I admit it.  I save empty seed packets.  I find them too pretty to just toss into the recycle bin.  I’m sure many of you gardeners out there will agree. Typically each year I create garden markers from simple Popsicle sticks.  Often they get lost or become victim to my scavenging children and their fairy fort creations.  This year, I decided to recycle the prettier packets into rustic garden markers.  The idea was simple, I needed to create a garden marker that served a few purposes.

• Create markers that the kids could understand whether they can recognize the plant photo or not.
•  Describe for the kids what is planted in that location, such as lettuce, peas, carrots and so forth.
• Be able to record the specific variety of plant in the garden this year.
• Keep track of the planting date and approximate days until harvest.
• They had to be weather resistant.
• They had to be reusable.

Peas, variety-sugar snap, seedlings into garden on April 10th, seed to harvest approximately 70 days

Supplies:

Remnant cedar shakes from house siding (stands up to weathering nicely)
Shims
Old seed packets
Outdoor Mod-Podge
Foam brush
Pencil
Ruler
Utility knife
A small piece of copper flashing
Scissors
Sharpie Marker
Weatherproof glue
Nail Polish remover- to erase your writing

Preparation:

On a protected surface, very carefully with the utility knife, cut out a square of cedar shake.   Then cut out the picture from the seed packaging to fit.  Leave some room around the edges and at the bottom of the cedar square.  Using the Outdoor Mod Podge and foam brush adhere the packet to the cedar shake.  I recommend a few coats of Outdoor Mod Podge.  Allow to dry until moving on to the next step.

Cut the shims in half lengthwise with the utility knife.  These will become the garden stakes.

Then, glue a stake onto the back of each garden marker.

Once you have harvested your crop, reuse the markers for your next plantings.  Simply wipe off the copper strip with a paper towel and some nail polish remover.

Photo Credits:  Tilly’s Nest

This post is linked up to the Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop and the Clever Chick Blog Hop.