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.
| Prep Time: 1 to 2 weeks | |
| What you need: | |
| 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) | |
| Seasons: Spring | |
| Materials: grass seed, kitchen sponges | |
| Instructions: | |
| 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. |
| 2. | Using the ruler and permanent marker, draw the wall and
yard shapes as shown. |
| 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.) |
| 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. | Keep 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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Using the ruler and permanent marker, draw the wall and
yard shapes as shown.
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.)
Inside the upturned lid of the plastic container, assemble
the house.
Keep 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.

