Creative Gardening

Gardening with kids is a beautiful activity that offers numerous benefits, from improving their physical, emotional, and cognitive development to teaching them about nature, responsibility, and patience.

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By Kellie Floyd, Melbourne, Vic.

Here’s a fun and creative activity to try with your little ones: making eggshell planters. Not only is it an enjoyable way to watch seeds grow, but it also provides a subtle lesson on the importance of soil health, recycling and composting. Here’s how you can create your own eggshell planters. wH at you’ LL need

• empty eggshells (we used ones from our backyard chickens)

• soil (we used some from our backyard)

• seeds of your choice (we used mung beans and alfalfa, but you could use chia seeds, lentils or many more)

• toilet roll holders or egg cups

• spray bottle or watering can

• permanent markers and/or craft eyes

H ow to make

After using the eggs in some delicious dish, carefully clean the shells’ insides with water to remove the membrane, then let them dry.

Let the kids get creative by drawing funny faces on the eggshells with permanent markers, and glue on some googly eyes if you like. We cracked a couple of our eggs, so it may be worth having a few extras on hand.

Cut toilet paper rolls into 2cm loops and decorate them to match the eggshells. Use these as a stand for the eggshells.

Use a small spoon (great for coordination) to scoop in the soil until it’s three-quarters full.

Carefully add your chosen seeds to the eggshells.

Sprinkle a small amount of soil over the top of the seeds so that they’re slightly covered.

Using a spray bottle or watering can, water the seeds until the soil is moist. Be careful not to overwater, as the eggshells have no drainage, and excess water may cause the seeds to rot.

Keep the eggshell planters in a sunny location where the kids can easily water and watch the seeds sprout and grow (the kitchen window was perfect in our house).

Once your plants start outgrowing the eggshells, you can plant them directly into your backyard veggie patch. The eggshells will break down and provide valuable nutrients to the soil.

This gardening craft is a fun and engaging way to introduce kids to the joys of gardening and the importance of sustainable living. It’s an opportunity to spend quality time together, create memories and cultivate a love for the natural world that will stay with them for years. T