Hannah Nelson defied stereotypes in a field traditionally sown by men when she decided to start her microgreen business, Green Leaf Groves.
Nelson grew up in the agricultural world. She learned at a young age the importance of growing and harvesting in a garden-to-table environment and spent time watching her father in his grow operation for microgreens. She then transitioned to becoming the main grower of his operation and found herself leaning more into the business side of the company. Eventually, her father retired from his business, but she was not quite ready to be done, as she had found passion and a deep love for the farming of microgreens. And so, Green Leaf Groves was established.
What are microgreens?
Although not widely known, these small-but-mighty plants have been around for years. Essentially, they are the seedlings of every vegetable. Nelson describes it as having all the nutrients of the adult counterpart, just packed in that little stem.
So, when you eat a microgreen, you are gaining all the nutritional value and bold flavor of an adult vegetable in a versatile and easy-to-eat form. In addition to them being nutritionally valuable, Nelson says that for her it is more about “experimenting with flavors and what you can do with it.”
Topping burgers and toasts, adding to a smoothie, tossing in a salad and incorporating into sauces like pesto, are all ways people can enjoy microgreens.
Photos courtesy of Hannah Nelson
Overcoming obstacles and found family
Farming is no easy feat. Nelson explains that outside of farm operations that stretch long hours from late night to early morning, she works a full-time job to maintain the farm and herself.
According to the Department of Agriculture, women in the United States only make up 36% of farmers, and only 9% of farms are entirely run by women.
“Agriculture is a male-based industry and it’s easy to feel out of place, but you have to be confident that you know what you’re doing and stand your ground,” Nelson says.
Luckily, Nelson says that the Rochester farming community has become a family she can lean on, who will help her, guide and uplift her regardless of gender stereotypes.
Despite the challenges, Nelson says she wouldn’t change it for the world. She has been able to create a community and build meaningful, valuable relationships with other farmers through selling her microgreens at farmer’s markets and local restaurants in downtown Rochester.
“As a family, we grew things, we created things, and then I got older and started going to the farmer’s market; creating a new family,” Nelson says.
Hope for Change
Nelson puts it simply when asked about the future of farming: “If we don’t have our farmers, we don’t have our food.”
She hopes people will recognize the hard work and labor that goes behind every good that is sold at the farmer’s market.
“The quality and time and expertise that these vendors, these farmers, in the area have and what they put into being able to provide for the community is worth so much more than what they are selling it for.”
Her success with microgreens is a testament to her hard work, dedication and passion for serving the community with locally sourced goods. However, she hopes the conversation around local farming and microgreens expands, and that people in the community support and uplift our local farmers.”
