Plant A Seed: Recycling Projects 4 Your Garden
Finally, spring has sprung! Are you ready to plant so seeds with your little ones? You don’t need a bunch of store-bought seed starters and supplies to grow plants indoors. Here are some great seed starter projects that use recyclables instead.
Newspaper
Take a sheet of newspaper and fold it in half so that it’s about 6-8 inches long. Wrap the newspaper around a soda can, fold one end over to make the bottom, and voila…instant seed starting pot. The best part is that when the seedlings have sprouted you can plant the whole thing in the ground…the newspaper will eventually decompose.
Eggshells
Another quick and easy way to grow seeds indoors is to use use clean, empty eggshells as a seed starter. Save the egg shells from your next omelet and rinse them out with a gentle cleanser and water. Store egg shells in their carton, fill with top soil and plant seeds inside. When the seeds start to sprout, plant the egg shell (with the plant inside) right in the ground.
Cans/Cartons/Tubes
Need ore seed starter pots? Raid your recycling bin and use metal cans, yogurt containers, waster bottles, milk cartons, egg cartons, toilet paper or paper towel tubes to do the trick. The cool thing about using these recyclables is that your kids can decorate them to hold their new treasures. Punch a few holes in the bottom of your recyclables to allow water to drain, fill with soil, plant and seed, and watch it grow. When it comes to plant, gently remove the plant from the container and place it in the ground.
Photo by tonyolm
I added this post to twitter. I hope a lot of people get around to reading it. The egg shells idea is simply fantastic. It probably takes a lot of petrochemicals to great pots which results in pollution, why not use egg shells! I’ll definately be using this method for my garden this coming spring. If only everybody could do this, we could save the world..
Another garden recycling idea – I made potting mix the other day and used styrofoam – shaved from an old vege box – instead of perlite or vermiculite.
I love these tips, especially the egg shells. Right now I am saving them for cascarones, but this is another great use!
The egg shells remind of childhood, gardening with my Grand Dad.You obviously know your stuff, whats your view on the Vermiculite debate.We don’t have a problem in Europe?
Thanks for the tips
I always re use cut shrubs and compost them.
I have some trouble with seeing your site clearly through the newest release of Opera. It’s fine in IE7 and Firefox however.Have a nice day.
this seems like it would be a very interesting blog to keep up with.
i would have to say that organic gardening is a good way to spend your time and also it can keep you healthy.`”;
Organic gardening should be a great way to spend your time and get some fresh vegetables.-;;