Get a jump on spring with this adorable craft
Plant pals garden. Photo Credit Melanie Richard
It may not be gardening season quite yet, but these friendly faces you make at home (with the help of an adult) will help you get a jump on spring.
Plant pals — created by Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day in collaboration with Kids Gardening and Little Green Thumbs as a part of the Compassion Flower initiative — teach kids about kindness, compassion and responsibility. In just 30 minutes, kids can create new pals that they can care for this spring.
What you need
- Pair of pantyhose (it’s OK if it has a hole in the toe!) or repurposed plastic water bottle
- Potting soil
- Grass seed (annual rye grass, found at garden centres, or wheatgrass seed, often available at natural food stores), 2–3 teaspoons (14 ml) per pal
- Miscellaneous craft supplies, such as googly eyes, buttons, pompom balls, felt, chenille sticks
- Craft glue or glue gun
The pantyhose method
- Cut a 15 to 20 cm long piece of pantyhose (any colour will work). If the piece does not include a toe (or has a hole) then knot one end of the hose and turn it inside out. It will end up looking like a little pantyhose bag.
- Scoop 2 to 3 teaspoons (14 ml) of grass seed into the closed end, and then fill the rest of the pantyhose with potting mix. Tie the end closed, and then use your hands to gently mold it into the shape of a head.
- Place the head in a shallow dish with the grass seed side on top. Choose craft supplies to make eyes, nose, mouth, and arms. Attach them with craft glue or with an adult’s help, a glue gun.
- After glue has dried/cooled, you can carefully water your new plant pal until the soil is thoroughly moist, and then place it on a dish or other waterproof surface in a warm location. Remember to check on it daily to make sure soil stays moist — a good way to practice your nurturing skills. If it seems to dry out quickly, keep a reservoir of water in the dish.
The water bottle method
- Cut the top off of the water bottle and carefully punch a few holes in the bottom for draining excess water to create a homemade pot.
- Fill the pot with moist soil, up to about an inch from the top.
- Measure 2 to 3 teaspoons (14 ml) of grass seed and press it into the soil. The grass seed does not need to be completely covered by the soil, but it does need to be in close contact with the soil to stay moist.
- Choose craft supplies to make eyes, nose, mouth, and arms. Attach them to the upcycled plastic bottle with craft glue or with an adult’s help, a glue gun.
Be sure to wash your hands with soap after touching the soil.
Keep your new pals in a bright window and water as needed. In three to five days, your new plant person will begin to grow grass, or “hair.” Once the grass is established in a week or two, you can give your pal a haircut or just let it grow and see how long it will get.
Don’t forget to name your pal!