From homeschool mornings to harvest nights — a behind-the-scenes look at our tiny-but-mighty family farm.
Running a small, family-operated microgreen farm out of our basement may sound simple, but every day is full of rhythm, routines, learning, and a whole lot of green. Here’s a peek into what a typical day looks like here at The Itsy Bitsy Veggie Co., where we balance planting, homeschooling, harvesting, deliveries, and family life — often all in the same day.
7:00 a.m. — Waking Up, Starting Slow
I typically wake up around 7 or 7:10 a.m., just before our automatic grow lights flip on at 7:30. Once the lights are on, I head into the grow room to check the trays. It’s a peaceful way to ease into the morning.
Elijah usually wakes up around 8, and Evelyne around 9 when we start homeschooling. On mornings when Eli wakes up early enough, he loves to greet the greens with a bright,
“Good morning beautiful greens, time to rise and shine!”
It melts my heart every time. Even on the days he sleeps in, both kids check on the greens with me throughout the day. It’s become part of our family’s rhythm.
9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. — Homeschooling and Green Checks
Homeschool runs from 9 to about 2:30 p.m., with plenty of breaks, projects, and real-life learning mixed in. Our days are anything but rigid — some mornings are slower, some afternoons spill into garden projects, and some days are full of spontaneous learning.
The greens fit naturally into our school day; they’re living examples of science, responsibility, and the reward of nurturing something from seed to harvest.
The Grow Room — Our 10x14-Foot Indoor Farm
Our grow room may be in the basement, but it is truly the heart of our home. The space is wrapped in poly sheeting and filled with shelves, fans, lights, an air purifier, and two dehumidifiers. We also have a utility sink fitted with an RV water filter and a hose attached so we can water our microgreens with clean, filtered water.
It smells incredible on harvest days — cilantro, basil, leeks, and greens filling the room with a scent so fresh you could almost eat the air.
We sanitize all trays using food-grade hydrogen peroxide, and we grow without chemicals or pesticides. Watering is done by hand at least twice a day, and cleaning is constant: sweeping, wiping shelves, and keeping airflow steady.
Planting, Watering, Unstacking — The Weekly Rhythm
- Planting: Wednesday nights
- Unstacking: Saturdays and Sundays
- Watering: Twice a day, every day
- Harvesting: Every three days for SweetBerry Market, and early Friday mornings for our restaurant partners
We always harvest within 24 hours of delivery, and we pack our coolers right before walking out the door so everything is as fresh as possible.
We keep our farmers’ market schedule light — usually 2–3 markets a month — to prevent burnout. Setup takes about 30–40 minutes depending on whether the tent and chalkboard are coming along for the ride.
The Family Behind the Farm
Jonathan
Jonathan is my behind-the-scenes powerhouse.
He helps:
- Pressure wash and sanitize trays
- Plant trays
- Lift the heavy scraps totes out of the basement
- Taste test every new blend (a certified Itsy Bitsy tester!)
- Make decisions about which varieties we grow
My Parents
My parents are our biggest cheerleaders.
They help with:
- Markets and market setup
- Loading and unloading the car
- Talking to customers and sharing how they use microgreens and pet grass
- Spreading the word around town while proudly wearing Itsy Bitsy merch
The Kids
Elijah and Evelyne are involved in everything they can be.
They love:
- Pressure washing trays outside
- Checking on the greens throughout the day
- Talking to our trays
- Joining deliveries
- Helping donate pet grass to local shelters
- Visiting Eastlake Middle School’s Garden Club with us
Our little helpers make the work feel lighter and a whole lot sweeter.
Quiet Moments, Happy Moments, Hard Moments
I love watching plants grow. Microgreens have such a quick turnaround time that every day brings something new to appreciate. My favorite moments are the quiet ones — early morning or late at night — when it’s just me, the hum of the fans, soft music playing, and a room full of thriving greens.
I also love introducing people to these little nutrient-packed plants, watching their reactions when they taste a radish or wasabi mustard microgreen for the first time, or hearing how they’ve added them into their meals.
The hardest part?
When my body wants a nap and my brain reminds me of the never-ending list of tasks I could be doing. Balancing business, motherhood, and life is a constant dance.
Taste Testing & New Blends
We just released our first round of samples for our NEW Savory Blend to our Taste Testing Team and have had an amazing response. We are excited to send out the next batch this weekend before officially launching it as a full-time blend. Tweaks will be made if needed, but so far, it is a hit!
Beyond the Microgreens — Hart Creative
In addition to the farm and homeschooling, I also run Hart Creative, my creative studio where I help business owners with website design, branding, maintenance, communication, and visual storytelling.
Art and design are passions I’ve carried from childhood into adulthood, and I’m grateful that I get to blend creativity with entrepreneurship every day. Managing Itsy Bitsy’s website and social media while helping other small businesses grow is a part of my daily rhythm that I truly enjoy.
Our Values: Quality, Community, and Sustainability
We are a tiny but mighty family farm.
We are:
- Registered with the Ohio Department of Agriculture
- Trained through the Produce Safety Alliance (Dept. of Ag + Cornell CALS)
- Committed to quality in every tray
- Focused on clean, chemical-free growing
- Dedicated to sustainability
Our scraps feed our garden and our friends’ chickens and ducks.
We offer $1 off when customers return our large pet grass containers.
And every tray, every delivery, every interaction is handled with care.
A Day in the Life — Full, Green, Beautiful
Life here is full. It is a mix of homeschooling, planting, harvesting, packing, designing, delivering, and raising two curious, hardworking kids. It’s busy and sometimes exhausting, but it is rich with meaning, connection, and growth — in more ways than one.
And every day, I’m grateful for the chance to build something beautiful with my family.