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Outdoor Crafts: Little Grass House

Little Grass House

Total Time Needed: 1-2 Weeks

Here's one building material that didn't even occur to the three little pigs! Sturdy and quick to assemble (no glue required), this verdant cottage, which sprouts up from four kitchen sponges and a handful of grass seed, just may be worthy of its own fairy tale.

Materials

  • 4 new standard kitchen sponges (approximately 4 1/2 by 3 inches) in orange, green, blue, and pink
  • Ruler
  • Permanent marker
  • Scissors with a pointed tip
  • Large plastic food-storage container (a clean rotisserie chicken container works well too)
  • Spray bottle
  • 1/2 cup of grass seed, preferably one labeled "fast-growing"
  • Sewing pins (optional)

Instructions

Little Grass House - Step 1

1. To create a good growing surface, rinse the new sponges by holding them under running water and squeezing a few times. Let the sponges dry slightly.

Little Grass House - Step 2

2. Using the ruler and permanent marker, draw the wall and yard shapes as shown.

Little Grass House - Step 3

3. Cut out the shapes. For the roof, insert the scissors through the side of the blue sponge and cut along the centerline to create the hinge, being careful not to sever the 2 pieces completely. (If you do sever them, don't worry. You can use sewing pins to attach the roof pieces to the walls.)

Little Grass House - Step 4

4. Inside the upturned lid of the plastic container, assemble the house.

5. Spray, but don't soak, the house with water. Then sprinkle a generous layer of grass seed evenly over the roof and the yard. If any seeds roll off the roof, pick them up with dry hands and patch the bare spots. Finally, very lightly spray water over the seeds with an upward spray motion.

6. Little Grass House Step 6Keep the house moist, warm, well lit, and covered until the grass is growing well, about two weeks. To prevent mold, leave the plastic cover slightly ajar or poke a few holes in the top. When your grass looks as though it could use a mowing, you can remove the cover. With regular watering, your house can grow for several weeks.

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