Introduction
The possibility of growing moss graffiti occurred to me during one of those dull days at work when your thoughts wander. A quick internet search showed me that I wasn’t the first person to ask the question “How does moss grow?” In fact, many genius gardeners had even come up with a recipe for a moss milkshake! Next I wondered if you could use this recipe to grow your own designs and create a kind of moss graffiti, and it would appear that you can!
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First gather together several clumps of moss.
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You can find moss growing between the cracks in paving stones, near leaky drains, on trees … basically, moss loves damp and shady places. Mosses do not have roots but use rhizoids to attach themselves to surfaces, meaning that you can easily collect moss by hand or with a spatula.
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Clean off as much of the mud as possible by soaking it in water.
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Put the moss in a blender and add beer (or yogurt or buttermilk) and sugar.
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Blend just long enough to create a smooth, creamy consistency, like a thick milkshake.
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Pour the mixture into a plastic container.
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Find a suitable location onto which you can apply your moss milkshake (a good indicator is somewhere that moss is already growing).
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Paint on your chosen design (either freehand or using a stencil).
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If possible, try to water your masterpiece daily with a spray mister.
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Soon the bits of blended moss should begin to recuperate, maintaining your design before eventually colonizing the whole area.
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This project first appeared in CRAFT Volume 04, page 111.
This project first appeared in CRAFT Volume 04, page 111.