The Innovative Entrepreneurs Urban Farming Hub
Our Urban Farming Hub focuses on producing microgreens that are packed with nutrients. Our Hub provides contract farming which means that the beneficiaries who are capacitated in this hub must grow the Microgreens in line with the specifications required by the client who will be purchasing the harvested crop.
After 12 to 21 days the Microgreen crops will be ready for harvest and the expected income from the market depending on the type of plant being grown can vary between R5 000.00 to R8 000.00 for the beneficiary (Profit) after every 12 to 21 days.
Microgreens are packed with nutrients. While their nutrient contents vary slightly, most varieties tend to be rich in potassium, iron, zinc, magnesium, and copper. Microgreens are also a great source of beneficial plant compounds like antioxidants. What’s more, their nutrient content is concentrated, which means that they often contain higher vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant levels than the same quantity of mature greens.
Different Types of Microgreens
Microgreens can be grown from many different types of seeds.
The most popular varieties are produced using seeds from the following plant families:
Brassicaceae family: Cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, watercress, radish, and arugula
Asteraceae family: Lettuce, endive, chicory, and radicchio
Apiaceae family: Dill, carrot, fennel, and celery
Amaryllidaceae family: Garlic, onion, leek
Amaranthaceae family: Amaranth, quinoa swiss chard, beet, & spinach
Cucurbitaceae family: Melon, cucumber, and squash
Cereals such as rice, oats, wheat, corn, and barley, as well as legumes like chickpeas, beans, and lentils, are also sometimes grown into microgreens.
The Innovative Entrepreneurs Urban Farming Hub aims to provide the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Beneficiaries with access to sustainable economic empowerment through Socio-Economic Development initiatives which will lead to happier, healthier, more sociable, and enriched lives.
We provide the beneficiaries with quality on-the-job work experiences, affordable workspaces, mentorship, business education, and access to Local and International sales channels which lead to income-generating activities. Our work also aims to boost South Africa’s exports, which will in turn, generate foreign exchange, increase the number of new Exempt Micro-Enterprises at Level 1, which will reduce unemployment.
The Objectives of the Urban Farming Hub
To promote the Multiplier Effect within a Circular Economy (When one person in a community decides to participate in an income generating activity there is a positive impact on the rest of the community – all working together and promoting each other).
To ensure the beneficiaries will be in a position to offer their services to the Strategic Partners within the Innovative Entrepreneurs Network and the network of the B-BBEE Measured Entity (The SED Funder).
To ensure the beneficiaries generate sustainable income through the market access opportunities provided by Innovative Entrepreneurs NPC and networks that they will have been taught to establish on their own.
The promotion of teamwork, and collaboration – building a network that is sustainable.
Capacity Building and Workplace Experience for the beneficiary includes:
Eradicate the Sector’s productivity gap by ensuring that the beneficiaries have access to specialized capacity building and skills transfer that they will need to thrive.
Exposure to the latest trends and new markets, what works and where the gaps are.
