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Did you know the "Hollander" or beater dates back to 1680! It was invented in the Netherlands. This amazing machine we use to break down recycled office paper, to make a perfect paper pulp!    

From seed to plant! Seed paper is simply paper with seeds embedded within the paper fibers. Growing seed paper essentially follows the same process as growing a plant from seed. The seed needs to be nurtured and watered regularly for germination to occur.  Germination is the process of when a little seed starts its journey to becoming a plant. While the whole process of germination is quite complex, in its simplest form, a dry seed needs water to hydrate. This softens its seed coat and allows it to spring to life. AND, most importantly, it needs to be kept moist for growth to continue. If the seed is allowed to dry out, it simply won't survive! Throw in some sunshine and warmth, along with some love and your plants should thrive. We grow our seed paper in 4 steps.... STEP 1 Soak the seed paper in water until it becomes soft. This softens the paper fibers and seeds in preparation for germination. This step only takes around 10 seconds and can be omitted as long as the seed paper becomes thoroughly watered in the next step. STEP 2 Place the seed paper onto seed raising mix or good quality soil. This can be in a pot or on the ground. Water well again to ensure soil and seed paper are wet. STEP 3 Lightly cover the seed paper with more mix/soil. A few millimeters of soil is generally enough. Water again, gentle this time so the soil doesn't get completely washed off the seed paper. We often use a watering can with a sprinkle spout or even a spray bottle!  STEP 4 Nurture your planted seeds as they grow! Keep the paper, seeds and soil moist to allow the seedlings to become sturdy. Once seedlings are a few centimetre's tall, water as needed. How often should I water my seeds?  Depending on the season and your location, water needs will vary. During a Melbourne summer, we water daily when growing plants from seeds. Once we head into winter, seed germination is much slower and water requirements are lower.  When is the best to time to plant seed paper? Just like when planting most seeds, spring through to summer is often the best time. The soil and outside conditions are warmer which helps with germination. If planting during winter or in a cooler climate, it's best to plant seed paper in a pot and keep it indoors in a sunny spot for better germination results. 

Australian native flowers like Swan River Daisy (Brachycome iberidifolia) are perfect for embedding in our handmade seed paper as they are small seeds and more importantly easy to grow! There stunning Blue, Purple, Pink and White flowers attract Butterflies and Bees!