The desire to control what I put into my body led me to learn more about food politics, pesticides, environmental degradation and health. I went on with my life, getting an undergraduate degree and then a law degree.

When I was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma tumor at a ripe age of 29, my life changed. I’m A-OK all these years later, but the journey led me to start a boutique microgreens farm in late 2016. I named it Quantum Microgreens (as a nod to my undergraduate degree in Astrophysics). Starting a farm was totally out of my wheelhouse. My youth was spent moving from one place to another and growing my own food was nowhere in my life plan. Growing a single plant was not in my life plan! I became an expert by doing, growing, experimenting, and doing it again and again.  

I was a microgreen farmer for six years, and now that I’ve closed up shop—I’m sharing everything I know about wellness, garden, home and healthy-ish recipes with the help of my sister Kelly.

I was a headstrong teenager seeking control over my own life and decided to stop eating meat when I was just 14. It was the 90’s and vegetarianism was not remotely mainstream in Southern California. I was obsessed with knowing what I put in my body. I was obsessed with how the environment was impacted by my food choices. I was motivated by the health benefits associated with eating plants.

Melissa Canales

Melissa Canales

Microgreens drew me in for their concentrated flavor, textures, and dense nutrition. They were small enough that I could grow them in a very small space with low start-up costs. Microgreens were cutting-edge and still mostly unknown outside of the foodie world of fine dining when I started. San Diego's incredible climate, with its consistent sunshine and mild temperatures, proved to be the perfect environment to nurture these tiny powerhouses. For years, I was a familiar face at farmers markets across the city, standing under my white canopy tent, surrounding by living microgreens, setting up in rain or shine, and connecting directly with customers; sharing my knowledge about microgreens. I closed my farm after six years in 2023 to move to a new city for my husband’s job. It was a loss. I mourned the loss of my farm for months, but it was time. Growing microgreens is hard work. There are no real days off as a microgreens farmer. I was tired and worn out, and dying to have a weekend off. 

This website is the next chapter in my journey. I’m thrilled my sister, who knows all things blogs and loads of internet stuff, has joined team Quantum to make this website a reality. While the farmers market may have been where it all began, I'm now excited to share my passion for microgreens with an even wider audience. Here, you'll find everything you need to know about the microgreens I grow, along with tips and recipes to unlock their full potential in your kitchen. Welcome to my little corner of the internet! 

EDITOR BIO

But my passion for growing and need for fresh food I can grow myself remain a huge part of my identity.

xo, Melissa Canales

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