Sustainable Seed Starting
Many home and community gardeners choose to start some or all of their seeds each year instead of buying starts. Some of the benefits are obvious, such as getting a head start on the growing season, while others may not be as obvious. (See our comparison of seed starting and buying transplants, if you’re still making that decision.)
To maintain a healthy relationship with the Earth and ourselves, small steps such as practicing sustainable seed starting can lead to big impact. As non-commercial gardeners, we tend to think our impact is small, but it can prove to be more cost effective, eco-friendly and helpful in reducing our waste than you might think. In addition, the sustainable gardening materials and methods that follow can make seed starting and gardening more accessible to everyone.
Use recycled materials. You can buy materials from secondhand shops or get them from neighborhood giveaways. Just make sure you clean all items so that contamination is minimal and your seeds get off to a healthy start.
Try soil blocking! This is a way of using a tool to create blocks of soil in which to sow seeds. The tools come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and using them can help reduce waste.
Make newspaper pots. Newspaper pots will decompose in your garden quickly and make a fun activity for kids. A quick search online will find instructions. Newspaper pots are also very easy and quick to transplant!
Use canning jars. If you love canning and have an abundance of glass canning jars available, try using those to start your seedlings. Covering them can add a great greenhouse effect. Just stay away from plastics and be careful not to over-water.
Go peat-free. Opting for biodegradable coco coir pots is another sustainable way to start your seeds in- and outdoors. They’re a great alternative to pots made with peat and are more environmentally friendly. You can also look for potting mixes that use coco coir instead of peat moss (or make your own).
No matter what the specifics of your approach are, starting seeds for your garden can be incredibly rewarding!