The Vernal Equinox is upon us this weekend. Take this time to plant your seeds both literally and figuratively. The winter chill is still hanging in the air, the trees are bare, the ground is still thawing, and the spring bounty will take some time to come, but this brink between winter and spring holds enormous potential energy, as represented in the seed and the egg. Used eggshells make great biodegradable seed starters for beginning your seedlings indoors before you transfer them into your garden. Imbue the seeds with your hopes and intentions and watch the seedlings grow as you manifest your hopes into reality this spring.
If you're having your own vernal equinox dinner gathering, consider making these with your group of friends and set your intentions together as you plant your seeds. Growing plants from seed is an important, time-honored practice that connects us more closely with the life cycle of the year - in the spring, the seed grows into a plant, which lives all summer long, then goes to seed in the fall. Collecting and saving these seeds brings us a closer relationship to the plants that nourish us - and give us the opportunity to continue the cycle the following spring.
Eggshell Seed Planters
What you'll need:
- eggs, all shapes, sizes, and types are usable
- egg carton
- an awl or thick needle
- seeds
- soil
- pen/pencil
1. You'll want to collect and save your eggs first. Consider putting out a bowl on your kitchen table near the stove so that anyone cooking with eggs in your house can add their egg to the collection. To create an opening hole in the eggshell without cracking the entire egg, hold the egg sideways, and tap it firmly with a sharp chef's knife on the area you want to crack. Rinse each egg inside and out to remove any of the excess yolk or white.
2. Return the empty and dry eggshells to the egg carton, with their opening holes facing up. Then use your awl or large needle to puncture small drainage holes at the bottom.
3. Repeat the process for each of the eggs. You may have to remove some of the white/clear membrane on the inside of the egg in order to poke the hole in the egg.
4. Sprinkle some seed starting soil into the eggs, filling them about 2/3 full.
5. Add your seeds - you'll want a few seeds in each egg, but don't go overboard or else the plants will be overcrowded.
6. Cover up the seeds with a sprinkling of more soil, making sure not to pack the soil in tightly, or else the seeds may have trouble sprouting.
7. Label each of the eggs with their seed contents - if you're using a cardboard egg crate, Just write the names of the corresponding seeds on the lid.
8. Sprinkle or spritz with water until the soil is moist throughout the egg. Water every couple days or so, taking care to keep the soil moist. Soon, the seeds will have sprouted. Keep them indoors until they're hearty enough to transfer outdoors, after the last frost of the season.
When planting the seedlings into the outside world, crush the eggshells so that the roots can easily grow through the shells.