Microgreens and occupational therapy: a sensory experience for blind people

As we have mentioned in previous articles, microgreens are not only part of gastronomy, nor do they simply offer nutritional benefits. A few weeks ago, we shared articles about bringing these tiny sprouts into work with children and with older adults.

This time, we remain in the world of rehabilitation and inclusion, because occupational therapy is constantly seeking activities that strengthen autonomy and connection with the environment. Growing microgreens can become an innovative tool for working with blind or visually impaired individuals, as it offers a multisensory experience that stimulates touch, smell, and fine motor skills.

Growing microgreens as a tactile experience

Sowing microgreens is an activity that does not require vision to be meaningful:

• Preparing the substrate allows you to feel the texture of the soil or growing mats.

• Spreading the seeds is a hand finger coordination exercise that can be practiced with guided movements.

• Controlled watering with a spray bottle or small watering can provides tactile and auditory feedback (the sound of water).

Aromas of microgreens

Each variety of microgreen has a distinctive aroma:

• Radish and mustard have a spicy smell.

• Sunflower smells fresh and slightly nutty.

• Cilantro, basil, or dill are intensely herbal.

Inviting the person to recognize and differentiate smells is a recognition exercise that uses smell rather than sight.

Development of motor skills and autonomy

• Sowing and daily care encourage routines and habits of responsibility.

• Harvesting, cutting with scissors or by hand, improves precision and control.

• Food preparation, adding microgreens to salads or sandwiches, connects the growing experience with healthy eating.

These tasks involve fine hand and finger movements, and carrying out steps in sequence.

Emotional and social benefits

Growing and tending plants is used in occupational therapy for reasons beyond the plant itself. The effects reported below come from horticultural-therapy practice and from research on that field in general, not from any study of microgreens — see our article on microgreens and older adults for what the meta-analyses actually pooled:

• Stress reduction, taking care of plants promotes calm and mindfulness.

• Sense of achievement, seeing (or in this case, feeling and smelling) the result of one’s effort boosts self esteem.

• Group activity, growing in workshops encourages social interaction, cooperation, and communication.

Advice for better accessibility!

• Braille or embossed labels to differentiate varieties.
• Growing trays with high edges to prevent substrate spills.
• Tactile guides to help sow evenly.
• Ergonomic tools (adapted scissors, easy grip spray bottles).

In conclusion, as we have already mentioned in previous articles, microgreens are much more than a gourmet, nutrient packed ingredient. They can be used with children, with older adults, and in occupational therapy programmes for blind people, creating a sensory space built around touch, smell and coordination. What such programmes achieve clinically has not been tested with microgreens.

Bringing this activity into rehabilitation centres, schools or the home is cheap, low-risk and easy to adapt. Whether it changes any clinical outcome is a question the evidence does not settle — treat it as an activity worth trying, not a treatment.