3 Seed Gifts

If you’re looking for a unique gift for that special gardener in your life, try these three easy seed gift ideas. Each seed gift idea is simple to make from materials you may already have on hand. These DIY gifts are so easy that even kids can make them with some supervision. Celebrate Earth Day, Easter, or Mother’s Day with these unique gifts!

Some gardeners like practical gifts such as gloves and mulch. Seriously, if you bought me a bag of compost for my birthday, I’d be really happy. Sometimes, though, you want to give a gift that’s a little more whimsical. We can’t be practical ALL the time!

Besides seeds are something every gardener loves and of which they can never have enough. In light of that, for your consideration, here are…

3 Seed Gifts

The idea behind these seed gifts is that they be inexpensive and simple to make at home. The first two are both. The last one is not what I’d call simple, in that it can take some time to complete. However, it’s an easy process that can be done with your family or friends.

These ideas are all suited to classrooms, homeschool groups, parties and rainy afternoons, too.

Seed Gifts #1 – Saved Seeds

Some of my most treasured seeds have come from friends sending part of their precious stash. A favorite aunt has sent me wildflowers from Southern states.

• My friend Kathie at Homespun Seasonal Living has sent me herb seeds from her gardens in the northern US.
• Another friend, Angi, from Schneider Peeps sends me citrus at Christmas time and I’ve saved small bundles of her Meyer Lemon seeds over the years.

Each packet of seeds I exchange at local seed swaps is precious; each one I receive in return is treasured. Gardeners simply LOVE seeds.

If you save your own seeds, simply share some off your favorites in a homemade envelope. Need to learn to save seeds?

• Save leek seeds – very simple and easy to get an allium (or onion family) to go to seed
• Try your hand at saving tomato seeds – this makes a great science project, if you have kids on the homestead
• Learn to save kale seeds and give them as gifts because they’re easy to grow and perfectly round – they look lovely in a jar!
• Here’s a general Here’s How to Save Seeds article for broader information.

If you want to buy some special seeds, try purchasing from any of these wonderful seed houses here. 

Package Your Seed Gifts

You can use something as simple as a mason jar to give your seed gift away. Kathie always sends me my seeds in envelopes she’s made from magazine pages (she’s always doing clever, crafty things like that). You can also use a special seed packet, like the one below.

 

Seed Gifts #2 – Clay Seed Medallions

Clay is a fun medium to work with because of how versatile it can be. It’s simple to shape, decorate and dry. Clay is also a good protection for wildflower seeds!

How a Seed Bomb (or Medallion) Works:

1. The idea behind a seed medallion or seed bomb is that you enclose hearty seeds in some kind of material like clay or paper. 
2. This clay or paper can be molded into any shape and dried. 
3. Then, when the season is right, you toss the seed bombs into the garden. 
4. The rain and the sunshine work their magic and the seeds germinate inside their casing.
5. Hopefully, you end up with a garden full of wildflowers to attract pollinators!

To learn to make Clay Seed Medallions, please visit our tutorial here.

If you’d rather make these from paper, please visit this article from Joybilee Farm and she’ll teach you how.

Seed Gifts #3 – Seeded Paper

OK, this is the one I mentioned that isn’t quick to accomplish. Making paper is a slow craft, but it’s one that’s very rewarding. If you’ve never done it before, please read our tutorial here. This is a GREAT craft to do with a small group!

Once you have the basic idea of paper making, the following can help you turn it into seeded paper to give as a gift.

Make Seeded Paper

Here’s a short video on the basic steps of making seeded paper. Following that are some written instructions and tips.

How to Make Seeded Paper

1. Make a sheet of basic paper. Keep the paper in the frame with the deckle attached.
2. Lightly sprinkle 1 tsp of cinnamon onto the wet sheet of paper. OR, you can mix the cinnamon into your paper vat. This is more wasteful, however, since you won’t get all the cinnamon onto the sheet. Cinnamon is an anti-fungal and will help protect your seeds as they sprout.
3. Sprinkle your seed mix onto the sheet of wet paper. I suggest you concentrate on native wildflowers and herbs to help beneficial insects like butterflies and bees. However, many seeds are sturdy enough for this process. Seeds we’ve used to make seeded paper include basil, calendula, hollyhocks, dill, bee balm, chamomile, cilantro, borage, and larkspur.
4. Using a ramekin or simply your fingers, add a little more paper pulp to the top of your wet paper sheet.
5. Use your finger to smooth the surface a little. This little added pulp provides a thin layer of paper over the seeds so that they’re less likely to fall off the seed paper. You will get some seed loss from the paper, but not as much as you would otherwise.
6. Allow the seeded paper to dry as per the instructions in our previously mentioned post.
7. Once dry, the seeded paper can be cut into shapes and given as a gift.