In this craft, eggshells are painted to look like people. An entire family of eggheads can be created as containers to grow herbs from seeds on the kitchen windowsill. When the herbs are mature enough, they can be moved to the garden and placed directly in the ground without removing them from the eggshells. The shells will disintegrate in the garden and fertilize the herbs as they grow.
The craft is also a perfect beginning to a classroom garden project. They cheer up a windowsill in the classroom, and the students have fun decorating the shells and trimming the “hair” as it grows. When the herbs are mature, the students may plant them in the school garden.
Supplies for the Eggshell People
- Eggshells with the top removed.
- Markers or crayons
- One cap from a plastic bottle for each eggshell
- Potting soil
- Seeds
Instructions for the Eggshell People Craft
- Carefully remove the tops from the eggshells, leaving an opening wide enough to spoon the potting soil into each shell.
- Decorate the eggshells with faces.
- Fill each eggshell with soil, then place the eggshells on the caps from the water bottles. The caps act as stands for the shells.
- Sprinkle seeds in each shell and lightly water.
The soil usually needs to be watered daily. The small size of the shell allows the soil to dry out quickly. Within two weeks, the plants should be growing. As they grow, the green sprouts look like hair for the eggshell people.
Planting the Eggshell People in the Garden
Once the weather outside is warm and all danger of frost has passed, the herbs may be safely planted outside in a garden. Prepare the garden soil with loam, peat, or compost. Once the ground has been tilled, dig a small hole for each herb, about 10-12 inches apart.
Place the eggshell with the herb in it directly into the ground. The eggshell should be quite fragile by this time, and once it’s in the ground, it can be cracked and opened slightly. Fill the hole with potting soil and gently pack it around the herb.
Water the herb garden on a regular basis, and trim growth as needed. Beginning a garden this way produces no waste, and utilizes natural components to make a healthier garden.
The herbs may also be planted in pots and placed in sunny locations outside. If it is a classroom project, begin early to have a pretty potted herb to send home with the students for Mother’s Day.
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