"Cheers!" to a Healthier 2022 - and to Locally Grown Microgreens

Every morning, Oakland County resident Mark Grzybowski rises at dawn to begin his day as an urban farmer and heads to his farm: a 17,000-square-foot concrete building on Detroit’s west side that previously served as a print shop, a heating-and-cooling company and a day care center and was vacant for ten years before Grzybowski and three family members decided to purchase it to house their businesses: Motor City Sea Farm and Motor City Micro Farm.

With his wife, Kelly Longo, and stepsons, Chris and Nate Tylenda, Grzybowski spent 18 months negotiating permits, architectural plans, zoning adaptations and health department qualifications to create a unique and efficient farming space for microgreens and for the state’s only fresh-harvest shrimp farm.

And now, as a new year – and, for many, resolutions for healthier eating – are underway, it’s easy to lament winter’s bleakness and to yearn for our area’s numerous warm-weather farmer’s markets, where we could wander in the sunshine among outdoor stalls and purchase the freshest and healthiest fruits, vegetables, dairy products – and microgreens.

Happily, just-harvested microgreens from Motor City Micro Farm are available at several area supermarkets, including Plum Markets, Holiday Market in Royal Oak, Papa Joe’s in Birmingham and Westborn Markets. Motor City Micro Farm’s microgreens are also used by several area chefs who enjoy using extremely fresh, healthy produce grown at local farms for their restaurants and events. The microgreens are also available via subscription delivery service (motorcitymicrofarm.com).

What is a microgreen, and why is it such a worthwhile food option?

Microgreens are vegetables that have been harvested before maturation, at 7-10 days of growth. According to a 2012 study by the University of Maryland, microgreens contain 4-40 times more nutrients, on a per-weight basis, than their full-grown vegetable counterparts.

“Microgreens can be grown hydroponically (in water) or in soil. Our microgreens are grown in soil, offering higher nutrient quality and better taste,” says Grzybowski. “We use organic methods in a non-GMO, organic medium and produce 22 varieties of microgreens.”

Their customers enjoy sharing stories of their favorite microgreens and how they use them.

“I eat their microgreens every day,” says Barbara Lewis from Sterling Heights. “The pea greens, I juice. I juice every day, for all the health properties, and I eat the Spicy Salad Mix on my sandwich, on cauliflower thins that I toast.”

“I am so excited when I get the microgreens,” shares Angela Grayson from Birmingham. “On Sundays, we make up a week’s worth of salads using microgreens. They are much more nutrient-dense than lettuce!”

“A plain tuna sandwich is too naked for me now,” says Troy’s Susan Stratford, “unless it is topped with microgreens. I especially like the sunflower ones and the Spicy Mix.”

“Many of our customers use the microgreens in their morning smoothies,” states Grzybowski’s wife, Kelly Longo. “But,” she adds, laughing, “of course, I use them in or on top of just about everything!”

While Motor City Micro Farm is growing microgreens that can improve health and well-being, the company, itself, has improved the health of its surrounding neighborhood.

“People in the neighborhood were really excited to have the building occupied,” Grzybowski says, “especially since we are across from a school. I’m looking forward to more community involvement, to partnerships with nearby schools, to come and see what we do here and how we grow our shrimp and microgreens.”

Grzybowski has met nearby residents, and he often leaves bags of produce, grown on his farm, on his neighbor’s porches.

“We look out for each other,” he says.

Residents can also look out and, during the summer, see the brilliant property garden of sunflowers, dahlias, bachelor buttons, snapdragons, zinnias and more, where once was only gravel and broken glass.

“With Covid, health concerns and Mark’s gift of a green thumb,” says Kelly Longo, “the creation of Motor City Sea Farm and Motor City Micro Farm is a natural transition that we hope brings joy and health to everyone in the whole area.”

Motor City Micro Farm:

motorcitymicrofarm.com

Motor City Sea Farm:

motorcityseafarm.com

248.660.0843

Email: mcmf@motorcitymicrofarm.com