Make Garden Markers from Golf Balls
Use old, nicked golf balls to mark your garden.
Last year, I built a raised bed garden in my back yard. With several types of fruit and veggie seeds being planted, I wanted to remember what was what. I could have purchased some cutesy porcelain sticks with things like "radishes" or "dill" written on them. But Im always looking for what I can use around the house to avoid buying new stuff. If I can re-purpose something, I will! My husband had a bucket of old golf balls in the garage, so I gave them a scrub and a polish and got out my craft paint. They worked out perfectly as garden markers! You might be thinking that those are some expensive craft materials. But after golf balls have been nicked, golfers often don't want to use them anymore. Instead of cluttering the landfill even more, you can use these little spheres for something helpful! By the way, "cukes" is my nickname for cucumbers! (Photo mine)
Craft paint
If you're tempted to use your kids' paints in the kitchen cabinet, that will work as long as they aren't washable. Don't forget they have to weather the rain!
WHAT YOU NEED
And a few easy steps
Old golf balls (as many as different kinds of seeds you plant)
Empty egg carton
2 contrasting colors of craft paint (or one color and a sharpie of another color)
Small tipped brush(es)
What to do:
1. Wash your old golf balls so that the dirt won’t keep the paint from sticking.
2.Use an empty egg carton to hold the balls still for painting and drying.
3.Use your first color of craft paint to cover the surface of the golf balls. Allow to dry.
4.Use second color of paint or Sharpie to write the names of the crops. Allow to dry.
5.Place markers in front of corresponding crops!
Have fun!
I'll bet yours turn out prettier than mine! I'm no artist!
These need to be washed and repainted for this year!
Find old range balls on eBay
If you don't want to buy 600 of them or pay for shipping, you could also go down to your local driving range and ask whether they have any nicked, old balls they would like to get rid of. Some ranges sell their older golf balls.
Using them year after year.
Last year was the first time I had this bright idea. I’m planting a few different things this year. I will be giving last year’s markers a rinse under the garden hose, then painting over some to reflect the names of the new seeds. The paint has held up fairly well, especially considering the slick surface of a golf ball, plus the fact that this is probably not an intended use of the craft paint.
I'm a southern author.
If you like short stories, please give my collection a try. A shrimper finds the end of his rope when in danger of losing his boat and his family. A scorned woman takes revenge with a bottle of mustard. A truck stop waitress has a pie recipe that's to die for - literally. It's got it all! Paperback, Kindle or Nook.
