Love Grows Here

8 exSEEDingly fun projects for families

Spring is a great time to be a kid! It’s rejuvenating to play outside, enjoying signs of new life and evidence left by April showers. Below are eight “exSEEDingly” fun springtime projects for the whole family that celebrate sustainability, gardening and being outdoors. The mosaic and seed paper would make lovely Mother’s Day gifts as well.

1. Plant an Egg Carton Garden

Fill a paper/cardboard egg carton with nutrient-rich potting soil and add seeds to each section. Keep the soil moist (but not overwatered) and place in a sunny spot. When the seeds have germinated, separate individual egg sections and plant directly into a garden or pots. The roots will not be disturbed and the carton will break down in the soil.

2. Spread Seed Love

Purchase seed packets, small shovels and inexpensive gardening gloves and place one of each in a decorative bag. Add a cute note that says “I’m rooting for you,” “Sprout happiness” or “Give peas a chance” and leave them on porches of neighbors and friends to spread the love. Other gift bag options include decorative pots, watering cans or small garden gnomes.

3. Make Birdseed Cakes

Gather supplies: one envelope unflavored gelatin, ½ cup boiling water, ¾ cup flour, 4 cups wild bird feed and small molds or cookie cutters. Spray inside of the molds with nonstick cooking spray. Combine gelatin, water and flour in a bowl and mix to combine. Pour in bird feed and coat well. Add to molds or fill cutters on tray lined with wax paper. Create a hole at the top of each one using a straw before seed cakes set overnight. Remove from molds and hang from a tree.

4. Make Sustainable Seed Bombs

This easy recipe includes wildflower seeds, water and shredded newspaper. Soak newspaper shreds (or any recyclable, non-glossy paper shreds) in water until very soft and mix in seeds. Take seeded paper and roll into small balls (up to 2”). Optional: Insert popsicle sticks (to look like cake pops) that have seed identification or planting instructions written on them.

Let dry and pass out to friends to plant in their yards.

5. Plant a Window Herb Garden

Start an herb garden in a windowsill. Gather a variety of clean, recycled or canning glass jars and fill them with nutrient-rich soil. Add herb seeds such as basil, oregano, chives, dill, mint and thyme and water as directed on package. Clear glass jars allow kids to watch the seeds germinate and grow roots. Once the herbs have grown, cut and use in cooking at home.

6. Create a Mosaic

Use a simple coloring page outline or draw your own creative design on paper and glue it to a piece of cardboard. Gather a variety of dried beans and seeds and let the kids “color” in the design, using craft glue to adhere beans and seeds. It will be fun to see what everyone comes up with!

7. Make a Milk Jug Garden

Another way to start a garden is with a milk jug greenhouse. Rinse out an empty gallon milk jug (save the cap). Cut horizontally halfway down the jug, only going ¾ of the way around so the jug has a hinged top. Fill the bottom with nutrient-rich soil and plant seeds. Talk to staff at your local gardening center to find out which seeds might work best. Close the top half of the jug and seal with tape. Leave in the sun, removing cap on warm days to let heat escape. Water as needed or put out on rainy days with the cap off.

8. Make Plantable Seed Paper

Gather supplies: small herb or flower seeds, parchment paper and lightcolored (white and beige), non-glossy scrap paper such as junk mail, craft paper or copy paper. Shred paper and soak to soften. Put in an old blender and cover with warm water (do not use a good blender that you use for food). Blend until it becomes pulp and pour into a large bowl. Add enough small seeds to evenly distribute and mix well. Strain out water and press into a lined cookie sheet. Roll out until thin and let air dry for at least a day. When dry, cut or tear to desired sizes. Adhere to cardstock and add a message, letting people know to plant the paper for a surprise. v

Pam Molnar is a writer and mother of three who likes to garden, craft and party plan.