In the burgeoning world of microgreens cultivation, finding reliable guidance can mean the difference between harvesting success and costly mistakes. That's why Mike Hicks, fondly known as "Microgreens Mike," has leveraged the online community platform Skool to create a free resource helping newcomers navigate this specialized form of agriculture.
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"We started with old shelving racks that were out of an old subway that closed down and they weren't necessarily the right size to fit the trays," Mike shares. "You can only fit three of them on there, so you just get something that's available that you can set trays on."
This hands-on experience informs the practical advice now shared with the Skool community. Rather than letting newcomers repeat common mistakes, Microgreens Mike emphasizes starting with proper equipment: six-tier shelving units available at retailers like Sam's Club or Home Depot for around $100, appropriate lighting systems, and quality trays designed specifically for microgreens cultivation.
Building an Online Community Platform for Microgreens Mastery
Recognizing that beginning growers face a steep learning curve, Mike established "Microgreens for Profit," a free community hosted on Skool. The digital community building approach centers on preventing the mistakes he personally experienced.
"You're going to run into mistakes, especially if you don't get a coach or somebody to help you along the ways," Microgreens Mike explains. "If you don't know a lot, you don't know."
One significant challenge Mike encountered illustrates the value of the Skool community's guidance: "We put a shelf up against the wall and it was in a corner of the room. We had no airflow there. So there's no fan blowing around there. Nothing like that. It was stagnant air. The crops were drying out and burning up on the backside."
This hard-earned knowledge now helps community members avoid similar setbacks. Through the Skool platform, Microgreens Mike offers newcomers:
- Equipment recommendations for proper growing setups
- Guidance on starter crops for building confidence
- Proper growing techniques for maximizing yields
- Harvesting protocols to ensure quality and shelf life
- Free 20-minute consultations for personalized guidance
From Seed to Harvest: Practical Teaching in the Skool Community
Mike's teaching methodology within the Skool community emphasizes starting with basics before tackling more challenging varieties. The approach mirrors other skill-building progressions: "When you start t-ball, right? They start you out really small, teach you very basics and get you confident. So that's what we want to do here, too."
For beginners in the community, Microgreens Mike recommends five starter crops:
- Broccoli microgreens (highlighted for cancer-fighting sulforaphane)
- Radishes
- Peas
- Cabbage
- Sunflowers (noted as slightly more challenging due to seedling removal)
The teaching continues through detailed instructions on setup specifics: "You want to get your light positioned to where it's about 11 to 12 inches away from the bottom shelf." This level of detail helps community members navigate the crucial early stages of microgreens cultivation.
Cultivating Success Through Digital Community Support
What makes this Skool community particularly valuable is Mike's transparency about his own learning journey. Rather than positioning himself as infallible, Microgreens Mike openly shares past mistakes to accelerate others' success.
The focus extends beyond just growing techniques to harvest protocols that ensure quality: "When you go to harvest microgreens, obviously you want to make sure you're not watering 24 hours before. Because, for the best shelf life and lasting, you're going to want to make sure your harvesting crop's dry."
By housing this knowledge in a dedicated Skool community, Mike has built an accessible resource for anyone interested in microgreens cultivation, whether for personal consumption or profit.
Growing Knowledge Together: The Power of Specialized Online Communities
The "Microgreens for Profit" Skool community demonstrates how digital platforms can transform specialized knowledge into accessible learning opportunities. By creating this free resource, Microgreens Mike helps others bypass the costly trial-and-error phase of microgreens cultivation.
The community's impact lies in its combination of detailed technical guidance with supportive interaction. Rather than simply publishing static content, the Skool platform enables direct engagement through the free consultation calls offered to community members.
As microgreens continue gaining popularity for their nutritional density and quick growing cycle, this Skool community stands as a valuable resource for aspiring growers. It showcases how effective digital community building can nurture both plants and people's agricultural ambitions.