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Saturday, April 23, from 10 to 2 we will host our annual community egg hunt for children six and under.  Our famous pink Easter Bunny will be here, so be sure to bring along your cameras.  We hold this rain or shine event inside so the weather won’t stop us from having great fun with the children.  Please plan to join us.  While you are here you can pick up an Easter lily and pots of spring flowers to decorate your Holiday table. 

The cool weather outside is a great reason to bring spring inside with the fun of coloring eggs using herbs and other natural products.  I did some on-line research and found lots of information available on the many different ways to dye eggs naturally.  Below I’ve summarized the main points and provided links for you.

To get started you will need:

Mordant helps color penetrate shell:  alum, cream of tartar or white vinegar

A pot large enough to hold the number of eggs you are doing – you might want to use several small pots to make different colors – do not use aluminum

Water – distilled works best – or any chlorine-free water to cover eggs

Eggs – start with clean, white shells for best results

Dyestuff – this is where the fun comes in – it’s time to experiment – America’s Best has a huge assortment of naturally grown herbs, plant material and pansy blossoms you can use to create a rainbow of colors.  For quantities and suggestions see

http://www.frontiercoop.com/learn/herbsavvy12.php

Or

http://herbgardens.about.com/od/herbalcraftsandgifts/ht/DyeingEggs.htm

Or

http://www.herbsociety.org.uk/hc-dye-eggs.htm

Basic Procedure

Put water, mordant and dyestuff in the pot – Bring to a boil – boil 20 – 30 minutes – add either room-temperature raw or previously boiled eggs – if raw – turn burner to simmer and cook for another 10 minutes – remove from heat.  If using boiled eggs – remove pan from heat and immerse eggs in hot liquid.  Soak for 20 – 30 minutes – up to overnight – the longer the eggs are in the colored liquid the darker the color will be.

Another alternative is to blow the egg out of the shell before you begin so you are dying an empty shell.  I remember doing this as a child.  Wash eggs well – take a sharp large needle – poke a small hole in top (rounded) end.  Repeat at the bottom (pointy) end twirling the needle around to make the hole a bit larger and also break the yolk inside the shell.  Holding egg over a bowl, press a short drinking straw against the smaller hole, blow hard, forcing the raw egg through the larger hole. Rinse well before immersing in hot, colored water.   For more complete instructions on how to blow out the eggs visit http://www.wikihow.com/Blow-Out-Eggs

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