something that we didn't get to today that you would really like to get to? We have about two minutes left.

I want to make sure that we end on a upbeat note and a positive message.

Connor Hiebel: 00:21:29

One of the biggest things that is more on the entrepreneurship side and I believe is really important for every kid to know is that you belong in every room. That's something that I learned when I was moving into the entrepreneurial side. And there are times where you feel like, do I belong in this space?

Whether it's going to school, whether it's going and going to somewhere that you've never been before, remember that you belong in every room.

Kristina: 00:21:53

Oh, that is a great message. Thank you so very, very much.

Connor, it has been a pleasure having you on our show today, and I really hope parents are listening and paying attention, because here's another wonderful way to get good nutrition into those kiddos so they aren't just eating those chicken nuggets. Let's get them some good, healthy food so they can learn and grow.

Herb: 00:22:13

And I would like to thank you for being here today because you had a problem that was making you sick. It was your.

It was your dragon, and you went out and you fought your dragon, you found a solution, and then you came back home and you started sharing that with the. With the community. So that is the hero's journey. You went out, you found a problem, you solved it, you came back, and you shared it.

So many people just, you know, oh, there's a problem, and they. And they crumble, and you've made a life out of it. So congratulations on your hero's journey. It's.

Connor Hiebel: 00:22:45

Thank you and thank you so much for having me on. It's been a pleasure and it's so amazing to see what you're doing with educating kids and educating youth. It's so important.

So thank you for having me on.

Kristina: 00:22:56

You are very welcome. All right, audience, you know what to do. It is the end of our show, so it's time for you to subscribe like and share this podcast.

Make sure you're getting out to all those other their families who need our help to raise happy, healthy, and successful kids. Until later. Bye for now.

Herb: 00:23:11

Bye for now.