Host a Pop-Up Seedling Stand

If your Spring planters are popping or you’re simply inspired to start some seeds after reading this, this activity is for you. A neighborhood seedling share is one of our favorite homegrown Earth Day traditions. The first time we tried it, it was completely organic. Our perennial basil plant had dropped a bunch of seeds, and volunteer sprouts were cropping up around Mama plant in the big old pot. Seeing that the sprouts needed a new home, we rolled a bunch of fresh newspaper pots, filled them with soil, then wheeled them (in old pizza boxes) in a wagon to share with neighbors at the end of our block. The smiles and conversations that our seedling stand was still receiving weeks later, made this activity an all-time winner for ease, joy, and community building. 

Basil babies ready to go out in the world.

Here’s what you’ll need to start:

Some seedlings. Hearty herbs, like rosemary, mint, and African basil are great choices and are likely to be enjoyed by all different types of people. Kitchen herbs smell great, are easy to grow, do fine in small spaces, and are useful in cooking. 

3” pots

Organic potting soil

A sign

A table or cart

Once you’ve transplanted your seedlings into individual pots, you can make a sign to let folks know they can take one. We went an extra step and made a little handout with a little info about the basil, how to care for it, and how to cook with it, in hopes that this would make the basil most likely to be enjoyed.  You can pack them in a wagon and take them to a nearby neighborhood gathering spot, or, you can pop-up in front of your house like a lemonade stand and spread the Earth Day love!

To make your own pots, here are instructions to make your own plantable newspaper pots for your seedling share.