Other Plant Projects
Growing Microgreens
Microgreens are simply mature plant sprouts, so many varieties of crops can be microgreens. The most nutrient-dense microgreens that I grow are broccoli, chia, cilantro, and arugula. Microgreens are a great addition to salads, sandwiches, smoothies, flatbreads, wraps, and many more meals! They provide a great boost of nutrients and can be harvested fresh daily. Not all microgreens need soil to germinate, in fact, the only microgreen I grow that requires soil is sunflower seeds. They are very simple to grow, take up very little space, and can bring a little life, even in the dead of winter. Microgreens only take a few weeks to grow so I always share my extras with friends and family.
Plant Collection API
Although this website is currently static, behind the scenes it is getting a makeover. Above is an example of how the architecture is currently configured, but it is not attached to the front end. I have been adding each plant profile to a DynamoDB instance. I created a lambda function to query the DB which can be called through an API gateway. To see the raw JSON data provided by the API click here. While the primary reason for the API is to make my website dynamic, it is also publicly available if anyone else would like access to the data.
Native Pollinator Wild Flowers
Since the beginning of the Save The Bee movement, there has been a spotlight on how important our pollinators are. One way I have worked to support these pollinators is by planting more food for them! Wildflowers native to your area provide a source of food, shelter, and cross-pollination which will help all gardens in your area. I highly recommend looking up native wildflowers to avoid planting any invasive species. American Meadows provides great free resources on wildflowers native to all regions of the United States. Since growing my own flowers I have found several creative outlets with the blooms. I have also started playing around with floral bouquet design, pressing flowers to preserve them, and drying them for potpourri. I will be adding a new page to my Conservatory soon to showcase some of my favorite floral activities!
