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This Wheatgrass Easter Egg is a great kid craft to do anytime in the spring, not just for Easter. It is inexpensive and easy to make – even little 3 year-old hands can do this; customizable to whatever you have – plastic egg, bucket, basket, whatever; quick and fun to do – who doesn’t like to play in the dirt; and very gratifying within a few days – children observe the growing seeds. If you want to do this for the holiday, you need to think ahead about 1 1/2 weeks. Easter changes every year, so be sure to check the calendar!
SUPPLIES:
» Leak-proof Easter container – pail, bottle, cup, plastic-lined basket, etc. (I’m using a large plastic easter egg I found at my local dollar store. It came with a lid.)
» Plastic wrap or plastic lid
» Potting soil or vermiculite (I used potting soil from my last year garden pots.)
» Whole-wheat grain (I used 30 year old wheat I had in my food storage.)
» Water
Soil, whole wheat grain, container, plastic wrap or cover, and water. That’s it!
Wheatgrass Easter Egg INSTRUCTIONS:
1. One to two weeks before Easter, fill container with soil or vermiculite to 1-2 inches below the top of the rim. Gently pat down.
Little by little putting soil in to within 1-2 inches of rim.
Gently pat soil. (You can talk or sing to it too if you want!)
Don’t have to get all dirty!
2. Sprinkle a layer of wheat over the soil.
The layer of wheat stays on top of the soil. Do not cover the seeds with dirt.
3. Pour water into container until water is barely visible beneath the wheat. Note: Drain or “bail” out some water if you accidentally add too much and the seeds are swimming.
Be slow and careful when pouring water into your container.
Be careful to bail out water if you get too much. Don’t want the seeds to drown!
4. Place lid or plastic wrap over the wheat.
5. Place container in a sunny spot (not in direct sunlight).
6. After 2-3 days, small sprouts should appear. Remove plastic top.
Take lid or plastic off when you see the wheat growing. Put in good sunlight (not direct-sunlight).
7. Watch your wheatgrass grow.
NOTE: During this process, if wheat appears to be dry, mist lightly with water.
8. In 7-10 days, you should have a velvety grass patch!!
Be patient and watch your grass grow. For fun, get a ruler and mark how far the grass grows in a day.
I initially did this project with a group of women. We tied pretty ribbons around the eggs and shared them with family and neighbors to watch grow.
Put a ribbon around the egg and give to another to let them see the seeds grow. Or keep for yourself and enjoy measuring how much the grass grows in a day! Or make a fairy garden in the grass!
9. Add smaller plastic eggs or other little Easter characters in the wheatgrass, if desired. After the wheatgrass had grown in the egg that I kept for my own family, I placed in the grass colorful plastic eggs filled with jelly beans and other Easter favorites. IDEA: It could be fun to create a fairy scene.
A byproduct of this activity – Wheatgrass juice
Instead of throwing away your Wheatgrass Easter Egg, you could try making wheatgrass juice. You’ve got a good little crop to give it a try. Wheatgrass is gluten-free and is touted as one of the best super foods. Many believe that it can detoxify the body and improve digestion. Learn some basics about preparing this superfood by clicking here.
I didn’t think my kids would have the patience to sit through building a birdhouse from wood (they are 3 and 4) so I decided to go with something a little more simple.
