Transcript: Quandra Gray on “Consider This Next” with Kacie Luaders | Sept 9, 2025

On this “Consider This Next” audio program episode, Kacie speaks with Baltimore’s Quandra Gray, founder of What the Sprout, about bridging academic agricultural knowledge with practical community applications. Gray discusses her transition from communications to creating microgreen cultivation workshops that address food insecurity through education and self-reliance. They explore strategies for overcoming barriers such as the fear of failure, balancing scientific accuracy with genuine human connection, and how academic expertise can serve fundamental community needs beyond traditional professional settings. The transcript below has been edited for clarity and length:

Kacie: Today, we’re talking with Quandra Gray, founder of What the Sprout, who is bringing agricultural science directly to communities through microgreen cultivation workshops. Quandra transitioned from a 15-year career in communications and design to creating hands-on educational programs that address food insecurity in Baltimore.

In our conversation, we’ll explore how Quandra bridges the gap between academic knowledge and community application, transforming agricultural science from abstract concepts into accessible, practical skills. Our guest today is bringing a bit of a green thumb to Consider This Next. We’re very excited to have Quandra Gray on the show. Quandra, could you tell us a little more about yourself and what you do?

Gray: Hi everybody, I’m Quandra Gray. I own What the Sprout. Essentially, I introduce community members to agriculture through microgreen cultivation—via workshops and longer-term programs. The goal is to get people back to the basics of cultivating their own food.

Kacie: Getting people growing—I love that. How did you get involved with agriculture? What was your journey into this space?

Gray: I was really stressed at my nine-to-five job. For over 15 years, I worked in communications, design, visual design, and marketing. I got tired of sitting at a computer. I wasn’t interested in climbing the career ladder. For a couple of years before I started What the Sprout, I kept saying, “I want to play in the dirt. I want to be with community.”

In October 2023, I launched What the Sprout. I grew up on the west side of Baltimore in a rowhouse with a big backyard. As a little girl, I played in the dirt all the time, alongside stray dogs. Looking back, I wish someone had given me seeds and soil to experiment with, to learn how to grow food.

Part of my motivation is to meet children in Baltimore City and introduce them to growing food—something I never experienced as a child. The broader vision has expanded, but the basics remain: everybody should be growing something.

The problem I’m addressing is food insecurity. Baltimore still has many areas without reliable access to fresh foods, often called “food deserts.” My solution is: learn how to become self-reliant. If everyone on a block grows food, you can rely on each other and never lack fresh produce.

But you can’t just throw people into growing mature vegetables, which takes weeks or months. When I discovered microgreens, it felt like the perfect solution. I didn’t have much outdoor space, so I started vertical gardening indoors. Microgreens are nutrient-dense and ready to harvest in just 7–10 days.

For beginners, I say: commit to nurturing this plant for a week, and you’ll have your first harvest. That “quick win” gets people excited to try more. Microgreens are an excellent gateway to gardening or even community farming.

Kacie: We often hear “knowledge is power.” It sounds like you’re giving communities essential knowledge that empowers them to feed themselves. Could you walk us through one of your programs or workshops? Imagine someone who has never grown anything—not even kept a houseplant alive. How do you help them overcome their fears?

Gray: Most people’s fear is failure. I tell them: “Even I fail at growing sometimes, and that’s okay. You can always try again.” We eliminate that fear up front.

Through my workshops, I also make growing fun. Yes, it nourishes your body, but it’s also a stress reliever. Think of it as a fun project: it may work, it may not—but you can eat your project and then try again.

I often start with a self-watering kit I designed for people who say, “I kill plants.” It gives them a much higher chance of success. You put soil in a cup, sprinkle seeds on top, add water at the bottom, and the plant waters itself. With enough light and water, you’ll likely succeed.

In workshops, I also explain what microgreens are and why they’re worth growing, both nutritionally and as a confidence-builder.

Kacie: For those who don’t know, could you explain exactly what microgreens are?

Gray: Microgreens are herbs, flowers, fruits, or vegetables harvested at an early stage. The mature vegetables you see in grocery stores—broccoli, carrots, celery—can take months to grow. But their microgreen versions are ready in a week or two and taste just like the mature vegetable.

You plant them densely on soil or another substrate, nurture them for less than three weeks, and then harvest.

Kacie: You’ve mentioned both science and community connection. How do you balance teaching the science—like using terms such as “substrate” and “evaporation”—with connecting to your audience in ways that feel human and fun?

Gray: I use the scientific terms because accuracy matters. But I also “give voice” to the plants. For example, I’ll say: “This broccoli would tell you, ‘I’m easy to grow. I won’t die on you.’” Or with amaranth: “This plant is fickle—too much sun, water, or neglect, and it’s gone.” That mix of humor and personification helps people connect emotionally.

I also tell participants to build a relationship with the plant. Don’t just water it—say good morning and good night while giving it a spritz. Make it fun. That shifts the mindset from fear of failure to curiosity and care.

Kacie: My last question: you’ve translated your training into programs that directly serve community needs. What advice—or even caution—would you give other academics who want to move their work beyond conferences and papers into community spaces?

Gray: Before starting your own venture, use your skills to support existing organizations. Partner with nonprofits or libraries to test your ideas. Libraries, in particular, were my first partners—and I didn’t want to charge community members I was trying to help.

Experiment with different formats—adults, children, families—and see what fulfills you. Target what makes you happiest.

Also, align your work with fundamental human needs. For me, it’s food security. If your passion connects to something as essential as food, housing, or health, stick with it and amplify your efforts.

It will get tough and sometimes boring, but keep going. Un-institutionalize your skillset, share it with the world, and help others reach self-actualization. That’s what makes the work fulfilling. I’m not just chasing money—I’m creating impact, and that makes me happy.

Kacie: “Un-institutionalize your skillset.” I think that’s a fantastic note to end on. For listeners who want to learn more about you or What the Sprout, where should they go?

Gray: Visit my website: whatthesprout.com. I’m on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn—please connect with me there. I’m launching virtual workshops soon, where people anywhere in the U.S. can get a kit and grow with me for 10 days. Sign up for the newsletter for updates.

Kacie: Thank you so much for sharing your passion and knowledge today, Quandra. We really appreciate it.

Gray: Thank you for having me.

Kacie: Now that we’ve heard Quandra’s approach to community-centered agricultural education, consider this: how can you design systems that account for your audience’s real barriers and fears?

Quandra’s self-watering kit wasn’t just about convenience—it removed a specific obstacle that discouraged people from growing. What assumptions might you be making about why your audience isn’t engaging?

Notice how she uses proper terminology like “substrate” while also humanizing the plants and encouraging playful interaction. Technical precision doesn’t have to come at the expense of warmth.

And finally, Quandra’s call to un-institutionalize our skills reminds us to think about how knowledge can serve fundamental human needs—not just professional advancement.

Thank you for tuning in to Consider This Next on CivicSciTV Radio. Please subscribe, rate, and review to support more conversations like this. Until next time, stay curious and stay connected to the science around you.

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Audio programs on the CSM Network feature in-depth interviews with diverse experts who share actionable insights from their work on topical issues in civic science from multiple perspectives. The audio format provides guests with an additional way to share new insights, creating a synergistic effect with other programs on the network, on video and digital print.