PROGRAM: Seed Techniques For Easy Sowing

One of the joys of springtime is planting seeds, but for many gardeners, sowing tiny seeds can be a frustrating task. At a recent meeting, members shared creative and practical solutions to make the process easier and more enjoyable. Rosa Johnson introduced the group to seed balls, a simple technique using just four ingredients—natural clay, top soil or compost, seeds, and water. These seed balls can be tossed onto prepared soil, making planting both easy and fun. Marcia Richard demonstrated how to make seed tape using single-ply tissue, seeds, and a homemade glue mixture made from flour and water, allowing for precise seed spacing. Nancy Percivall showcased two methods for making seed paper: one using sheets of tissue paper and another using a tissue paper pulp—both eco-friendly and a great way to recycle used tissue. To wrap up the session, members brought seeds collected from their own gardens to swap with one another, giving everyone a chance to try out a new planting technique at home.

PROGRAM: Creative and Beautiful Plant Containers

Members Rosa Johnson and Nancy Percivall demonstrate how to make beautiful plant containers that will last for years! Hypertufa is a technique that lets you create handmade pots and garden art with few ingredients – Portland cement, perlite or vermiculite, peat moss and water. The handmade pots look like natural hand carved stone but are molded and relatively light weight and are extremely versatile. Completely weatherproof, these pots work indoors or out and can freeze and thaw naturally as a result of their porous nature.