Meet Your New Neighbor: All Roads Lead to Spira Farms

Chris Borek was like many of us before the pandemic – commuting 90 minutes to and from the office and paying little attention to the emissions he was putting out into the world. 

Twiddling his thumbs in hours of traffic, he got to thinking: How can I go to the grocery store less? It was an essential errand that cost him both time and money and if he could reduce his trip by just once, he could spend more time doing what he loved. The only caveat – he wanted fresh produce so he could enjoy salads every day at work and didn’t want it to ruin in his fridge throughout the week. 

“Can I grow a fresh salad?”, he wondered. 

Racing to his condominium balcony with fresh soil, Chris planted the first seeds that would become Spira Farms. The locally-grown microgreens became the basis of his smoothies, salads, and the basis of every meal. 

Now with customers throughout the Lemont area, partnerships with local grocery stories, restaurants, and a new storefront in Lemont Downtown. We sat down with Chris to learn more about Spira Farms and his love of microgreens.

Discovering the Benefits of Microgreens

KG: Okay, I’m new to this. I’ve only had microgreens at fancy weddings. Why microgreens? 

CB: That’s how most people get into them - as a fine dining experience or as a garnish. Microgreens have an incredible nutritional value and when consumed raw, contribute 4 to 5 of our vegetable servings in an average diet.  Cooked fully-grown broccoli is only 22%.

KG: That’s amazing. What are the health benefits that come with that? 

CB: Along with the nutritional benefits, microgreens are typically easier for us to consume and our bodies to process. When exposed every day, broccoli microgreens can be essential for fighting disease and certain cancers which is very important to me and my family.

KG: How did you grow from a garden on your balcony to the Spira Farms Storefront? 

CB: Microgreens are really easy to grow and when done right, can use significantly less water than traditional farms. I shared my harvests with my friends and family and as demand increased, I moved the farm from my place to my family’s place and then to Lemont Downtown. 

KG: You talked a lot about emissions and the environment. How is your business approaching sustainability?

CB: It’s really the core reason for how I found myself here. We’re growing indoors, using solar panels, and because we’re directly watering the seeds, we’re using 95% less water than traditional farms. All of our excess water is recycled and used again. When you order from us, all of our packaging is plant-based and we’re constantly thinking of new ways to reduce our carbon footprint.

Turning Your Passion for Microgreens into a Lemont Business

KG: Why Lemont Downtown for your first brick-and-mortar location? 

CB: I’ve lived in Lemont for such a long time and my family is here. I love that Lemont really shows up for stuff whether it be the Summer Cruise Nights, Sunset Soirees, or grabbing a bite to eat at a local restaurant - Lemont is always here for a good time. We’ll be continuing our microgreens delivery service and local farmers markets but we wanted to have a place for folks to pick up good nutritional food in town. 

KG: How does someone get started with microgreens? 

CB: For first-timers, we recommend the broccoli and sunflower microgreens which are rich in amino acids. From there, if you’re into more savory bites: cilantro, onion, and radishes. In the shop, we have a deli-style set up where you can try new varieties and we always have recipes for smoothies, salads, or other dishes. 

KG: That’s so exciting! How does one choose? 

CB: If you can’t decide or you’d like to be the first to discover new varieties, we’ve put together a Choose Your Own Adventure package which allows a fresh selection of microgreens delivered to your house for free every week. 

KG: You’ve thought of everything. How do we find you? 

CB: Spira Farms is open Monday-Thursday from 11am-6pm. My wife, Caitlyn and I, harvest every Friday and deliver on Saturdays to local customers, grocery stores and restaurants. We’re growing fast but it’s so important that we do it right. 

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Spira Farms is located at 228 Main Street, Lemont. Stop by to try locally-grown microgreens and to meet your new neighbors!