WHEN asked what most people keep in their garages, the answer would most likely be an assortment of junk, some DIY equipment and perhaps even a car or bike. 

Not Richard Kennedy, from Goodworth Clatford, who decided to change his life by rigging up a high-tech system to grow microgreens. 

Richard went through a life-changing experience when he had a liver transplant in 2015. Then when he returned to his job in the IT industry, he realised he wanted to do something different. 

That's when he decided to launch Lusso Leaf - named after the Italian word for luxury - in 2020. 

He said: "I went back to work but was fed up. I wanted to do something else. That's when I began growing microgreens, first in the greenhouse, then in our garage, It was going to be temporary but we did it for a year in our garage." 

After that, the business took off and Richard and his wife Sarah moved all their equipment to a former mushroom factory in Stockbridge and they are now producing more than 35 different products, supplying top restaurants and even securing a spot on the shelves at Waitrose. 

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Richard has used all his previous IT expertise to rig up super high-tech horticultural equipment that ensures the plants get all the right things they need at exactly the right time. 

Among the products are sunflower shoots, pea shoots, broccoli stems, peas, radish, all harvested from the first two leaves to ensure a high level of nutrients are packed into the vegetables.

The products were on show at the recent Local Produce Trade Show, run by Business South, at the Ageas Bowl. 

READ MORE: Local Produce Trade Show: Top chefs from Hampshire speak on panel

As well as supplying to top venues like Lainston House Hotel, Kyoto Kitchen, the Fox & Bugle, Party at the Mill in Alresford and Oakley Hall, the business sells its products through scores of local shops like Thyme & Tides Deli, the greengrocers in Stockbridge, Newlyns Farm Shop and Rosebourne. 

Richard's wife Sarah, a pilates teacher, is also helping grow the business around her classes.  

The couple, who have two grown-up children, are putting all their energy into making Lusso Leaf a success. 

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Richard says that it's been a challenge, especially with rising energy bills, but he is determined to keep his prices the same in order to give top-quality service. 

As with his plants, Richard has developed a system in which he hopes to be able to fend off some of the rising energy prices, by switching their energy deal to a different company which offers a tariff that utilising electricity at optimal hours. 

He said: "It's been going well. It has been a difficult time, with Covid, but now that's over it is straight up from here, and we are taking on more and more customers." 

Go to lussoleaf.com/