• Home
  • Videos

How to Make a Self Watering Microgreen Grower out of a Take out Container

This Video is from the Youtube channel: “Keep on Growin’ with Mike VanDuzee”. 

How to Make a Self Watering Microgreen Grower out of a Take out Container
Easy Way to Grow Microgreens
Here's how to grow your own microgreens in an easy "set it and forget it" method. We are going to use takeout or meal prep containers. Just takes a few minutes to make and set up.

 

Peter Grant
 

  • Just Beachy says:

    I just wanted to say that I feel like I really hit the jackpot finding your Channel. I was super excited to see recipes and we’ll be making that lentil roll tomorrow. I need “easy” these days.
    Last year started Beyond sourdough and started fermenting. Two things that came out really good were Ginger brew and sauerkraut. Looks like I need to get busy so I can make that Reuben sandwich.

    • Keep on Growin' with Mike VanDuzee says:

      Awesome! Yeah, love the Rueben. Thank you very much, we have more recipes planned.

    • Daphne Raven says:

      Just Beachy: You can ferment Gingerale too. It’s not that sickly sweet stuff from the store, and it’s really nice. If you’re making it because you have somebody who’s sick, you can sweeten it with honey. Just let it cool down after you boil it on the stove, so that you don’t pasteurize your honey when you add it.

    • Just Beachy says:

      @Daphne Raven I do that and I love it

    • Joanie Coleman says:

      @Keep on Growin’ with Mike VanDuzee love what I see ,the rain gutters is the most interesting but will check out rest of sight. do you have recipes?

    • Keep on Growin' with Mike VanDuzee says:

      @Joanie Coleman Thank you! Recipes will be in our Thinkific community that we are building out.

  • Jason P says:

    5 corporate growers stumbled on this channel and left a “dislike” for breaking their stranglehold on food. Absolutely brilliant content.

    • Keep on Growin' with Mike VanDuzee says:

      Lol, thank you very much!

    • Ivan Horvat says:

      THANK YOU 🙏 VERY MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO !!!!!! Great 👍 IDEAS ! Oh I’m also cheap or frugal , depending on your point of view . My point of view is “ why waste , or throw away perfectly good containers when you can “ repurpose “ !? Yes I’m an immigrant (came to Canada 🍁 in ‘66 ) We , my family , my father was really good at repurposing ! 🙏⚒️🛠️⛏️🪚🔨✝️🇭🇷<>🇨🇦

    • Pamela Thompson says:

      Corporate growers probably have health codes to keep up with.

    • oztrich24 says:

      @Pamela Thompson Those “health codes” that corporations have to contend with are much looser than you can imagine. Permitted % of bugs and other debris are no problem. Sourcing regulations are also incredibly useful. For corporations, the bottom line counts more than anything and they have a huge number of lobbyists to make sure they get that.

  • ImASurvivorNThriver says:

    Great stuff! If you’re interested in tweaking your slits, here’s an idea. You could put 3 holes on each side where the slits are and thread one or two long shoe laces or paracord through the holes and have the ends laying in the water on the bottom to wick up the water to the plants above. The shoe laces or paracord could be used over and over again. Thanks for sharing. 🙂

    • Keep on Growin' with Mike VanDuzee says:

      That’s a cool idea, thanks!

    • The Martini Diva says:

      Candle wicking is good too.

    • Kimmy C says:

      I tried using old cotton T-shirts as a wicking material once in a hydroponic experiment. It was a disaster! The cotton broke down really fast. But, for micro greens, they would hold up long enough. I like the paper towel idea and the use of containers. 💚

    • Lisa W says:

      I used the wick idea with my huge houseplants and cotton clothesline for wicks when I went out of the country for a month. Worked beautifully!

    • oztrich24 says:

      @Kimmy C I used old socks as wicks in a self watering plastic barrel, cut in half lengthwise and laid on it’s side. Put hinges on the top part for a lid. I planted
      strawberries and herbs. I built a stand for it. It looks like a BBQ grill! There’s online instructions and probably YT videos on how to make one.

  • Siku T says:

    Hey there teacher Mike! Will try this out with my 5 and 7 year old children.
    We live in Massachusetts so it’s beginning to get slightly cold up here. This will be great for growing indoor veggies!
    Foods are getting expensive and I can’t thank you enough for posting this video up 😀
    It’s clear and easy to understand. Please keep educating and sharing your knowledge!!!!!!

    • Keep on Growin' with Mike VanDuzee says:

      Thank you, this comment made my weekend! Have an awesome week!

    • Sadie DeSimone says:

      I am also live in Massachusetts, in a small second floor apartment with a balcony. At 83, thankfully I am still learning! Growing our food is so much fun and super healthful. I learned a lot from this kind teacher. 👍👍😊

    • Emerald Sea says:

      @Sadie DeSimone I also live in a second story apartment but no balcony or patio, only steps down to the sidewalk. Indoor gardening is really my only choice so I’m eager to learn all I can. 65 years young.

  • Roanne Grasso says:

    What an excellent use of all of those left over food containers. I can hardly wait to plant my seeds. Thank you so much.

  • Madeleine White says:

    This content is obviously made for schoolchildren but I’m 70 and I’m still learning and will be trying this out later today! Great video 😍

  • Saundra Weed says:

    Wow ! Didn’t know all my saved containers could be so useful and let me grow food in my tiny apartment . Thank you.

  • Barbara Bayer says:

    I love this. So accessible and your presentation is so clear, concise and kind! Thank you.

  • T Montero says:

    I learned so much from your video! As a 68-year-old grandma gardener, my large garden is getting more and more challenging to keep weeded, planted, watered, fertilized, harvested, etc… Hydroponics, as you presented it, is definitely something I will do. And micro greens are so nutritious as well as great starts for larger plants. Love how you raid your recycle bin for supplies! You have a wonderful approach, sir. I plan to watch your other videos and subscribe! Count me in as one of your students! Thank you so much.

    • Keep on Growin' with Mike VanDuzee says:

      Awesome! Welcome aboard! Let me know if you have questions.

    • T Montero says:

      I’m pretty sure you’re my new hero.

    • kim hutcheson says:

      I can relate to your interest in the time of your life. I too, am at this place, and for the same reasons. This is an incredible info package he presents us with, and gives me confidence for success. Best to you and your endeavors.

    • S JT says:

      Search for Charles Dowding on YouTube. He has been doing no-dig gardening for many years & is also senior. No-dig using compost literally eliminates the need to fertilize at all, and you will have nearly no weeds. So few that you will be able to see them the second they come up & nip them in the bud. This man changed the way I garden. Using your compost every year AND mulch also greatly reduces the need to water your garden as well. Be cautuous of where you get your compost if you don’t have your own compost bin as a lot of store-bought compost can be contaminated with chemicals which can harm your plants & soil.

      Another good person to search on YouTube is Liz Zorab – Byther Farm. She is also senior, as is her husband.

      Look into the Ruth Stout gardening method as well.

      All of the above people will teach you easier ways to garden which isn’t so difficult for your body to deal with & which is far less time consuming. I have 2 businesses & have many outdoor duties such as wood chopping & more, yet I am still able to fit a great deal of gardening in because I now garden very differently than my grandparents & other family members did.

      FYI mulching is your friend, even just with cardboard between rows, used as your walking paths. Can also use wood chips, straw, old wool sweaters or carpets, cotton t-shirts & other clothing (check to make sure that there are no synthetic fibres in there as they don’t compost) whatever you have.

      Gardening is so much easier than people realize.

    • gudgengrebe says:

      I’m 67 and have been doing no dig gardening for years here in southeast uk. I learned about it by watching someone called Charles Dowding. Look for his great videos where he explains everything. I hope you find that useful. Hardly any weeding needed, especially once things settle down. I’m going to try and learn how to grow using this hydroponic method. Id always thought it would be too complicated and expensive. I’m going to give it a try. Anyway, I hope you have good results. All the best from us here!

  • Phoebe Graveyard says:

    You are an excellent teacher. Thank you. As a senior living two hours from the city, I need alternatives for leafy green foods. I hope you know what a wonderful thing you are doing for us oldsters.

  • oztrich24 says:

    You can do this without the soil, too. Just like sprouting jars, but no daily rinsing. Just make sure the paper towel covers the entire surface where the seeds lay. I’ve sprouted seeds in seed starting trays with no soil. Wheat berries are easy to sprout and nutrious. Let them grow a bit and you have wheat grass. Spraying your sprouts with a hydrogen peroxide/water mix helps keep down mold and fermenting.

    • shortgirl65 says:

      Thanks for the tip. What is the ratio of hydrogen peroxide to water for this? 🌱

    • oztrich24 says:

      @shortgirl65 I’m not sure it matters. I use about 50/50 distilled water but have seen others use full strength. I’m just more cautious, I guess.

    • Brampton Gardener says:

      @oztrich24 oh great idea. I have a ton of wheat berries, I milk my own. But have plenty of hard wheat, spelt, and kamut to try out. Thanks for the tips. I like the idea of no soil too.

  • Karen Nakata says:

    Sir, no matter the age of your audience, your instruction is wonderful. So easy to follow and understand.

  • She Fo says:

    Thank you so much for this straight forward awesome video! Food security has never been more important than now and it’s really fun and rewarding to take steps toward it 😊 🙏

  • Deborah Garner says:

    I’m excited to have found your channel! It’s so easy to let the cost of things overwhelm us to the point that we don’t even try. But , what you’ve shared here takes away all excuses. Thank you for this!

  • A.S. SHOLE says:

    I haven’t been to school for a few…..decades!😂 but I found this very educational and helpful. My wife asked me if I had ever considered aquaponics. I said no because that’s quite expensive. Thanks for showing me a low budget way. Even though we rarely eat out, I’m sure I’ll find enough items, around the house, to utilize.

  • Leanne DeCO says:

    I love how you are addressing young teens, and children not just adults letting them know that this is something that they can do that. This is not just a mystery that only adults or some far off company can do

  • SR Kish says:

    You are a great teacher, and I have been teaching for years in healthcare! This is a wonderful video for all ages, and great for march break! You keep going, and straighten out your table and add more colour to your background and I hope you have even MORE SUCCESS! I have liked and subscribed to your video and will share with my son Max. Will you explain the goodness of microgreens and how to eat them? I do not know how I found you, but so pleased I did! ALL the best!

  • Heather Brunet says:

    I am a 51 year old grandmother who is learning to garden, and stumbled on your video … I’ve always wanted to grow microgreens but was intimidated by it thinking it was harder than you have made it appear here! I will be starting my own microgreens today! Thank you!

  • ocelotcat says:

    Great video, thank you 🙏
    Now I can grow my micro greens without needing to get all this expensive, fancy equipment. So excited and grateful. Thank you again 😊

  • Luci G says:

    Brilliant! I really enjoy your presentation. It’s like being at home with a big brother who loving is teaching. Thank you. I live in an apartment in California with very little outdoor space for growing food and this is totally doable. I look froward to learning more, transplanting and growing other small plants. Best wishes ❤

  • >