Crafting a Greener Future with Sustainable Microgreens
At On the Edge Enterprises, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. From the way we grow our greens to the products we create, we are committed to practices that promote a healthier lifestyle. This means making choices that reduce our environmental impact, conserve natural resources, and ensure that our operations are eco-friendly and socially responsible. Doing these things helps us not only nurture the earth but also provide you with the freshest, healthiest, and most responsibly sourced products possible.
Our sustainability practices began at our company’s inception with simple actions like reusing and repurposing materials we already owned to supply our grow room. Shelving, storage jars and bins, tables, carts, towels, and many more items used in our grow room were sourced from areas of our home where they were not being utilized. This practice, often referred to as freesourcing, is not only cost-effective but also environmentally friendly. By finding new uses for existing items, we reduce the demand for new resources, decrease waste, and extend the life cycle of products. Freesourcing helps us minimize our environmental footprint while fostering a culture of creativity and resourcefulness.
Organic material is NEVER discarded. Everything from the coconut coir used to grow our microgreens to the seed hulls swept up off the grow room floor is transferred to the compost pile for carbon capture. This process is crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as composting organic waste prevents it from decomposing in landfills, where it would otherwise produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas. By turning our organic waste into nutrient-rich compost, we not only enhance the health of our soil but also contribute to the global effort to combat climate change through effective carbon sequestration.
We have reversed the lighting in our grow room to reduce our carbon footprint, saving our highest power utilization for overnight hours when it is easiest on both the power grid and our budget. By shifting our grow lights to operate during off-peak hours, we take advantage of lower energy rates and lessen the strain on the local power infrastructure. This practice also makes it easier for us to maintain the optimum temperature in our grow room environment. With cooler nighttime temperatures, our grow room requires less energy for cooling, enhancing the efficiency of our climate control systems. This strategic use of lighting supports our sustainability goals and optimizes our operational efficiency, demonstrating our commitment to eco-friendly practices and smart resource management.
Our packaging is all made from either compostable, recycled, or reusable materials, helping our customers maintain their personal commitments to sustainability within their own homes. By choosing eco-friendly packaging, we ensure that every aspect of our product lifecycle aligns with our environmental values:
- Compostable materials break down naturally, returning valuable nutrients to the soil and reducing landfill waste.
- Recycled materials minimize the demand for new resources, cutting down on energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with production.
- Reusable packaging offers our customers a practical way to reduce waste, as these items can be repurposed multiple times before their end of life.
This holistic approach to packaging not only reduces our environmental impact but also empowers our customers to make sustainable choices, fostering a community of eco-conscious individuals who collectively contribute to a healthier planet.
If it’s not reused, it’s recycled. This rule exists mainly for the cardboard boxes we receive our shipments in. These boxes are either repurposed within our operations or recycled through the city’s recycling program if they aren’t used in our worm farm. By adhering to this principle, we significantly reduce the amount of waste we produce and extend the lifecycle of materials that come into our possession. When cardboard boxes are not suitable for reuse, such as for storage or shipping, they are broken down and added to our worm farm, where they provide essential bedding and carbon material for our composting worms. This not only supports our vermiculture efforts but also ensures that the cardboard is processed in an environmentally friendly manner. Any remaining cardboard that cannot be used in the worm farm is conscientiously sorted and sent to the city’s recycling facilities. This dual approach of reusing and recycling allows us to maximize the utility of our resources and minimize our environmental footprint, showcasing our commitment to sustainable practices at every level of our business.
And YES! We have a worm farm. Our happy little red wrigglers regularly feast on microgreen leftovers and captured rainwater, creating beautiful vermicompost that we utilize for our herb and butterfly gardens on the property. Worm farming, or vermiculture, is an eco-friendly practice that transforms organic waste into nutrient-rich compost through the natural process of worm digestion. Vermicompost, often referred to as “black gold,” is packed with essential nutrients and beneficial microorganisms that enhance soil health, improve plant growth, and increase crop yields. This natural fertilizer boosts soil structure, water retention, and root development, making it an invaluable resource for sustainable gardening. By incorporating vermicompost into our gardens, we ensure that our plants receive the best possible nutrition, while simultaneously reducing waste and promoting a closed-loop system that mirrors the cycles of nature.
By integrating these sustainable practices into every aspect of our business, we strive to make a positive impact on the environment and our community. We believe that every small step towards sustainability contributes to a healthier planet, and we are proud to be part of this vital movement. Grow with us on this journey towards a greener future and enjoy the benefits of products that are as good for you as they are for the earth.