Garden craft ideas
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EmailFun activities to do now with your 4-H club.
As individuals or as a 4-H Club, you may attempt these simple ideas. As we approach spring, Michigan State University Extension says that now is a good time to begin planning garden crafts.
One idea is to make a garden journal. This will be a journal of garden happenings. By using common household materials, the children learn principles of reusing and recycling; along with beginning their gardening year.
Garden journal
Materials:
1 Large paper grocery bag with handles
Baling twine, raffia or garden twine
Monthly calendar
Lined notebook paper
Markers
- Cut the grocery bag down the side until you reach the bottom.
- Continue cutting around the bottom of the bag and discard the bottom.
- Cut two pieces as 18” by 10” with handles attached.
- Fold up each piece seven inches and staple on each side to form a pocket.
- Use a hole punch and punch three holes in the side of each piece.
- Place notebook pages and calendar within the two bag cover pieces.
- Use the twine or raffia to tie booklet pages together.
- Decorate the front with markers.
- Enjoy your journal and record your 2013 gardening adventures.
Planting seeds
Here are two methods of planting seeds indoors to later transplant outside when the soil has warmed. These will get a jump start on the growing season.
One uses a newspaper planting pot.
- Have 4-H’ers demonstrate creating a newspaper pot which is biodegradable.
- A second method uses egg shells as the “planters.”
These are easy to make and inexpensive. You may then plant the seedling along with its eggshell container in the garden.
Materials:
- Eggshells, gently washed and dried
- Egg carton
- Ice pick
- Sterile potting soil
- Seeds
- Spray bottle
Directions:
First read the back of the seed package for sowing guidelines. This will tell you the when and how of sowing a particular variety.
After breaking the egg open, clear out the contents and gently wash and dry it. Take the clean eggshells and pierce the bottoms with an ice pick. This will be the drainage hole. Next, set the prepared eggshell in an egg carton. Plastic, Styrofoam or cardboard egg cartons will work as the holder.
Fill each eggshell with soil. Now sow the seeds. Drop in two to three seeds and cover with soil, according to the instructions on the back of the package.
Moisten the soil with a mist of water and place the egg carton in a location that receives bright light and temperatures between 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, along with good air circulation.
Keep the soil moist and turn the carton occasionally to promote even growth. As they grow you may need to thin the seedlings to prevent overcrowding.
At the proper planting time, plant the young seedling and its eggshell container directly in the garden.
