My son’s class has been studying about plants, so to continue with that curiosity and interest I purchased a variety of seeds for us to plant at home. In class, the kids planted their own green bean plant in a plastic cup, which the kids could take home and replant in their own garden. In honor of Earth day coming up on April 22, instead of using plastic cups, we up-cycled toilet paper rolls, which make great seed starter pots. As a bonus these are biodegradable….this means you can just plant these pots straight into the ground when it’s ready to be planted in your garden.
Supplies:
- Toilet paper rolls
- Scissors
- Soil
- Seeds
- Tray to hold seed starter pots
Directions:
First cut toilet paper rolls in half. (If you don’t want to cut it in half that is fine too).
Now there are two ways to do the next part. There’s this version where this blogger cut 4 slits down the roll and made these nice, neat little boxes, with the flaps tucked perfectly under each other. I however chose to do this method, since it is easier for the kids to do. Basically, I had my son cut about 8-9 slits about halfway down the toilet paper roll.
Next you will want to add soil to your seed starter pots.
My kids were so enthusiastic about planting seeds, and they’ve chosen quite a variety! We’re planning to plant watermelon, cantaloupe, green beans, and radishes. I’m thrilled to embark on this gardening adventure with them.
Check out this article that provides valuable information on the fastest-growing seeds, which can be helpful when planning your garden
Add one seed to each starter pot.
And then water till they are moist. Put them where there is light or sun, check for dryness and continue to water…in 2-4 weeks they will be ready to plant in the garden. All you have to do is plop these right into the soil. No need to take them out of the rolls because they are biodegradable.
Have you ever heard of One.org, a global advocacy and campaigning organisation that was co-founded by Bono? One.org is dedicated to fighting extreme poverty and preventable diseases particularly in Africa , by raising public awareness and pressuring political leaders to support smart and effective policies and programs that are saving lives, helping to put kids in school and improving futures.
ONE shows how the small percentage of Government income that is invested in aid really DOES make a positive difference in terms of helping MILLIONS of people overseas.
ONE “hopes to plant a seed of change in the G8! Together, we can stop malnutrition, not just for one child, but for 15 million. We can end poverty, not just for one person, but for 50 million. Together we can break the cycle.”
Want to get involved?
1. Sow one- Show your commitment to agriculture in the developing world by planting a seed at home.
2. Send one- Sign ONE’s Thrive campaign petition! You will be adding your name, along with thousands of others, to stand together to help reach the goals of Thrive.
Other ways you can help:
-Send your friends and family to ONE’s Thrive campaign to sign the petition
-Keep up to date with the campaign by following ONE on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube
-Share updates on your seed planting/growing on your blog and link them here.
We would love for you to participate with us in the Come Sow With Me Meme by sharing a seed planting activity (Sow one) and encouraging others to do something (Send one). Come back here and share your photograph and your post on the Linky. Let’s see how many we can do before the G8 at the beginning of May 2012.
Let our voice count.