Planting in Eggshells

If you have little ones, you know they’re notoriously curious in the kitchen! The next time you’re whipping up a recipe, set aside your eggshells for a fun activity the kids will love. Growing sprouts from an eggshell is surprisingly simple, and because the shell is biodegradable, when your sprout is ready to upgrade pots or go out in the garden, you can plant it directly in the fresh soil.

Start by gently cracking the top of your raw egg with a butter knife. Empty the egg, then rinse the shell with warm water and let it dry. Use a spoon to fill the egg 2/3 of the way with potting soil. Once filled, place them upright in your leftover egg carton to keep them steady. Sprinkle in the seeds of your choice – we recommend Wheatgrass for a fast-growing option. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil, sprinkle them with water, and keep them in a sunny spot.

Regrowing Kitchen Veggies

If the kiddos in your life love watching things grow, they’ll be even more excited when they can eat it. Did you know it’s super easy to grow some of your kitchen veggies from scraps? Start by identifying which end of the plant to save. For plants like Carrots and Beets, it would be the top. For plants like Celery, Green Onions, Leeks, or Lettuce, it would be the base.

Make your cut about 1 inch above or below that spot. If your child is old enough to use a knife (or if you have child-safe knives that can make the cut), they’ll enjoy handling this step themselves. Then, gather a few small jars or one shallow tray, and place your veggie scraps in a minimal ½ inch of water. Make sure there’s just enough water to cover the bottom and not submerge the plant. Refresh the water every 1-2 days and be sure your plant cutting doesn’t dry out.

Vegetables like Celery, Leeks, Lettuce, and Green Onions will grow the fastest, usually with some edible growth in ~10 days. Carrots and Beets will produce green tops that can be eaten, or you can transfer them to your garden outside to grow a bigger plant.

Growing a DIY Jack’s Beanstalk

Let the kiddo’s imagination run wild with this DIY Jack and the Beanstalk craft project. This fun activity is the perfect combination of gardening and artwork. Start with a small garden pot or an upcycled plastic cup. Fill it 2/3 of the way with soil and plant your “magic” bean – any variety works. Top it off with more soil, give it a little bit of water, and set it aside. If you have an outdoor garden, you can also skip this step and plant your beans directly in a dedicated spot in your garden.

Next, create the giant’s castle! Make a castle cutout from recycled cardboard or thick construction paper. To make it look like it’s up in the clouds, glue some cotton balls to the bottom of the castle. Then, glue your whole masterpiece to a wooden kabob and stick it in the bean planter towards the back. Before long, with regular watering and lots of sunlight, you’ll have a magnificent Beanstalk growing up the pole. And don’t forget to pair this activity with a read-along of the classic fairytale, Jack and the Beanstalk!