What Do You Do with Extra Seeds?

Make seed art out of extra seeds.

Most seed packets hold a lot more seeds than we need in a single season, but it’s still fun to buy new seeds each year. So what do you do with the excess? Here are a few ideas, perfect for kids. And don’t forget to pick up some seed packets on clearance at the end of the season! It’s a great way to keep the gardening fun going.

1. Create a seed mosaic or picture. Make an outline or use stencils to trace, and then fill in with seeds. It’s an easy way to create a piece of art that is truly inspired by the garden. In this picture here, we just used a paper plate and glue.
2. Pass them along to a friend. You could save money by buying your seeds with a friend and sharing. You could even hold a seed exchange!
3. Put them to the test . You can actually keep most seeds for several years, so don’t toss them after one season. Hold onto them and use them again the next year. Or over winter when you’re bored and it’s cold out, see if you can get a few to sprout inside. If they do, you’ll know you can still use them.
4. Make a special envelope and save them. Often times, the seed envelopes get broken or torn, so you lose the seeds. Make a craft project out of it and make your own envelopes to store the seeds inside.
5. Put them out for the critters. You never know what might stop by for a little snack. Put out your extra seeds near the bird feeder and see what comes in for a bite to eat.
6. Make a plantable bookmark.  You can make your own bookmark with seeds embedded in them. Use two thin pieces of newspaper or paper towel and put the seeds in the middle. Then give it away as a gift—that person can then plant the bookmark and get flowers!