A FORMER engineer wants to honour his mum by setting up a business in Fairlie dedicated to improving people’s health.
Gordon Anderson took over the former art gallery studio on Main Road in December last year and has transformed it into Ayrshire Microgreens.
Microgreens are baby vegetables and herbs that would usually be allowed to grow to full size before harvesting.
They grow to between two inches to four inches tall and are packed with nutrients and flavour compared to their fully grown counterparts.
The 48-year-old from Kilwinning was inspired to embark on a better lifestyle after watching his mother’s health debilitate through multiple sclerosis (MS). She died at 55 years old after living with the disease for two decades.
He told the News: “Two years ago I learned about microgreens and knew it was something I wanted to get into. I worked on warships, oil and gas and pharmaceutical companies and realised that the work I was doing was not good for the planet.
"I took courses and researched the benefits of microgreens and knew I wanted to make a difference with them.
“The change in me and my mentality was originally sparked because my mum was first diagnosed with MS at 30.
"I never expected her to die so young. I felt so let down by others around her and guilty that I couldn’t help her or find a cure for her illness.
“I don’t want to see anybody go through the life my mum had. We all don’t know how long we have in life but we need to start making the change in our diets now.”
Now, the businessman is hoping to educate people on how to incorporate microgreens into a balanced diet and has also received interest from local restaurants nearby.
Using organic CoCo Coir soil on BPA-free trays and placed under grow lights inside a lab with air and climate control is how Gordon ensures the best quality of microgreens.
The waste is then used for compost and worm farming and therefore goes back into the environment. This provides a fully sustainable company producing clean food that is high in protein, fibre and vitamins at affordable prices.
He is growing beetroot, red cabbage, pea shoots and broccoli microgreens - feeding them with only water that is harvested from rain - that are available to buy in-store or online.
Gordon then hopes to introduce raw vegetable smoothies to his shop eventually.
“I think the food industry as a whole needs to change”, Gordon continues.
“When you walk into a supermarket it may look like vegetables, but only a small percentage of it is organic.
"It can be scary what it is in food and think we need to open our minds and change our perspectives.
“Using microgreens is so easy and simple to use. They can be added to soups, sandwiches and pizza or even as a garnish. It is delicious and has a lot of nutrients in it that we need.
“I have been overwhelmed with feedback so far. Chefs from restaurants nearby are interested in buying some which I am delighted with.
"The health benefits of these herbs make them worthwhile and are a natural way of improving health.
“The first challenge is educating people on what microgreens are. Once we have done that then we help them.”
For more information about Ayrshire Microgreens visit their Facebook page.
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