Earth Day is on April 22nd and it’s our 2nd time participating in the annual Earth Month Blog Hop. Last year we joined in on the recycling portion (no surprise there, right?) of the Natural Parenting Event with our post on How to Re-Use Absolutely Anything to Grow Plants In, and since this year is all about finding fun new uses for the materials and recyclables you have on hand we will have lots to contribute!  Take the challenge with us!

We’re Predictable

I am sure it comes as no shock to you that we are prepared and excited to meet this challenge.  I am doubly sure you are not surprised we are meeting this challenge with something we will use to grow plants in.  We just can’t help it, it is our way.

Give those plastic jugs and bottles at least one last hoorah before sending them on their way to the recycling facilities.

Build a Juice Jug Greenhouse

Materials

• plastic bottles and jugs
• scissors
• soil
• seeds
• small shovel or scoop ( I used a recycled applesauce container – brownie points!)
• water
• lids for the jugs, or something to cover the top for the  – you’ll be removing it later

Directions

1. Rinse the jugs well, and remove the labels
2. Cut the jugs in half, horizontally, as shown in the picture above
3. Add potting soil to the bottom portion of the jug, and wet it until it is moist, but not soggy. Fill to approximately 2 inches from the top of the bottom half.
4. Place your seeds on the soil.  Use about 3 or 4 seeds.  
5. Cover the seeds with more soil, about 1/2″ to an 1″, water lightly, and replace the top portion of the bottle.
6. Leave the cap on, or cover the whole at the top of the jug with something, so that you have created a green house, where the moisture and heat won’t leave.  
7. Once you have a sprout, you may want to remove the cap, to ventilate.

What to plant in your Juice Jug Greenhouse

I highly recommend trying to grow something you’ve never grown before, and if you do, be sure to tell us about it! Tomatoes and Peppers would be a good choice – I’ve used eggplant seeds in this tutorial.

Be sure to check out all of our other posts on Seed Starting, like our Top Ten Ideas for Seed Starting, and all of our other great Green Living Ideas   The Garbage Deodorizer Pucks are a personal favourite. 

If you enjoyed this post, you will love our book, Green, Crafty & Creative. Featuring 70 family and environmentally-friendly tips, crafts and activities from 10 different contributors, it is full of awesome inspiration for Earth Day fun. Green, Crafty & Creative is available for purchase in e-book, paperback and Kindle formats, starting for as low as  $4.99.

Visit the Earth Month Upcycle Challenge HQ and see who else is up to the challenge:

Using Plastic Containers for Seed Starters from Kara Carrero

Plastic Masks from Milk Jugs from Crafty Mama in ME

How to Make this Fantastic Plastic Bottle Terrarium from Witty Hoots

Upcycled Plastic Suncatchers from Books and Giggles