Template Tuesday

Today's template, begins to explore different paper deliverables for seeding Detroit. There are two main paper objects that were produced today. The first being the 'Trading Card' and the second the 'Seed Bundle.' Each method practices making paper from recycled magazines and wildflower seeds. The goal of each paper product is to plant the paper to promote the urban prairie. Let's start!

#1. Begin by tearing the recycled paper into small pieces and let it soak in water.

#2. Blend (using an old blender) the soaked paper. Add extra water to the shredded paper as needed to help the mixture blend.

#3. Use an old screen material and frame to scoop the paper slush out of the water.

#4. Place the drained paper mixture onto wax paper.

#5. Add the wildflower seeds.

#6. Add other flowers, petals, etc.

#7. Let the paper dry on the wax paper. Use the microwave to speed drying process. Peel the paper off when dry.

#8. Cut the sheet into 3" x 3" squares, place the Seed Detroit sticker on the back, and start spreading the Seed Cards. Trade the cards with others to get a variety of flowers.

3" x 3" Seed Trading Card

#9. Try making these seed bundles using the same method above. Instead of making sheets, scoop the paper mixture into your hand and make a 'snowball' out of the paper mixture. Continue to pack the mixture in your hands until a ball is formed. Add seeds, flower petals, etc. to the seed bundles. Wrap thread or other fiber around the bundles to add color and strength. Trade the seed bundles with others to get a variety of flowers.

2" Seed Bundles

Flower Talk Mondays

Today's flower is the Purple Coneflower (#1), also known as Echinacea purpurea. It is a hearty, drought tolerant perennial (lives for more than 2 years) that’s native to the Midwest. The genus name Echinacea, is from the Greek echino meaning hedgehog, an allusion to the flower’s coned center. The flower’s rough scattered leaves climb the stem to unveil soft lavender and purple petals that encircle a red-orange coned center. The Purple Coneflower prefers full sun to partial shade, blooms from June-October and grows to be 2-3 feet tall. The flower’s soil condition is dry and reseeds easily, making it a great candidate for the urban prairie of Detroit. Bees, butterflies and skippers are attracted to this colorful native wildflower. The urban prairie becomes a great teaching tool to learn about nature’s ecosystems, what our relationship to the earth is, and how we can model communities after nature. So with this I ask, can the urban prairie teach us how to design human communities that support nature’s inherent ability to sustain life?

Monday Schedule