Make Pollinator Seed Paper at Home

Thank you to Helen Hiebert, paper artist and paper maker, and Kim Grummer, owner of Arnold Grummer's Paper Making Kits and Supplies, for sharing this step-by-step tutorial for making plantable seed paper. Created by Helen, it is the April project in 2020 The Paper Year, a project planner. An earth-friendly idea is especially appropriate today as it is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, which is being celebrated by 193 countries worldwide.

A favorite Earth Day project is making pollinator seed paper. The steps to make it are the same as making any sheet although a thinner sheet may be preferable. Seeds are added to blended pulp before the sheet is formed to make paper that later can be planted to grow flowers. Here are Arnold Grummer’s tips for Seed Paper Success.

No Blender Needed! 

Helen filmed this short video that shows how easy it is to make seed paper with young children.

The 2020 goal of Earth Day Network is to provide plants and flowers for bees, birds and butterflies who pollinate 70% of the plants in the world that feed us. Try to use a Pollinator Seed Mix package.

You will need toilet paper, 10oz empty sports drink bottle, pollinator plant seed mix, 6” x 6” plastic canvas, cookie cutter, Mason jar (or empty tin, tall cup, etc), sponge, and kitchen towel.

1. Place 4 squares toilet paper in empty sports drink bottle. Fill 2/3 full with water. Shake well.

2. Add 6-8 seeds to paper pulp, cover and shake again.

3. Place plastic canvas, then cookie cutter on the Mason jar. Fill shape with paper pulp.

4. Remove cookie cutter. Place plastic canvas with paper pulp shape on towel.

5. Press shape with sponge. Wring and repeat. Get as much water out as possible.

6. Peel shape off canvas and set on counter overnight to dry.

Directions for planting: Place seed paper on soil in sunny location. Cover lightly with 1/8" dirt.  Water with care. Blooms will follow in 6-8 weeks. Watch for flowers and look for pollinators!

Pollinators help the earth grow plants for animals and people to eat. People all over the world are growing plants and flower pollinators need to do their work. You can help by planting your seed paper!

Be sure to check out yesterday's blog post, Easy Paper Making via Arnold Grummer's Kits, about the Wisconsin-based Arnold Grummer company, producer of fine paper making supplies and kits. You can enter to win a Complete Paper Making Kit on that post and also on Instagram. The winners will be chosen on April 26, 2020.

I also highly recommend listening to Paper Talk, Helen's excellent podcast. Kim Grummer and her mother, Mabel Grummer, were guests on this Paper Talk episode last year. And subscribe to The Sunday Paper to hear about the latest news in the world of paper.