Gifts for the Gardener: Seed Starter Set

Recycling is great! But reusing something is even better. So when I stumbled across a link for making your own seed starter pots at You Grow Girl, I decided to adapt it slightly and make some to use and some to give as gifts. This is an excellent project for children.

Now, seed starter kits are not expensive in general. I think I paid $6-8 for mine last year. The problem is that unless you are a commercial gardener, you don't need to start all of your seeds at the same time, but I was forced to use this bulky "greenhouse" kit for several months. These little homemade pots are sturdy and you can use as many/few as you need. They are fully biodegradable and can be planted directly into a pot or the garden.

Step One: Save your toilet paper rolls. I also save the plastic pots and trays for seedlings, so I have one below that we are going to fill up for Grandpa! You could also use/make a box or any container you like.

Simple materials: Scissors, TP rolls, some kind of container

Step Two: Cut each roll in half, then fold in half to crease. Then fold in half again so you make "corners" for the roll.  I flattened each roll twice on the table.

You want a squarish shape.

Step Three: Cut a groove halfway up your pot on each corner and in between each corner.

Ready for folding.

Step Four: Fold each flap down firmly, allowing them to overlap slightly. 

Press well to make a strong crease. This will allow them to sit flat when filled with soil.

Step Five: Flip the roll and push the folded flaps halfway up, allowing them to interlock.  DO NOT USE TAPE!! Tape is not biodegradable. The interlocking design provides all the support these little pots need.

Finished pots, ready to fill.

Step Six: Fill pots with soil. You can buy prepared soil or make your own.  I had a bag downstairs so that is what we used.

A cookie sheet helps contain spills.

Voila! A personal and useful gift for anyone who likes to grow things.

Little People like to grow too

At breakfast one morning, my four-year-old asked me if he could plant a seed from his kiwi.  I explained that kiwis need more warm days than we have here and then mused that perhaps we could try to plant some when his grandparents build their greenhouse.  That got his attention and he was fascinated by the whole concept of a greenhouse and growing things from other places.  I told him about when my own gramma had a greenhouse installed outside her kitchen door and how much I loved the smell of it in there, kind of humid and clean and earthy, even in winter.

He listened intently, then paused for a moment and said, "I think our Little People need a greenhouse."  We looked at each other and I could tell we were both thinking the same thing because we both started laughing and I said, "I think we can do that!"

First, we laid out our popsicle-stick grid.  We decided to make three sides, with the fourth side open, like the Little People house.

Next, we cut out some clear plastic from a bit of packaging in the recycle bin.  My plan had been to use a milk jug for that slightly-opaque effect.  After looking at some picture of greenhouses online, Tucker decided he preferred the clear look.  The plastic was glued to the frame with a combination of Elmer's glue and glitter glue for decoration.

Once the glue dried, we taped all the sides together and asked Little People mommy to do a final inspection before we put the roof on.

And here is the final product installed just west of Casa Little People.  As you can see, it now houses a variety of exotic and colorful plants that don't normally grow here this time of year.  I hear that one of them is a kiwi.

Notice the Change

It's starting to look a bit like Fall here in the Southeast.  Thought the days are still quite warm, the nights are chilly, darkness falls earlier and bits of bright color are easily spotted in the green tree canopy.  Today, we scouted all round the yard to find interesting things and then made a fall collage with our favorites.  Despite the extravagant use of "Big Elmer" (as the kids call the white stuff) and a lesser use of glitter glue, this is still a budget-friendly project that entertained my toddlers for the better part of two hours!