With the aim of bringing some life into the greeting card industry, Vancouver start-up Gift-a-Green has launched a novelty greeting card product that sprouts organic, non-GMO, edible micro greens.
Pick from colourful sealed pouches with one of five messages: Happy Birthday, Thinking of You, Congrats, Thank You and I Love You. Each pouch is designed as a greeting card and gift combo. The inside of each pouch contains soil and seed (sourced from Canadian suppliers), which the recipient can then water and grow. The seedlings will be sprouted and ready to eat after two weeks.
Microgreens are seedlings of edible vegetables and herbs. Because of their miniscule size, microgreens are concentrated in nutrients including Vitamin C, E, K, lutein, and beta-carotene. You can pretty much sprinkle the harvested microgreens on top of any dish to give it a healthy boost.
- Arugula – very low in calories and is a good source of vitamins A and C, folate, calcium, and magnesium. It can be eaten raw, added to salads with other salad greens, or cooked.
- Sunflower – high in zinc, an essential mineral for men, as well as folate, essential for pregnant women, aiding in the development of the baby’s nervous system. Considering their sweet, earthy flavor and crisp texture, sunflower micros are a great snack and can easily be incorporated into a number of dishes.
- Purple Radish – vibrant and colorful and a perfect addition to any dish. The flavor is exactly that of radishes, adding the perfect zip to salads, soups, and sandwiches. They are also packed with vitamins A, B, C, E, and K, as well as all of the essential amino acids.
- Mustard – easy to grow green with a bite. This is the same plant that yields spicy seeds for the condiment. It is high in vitamins A and C, iron, and beta-carotene.
- Kale – one of the healthiest vegetables on the planet. It is high in iron and Vitamin K. Iron is essential for good health. Given its high nutritional value and great taste, it makes a great side dish, garnish or dessert.
Gift-a-Green has just completed its first test production run, and currently has a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to manufacture and produce at a larger scale. For more information about Gift-a-Green, visit them at: giftagreen.com.
