by Roberta Guiotto
Seed-infused paper, a brilliant eco-friendly gardening idea
The first thing that comes to mind when spring arrives is flowers and the many interesting activities that can be done in the garden or on the balcony at home, together with our children. They will surely love getting their hands dirty and spend time with you. I remember when I was little, my father had a passion for roses. He had them of many colours. He would make me smell each rose to experience its unique fragrance, and eventually, he would give me a bud as a gift. It’s wonderful to involve children; they are always ready to reward their mum and dad. Creating something with their own little hands encapsulates an even stronger feeling of love and gratitude. So, let’s create this original seed-infused paper. We will need scraps of paper, a bowl, warm water, a sieve, a blender, cookie cutters, some seeds, and food or natural colouring.
Start by tearing the paper into small pieces (use recycled paper or egg cartons, not magazines or flyers as they will be difficult to colour). Put them in a bowl with warm water and let them soak for several hours until they become pulp. Transfer the pulp to a blender, add more water if needed, and if you want to add colour, you can use food colouring, turmeric, or beetroot juice. Blend everything and strain the pulp, squeezing it well. Now you can fill the cookie cutters with the obtained pulp, inserting the seeds of your choice inside. Continue until all the moulds are filled, then, very gently, try to remove the shapes. Finally, let them dry indoors or in the sun. When they are dry, you can come up with many creative ideas. For example, fill a small pot with soil, insert a skewer into the still damp shape, and create a flower that can be given as a gift to a classmate or to the grandparents. Another idea is to glue the seed-infused paper onto a small card, bookmark, or postcard. Anyone who receives it will be delighted and can plant it with sunshine, water, and lots of love, and it will sprout into new life.
One last suggestion: before planting the paper, moisten it, then place it in a pot or in the garden, covering it with a thin layer of soil. Keep it moist, and after some time, the seed will sprout.
Published by: Editor on 24/05/2023
