Time Needed: 30 minutes

Let's reuse plastic containers to make your own mini greenhouses to start seeds for the garden! This will keep seeds safe so they can grow strong before we plant them in the garden bed. Greenhouses can capture and hold heat as well as keep the humidity just right for little seedlings.

Supplies

• Plastic container (plastic cup, soda bottle, clamshell, salad container)

• Scissors

• Potting mix

• Seasonal seeds

• Water source

• Light source

• Labels & marker or pen

Let's Do It!

1. If you are using a soda bottle, ask an adult to help you cut it in half and then tape it back together on one side to make a hinge to open and close the top.

2. Using the scissors, poke small holes in the bottom of your plastic container for drainage. 3-5 holes works well.

3. Fill your container with potting mix.

4. Wet the soil until moist (soil should clump together when squeezed but should not wring out excess water.)

5. Plant your seeds at the right depth or read your seed packet.

Plant these spring and fall veggies ½ inch deep in the soil

• broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, kohlrabi, and swiss chard

Plant these summer veggies ½ inch deep

• tomatoes, peppers, eggplants

Plant these summer veggies 1 inch deep

• okra

6. Create the appropriate sized hole, plant your seed, and gently cover with soil.

7. Repeat if you are planting multiple types of seeds in your greenhouse.

8. Mark labels with the seed name and date they were planted.

9. Place your mini greenhouse in a windowsill or an area that gets plenty of sunlight.

10. Check in on your greenhouse daily and spray with water.

11. Mark your calendar for when the transplants will be ready to plant in the garden beds!

Talk It Over!

• What do seeds need to grow into plants?

• What makes up a greenhouse?

• How is starting seeds in a greenhouse different than planting them directly outside?

• What will your greenhouse look like in a few days? What about in two weeks?

Use the Veggie Planting Guide for the east (coast, piedmont) or west (foothills, mountains) for more on spacing and planting depth.

Time Needed: 20 minutes

Let’s use old paper to make eco-friendly pots where we can plant seeds! We are making pots that are biodegradable, which means we can plant them straight into the garden bed when they’re ready!

Supplies

• Scissors

• Recycled Newspaper

• Soil

• Seasonal Seeds

• 1 Can

Let's Do It!

1. Cut the newspaper into strips about 3” x 10”. Make at least 2 strips for each Scout.

2. Roll the paper around the can leaving 1-1.5 inches left at the bottom of the can.

3. Fold in the part hanging over the bottom and use your thumbs to press paper into the indent on the bottom of the pot maker or can.

4. Turn the can upright and press down on the table.

5. Gently remove the newspaper from the can. You should now have a newspaper pot!

6. Fill the pot almost to the top with soil.

7. Read your seed pack or use the chart in the "tiny greenhouse" activity to see the depth you should plant you seeds.

8. Identify the depth and create the appropriate sized hole, plant your seed, and gently cover it with soil.

9. Use a spray bottle to water the soil.

Talk it Over!

• What are some items we typically throw away or recycle? Could we re-use them?

• Why is it important to take "trash" and turn it into a valuable resource? How does this help your community? Your world?

• What do your pot will look like in a few days?

• What does bio-degradable mean?

Join us as we learn from Guilford County farmer, Joy Combs, about their journey revitalizing the family farm and finding a new career.

Talk it Over!

• What does Joy do as a farmer? Does she like her job?

• What do you want to do for a job? How can you find a job that you love like Joy?

Some plants like pumpkins need a lot of room to grow and ramble. Other plants don't mind growing close together. Use paper-towels to help you learn how much room each plant needs to grow!

Supplies:

• Paper towels (thinner is better)

• Veggie seeds of your choice

• Glue

• Garden to plant into

• Plant labels

Let's Do It!

1. Decide what vegetable seeds you want to plant.

2. Use the guide on the PDF to figure out how many seeds should go on your paper towel.

3. Paper towels are about one square foot (12 inches long and 12 inches wide). Detach a piece of paper towel (or two if planting squash, melon, or pumpkin)

4. Fold your paper towel on the dotted lines just like the diagram for your veggie.

5. Mark with a marker where on the paper towel each seed is going to go.

6. Glue one seed on each mark.

7. Let the glue dry.

8. Plant your paper towel in your garden by covering it lightly with soil and watering it.

9. Tip: if you have really heavy paper towel, you can wet your paper towel and poke your seed right into the soil.

Talk it Over!

1. What plants did you choose? Why?

2. How can using paper towels help you understand the spacing needs of plants.

3. What other ways could you figure out square foot planting in your garden?

4. How do you think have the right amount of space helps plants grow?

5. How does having what you need help you grow?