When Tchell DePaepe was 10 years one-time and living in a “ tiny town ” in Utah , she started uprise pumpkin to sell to the local kids in the community . “ That was my first entrepreneurship , you could say ! ” recalls DePaepe .

Since relocating to West Oakland years afterwards , DePaepe now runs theWild Dog Farmsmicrogreens urban farm , where she specializes in grow vibrant “ microgreen confetti . ”

We verbalise to DePaepe about her origination to the world of microgreens and the challenges of farming in urban environs . We also got the goop on her most potent try out microgreens .

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Embracing Small Space Farming

A situation share by @wilddogfarms

“ At the time I was n’t really familiar with microgreens , ” intromit DePaepe , take care back at the ascendant of Wild Dog Farms . “ But the more I did enquiry on them , the more I visit this was a peachy young opportunity and something I could do in a small space . ”

DePaepe adds , “ I ’ve always enjoyed course my own business . So it was a stark opportunity to do something that was really healthy and in a very urban property like West Oakland . ”

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Spotlighting Microgreen Confetti

DePaepe has playfully tagged the vivid regalia of bijou produce she grow as “ microgreen confetti . ”

She spotlights amaranth as the most eye - catching of microgreens in her collection . “ It ’s almost a fuchsia color , ” she says . “ It does n’t produce very grandiloquent . I habituate it in my rainbow mix , which also has over-embellished cabbage and radish in it . Amaranth makes it very fun to await at . It ’s a beautiful topping for a lot of chef dishes . ”

Looking Beyond the Salad

When it come to incorporating microgreens in cooking , DePaepe says that it ’s important to wait beyond the assumption to just incorporate them into a salad .

“ I ’ve find out chefs put them on porc chop and in soup , ” she explains . “ fundamentally , you may top anything with microgreens . It ’s kind of an teaching I have to give people . Like , it ’s not just salads — it can be for taco and burgers .

“ Anywhere you ’d practice iceberg lettuce , you could employ microgreens . But of course iceberg lettuce has [ almost ] 0 nutrient ! With microgreens you ’re eat essentially the integral Brassica oleracea italica works , but it ’s only an inch and a half tall . ”

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A Full-on Spice Attack

require about the boldest degustation microgreens that Wild Dog Farms produce , DePaepe spotlights wasabi . “ It ’s very spicy . you could sense it right up your nose ! Some masses have told me it ’s too risque to use , but other hoi polloi bonk it .

“ The wasabi definitely pack a potent biff . ”

About a Name

Looking back on naming Wild Dog Farms , DePaepe say that the silhouette of a canine featured in the company ’s logotype is actually a Quaker ’s delivery appoint Rocko . “ I just keep the name , and I thought it was grand , ” she explains . “ Everyone like dogs . ”