A couple years back, I discovered a make-your-own-seedling-pot gadget that quite simply turns strips of newspaper into pots for starting seedlings.

No flimsy plastic pots that are hard to recycle + zero need for peat moss = cheaper eco-friendly gardening.

Life was good, until we cancelled the delivery of our newspaper. So once again, I’m looking to do more with less.  Lucky for me, I found the soil blocker, a DIY version of the potting block.

This wonder gadget produces a soil plug into which I can coddle my seeds until transplanting time. It also minimizes transplanting shock because there’s no need to traumatize the seedling by removing it from a plastic pot. All this with zero waste.

If you’re a home hobbyist with a couple tools to your name, follow the careful instruction of DaveNJ via his Soil Blocker Instructable. He’s done all the research and figuring so the rest of us can make soil plugs for free. Shy on tools?

DaveNJ has designed a simpler version which makes a 2″ blocker as well. Or, if you lack the time and want to get those darn seeds started already, order a potting block online.

Happy Planting!

Image Source: Instructables