Our cards are made from wildflower seed paper. This paper is hand made in Nepal by rural craftspeople.
The raw material for the paper is the Daphne bush. A 3-4 year old bush is cut down and stripped of its bark, the bark is pulverized, then wildflower seeds are mixed in. The paper product is spread onto screens and set in the sun to dry. The bush is not harmed when it is cut down, it will regrow. The remaining sticks from the cut down bush are dried and then used to heat homes and provide fuel for cooking. All water used in the production of the paper is reclaimed. The whole process is earth friendly, sustainable and provides a rural community with a life sustaining enterprise. The paper is produced in a Fair Trade manner.
What Seeds Are In The Paper?
There is a mix of annual and perennial seeds in the paper. Some seeds are barely visible, while others are easily seen. Snapdragon | Petunia | Poppy | Beardtongue | Mountain Mint | Chamomile
Viability and Germination Rates
Due to the nature of plantable items, we hope you understand that growth may vary and will ultimately depend on the end user's care. Here are the steps we take on our end to ensure your seed paper is viable and has acceptable germination rates:
🪴 We order fresh seed paper often to make sure that your seed paper is viable for many months.
🪴Our seed paper is tested by us; tested by the seed supplier; tested by the USDA (twice) and tested by the department of agriculture in Nepal (twice). Seed paper can remain viable for up to 1-2 years, though germination rates may decline each year. We recommend using your paper within a year for the best germination rates.
🪴We cannot stress enough how much water and sunlight affects your seeds. Unfiltered, bottled or natural spring water and avoiding extreme temperatures during germination is best. Using water with high amounts of chlorine is not recommended.
🪴Avoid planting your seed paper directly in the ground - it can dry out too easily. We highly recommend starting them in a pot or planter, near a window, and keep moist. Cover the pot with a clear plastic wrap to create a greenhouse effect, keep the plastic wrap in place until the seedlings are well established.
