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Edible gardens - making a scarecrow

• Tall wooden or bamboo garden stake, or a broom/rake handle (approx 2m long).
• Shorter wooden or bamboo garden stake that forms the arms (approx 1.5m long).
• Short (20-30cm long) wooden or bamboo garden stake that forms the waist.
• String, gardening twine, or nails and hammer.

• Old pair of stockings, old pillow case or calico bag.
• Acrylic paint or waterproof markers.
• Stuffing e.g. straw, soft toy filling, old stockings.

• Socks, old stockings/tights or gloves,
• Straw or bunches of lavender, or soft toy filling.

• Clothes and shoes that you can spare from your wardrobe or visit the local Op Shop.

• Wig, raffia, straw, wool or bunches of lavender.

• Hats, caps, beanies, scarves, ribbons or tiaras.

• Glasses, scarves, hand bag, jewellery, imitation flowers.
• Gardening tools e.g. old wheelbarrow (plant this with flowers, vegetables or herbs), old broom, rake or spade.
• Stuffed toys eg. toy parrot to sit on the scarecrow shoulder.

• Straw or soft toy filling.

1. Attach the shorter wooden or bamboo stake (arms) to the tall stake or broom or rake handle either by tying with string or nailing them together. The shorter stake needs to be attached 10-15cm down from one end of the tall stake or handle.
2. Attach the shortest stake about halfway down the tall stake/handle to form the waist/hips either by tying with string or nailing it on.
3. Dress the scarecrow as desired.
4. If you want to stuff the arms, legs and body, tie off the ends on the sleeves or pants and stuff them with the stuffing of choice. Attach the waist of skirts/pants/trousers to the waist/hips with string, tape or staples. To stop the filling falling out at the bottom of the top, either pin the bottom of the top to the pants/trousers, or tuck the bottom of the top into the top of the pants/trousers and use a belt or string in the belt keepers to attach them.
5. For the hands or feet fill the socks, gloves or feet of the old stockings with straw, soft toy filling or old stockings. If making feet, attach the feet to the bottom of the pants using safety pins or sew them. Attach the hands to arms by pushing the hands onto the stake and tying them on with string or taping them on with heavy tape. If using straw or lavender for the feet or hands push this into the ends of the arms and legs of the clothes and allow it to stick out. To stop it falling out tie some string, twine or ribbon (or whatever suits the theme of your scarecrow) around the end of the sleeve.
6. To make the head, either fill the pillow case with stuffing of choice, or cut one leg from the tights or stockings and stuff with filling of choice to make a round shape. Tie the end of the pillowcase or stocking/tights off with string. Draw or paint a face on the head and allow to dry.
7. Tie or tape the head onto the top of the stake.
8. Put wig on top of head or attach straw or lavender stems or wool by taping, sewing or tying it onto the head or inside the hat and place the hat on the head.
9. Decide where the scarecrow is going to stand and push the bottom of the long stake or broom/rake handle into the ground or attach the scarecrow to another stake driven into the ground. The scarecrow could also be attached to a fence or gate post.

• Use a straw broom upside down for the body so the straw becomes the head. The face can be painted on or the eyes and nose made from thin plywood or polystyrene and painted, and then glued or tied onto the straw.
• Use a mop upside down in a similar way as the straw broom.
• Scarecrows can be made in different sizes to make a family of scarecrows and use children’s clothes to dress them.
• Why limit yourself to people? Scarecrow animals could also be a feature of your garden. A horse would look good or maybe a trusty dog to join your scarecrow. Frames could be made from garden stakes or bamboo poles and wire netting to form the body. Cover with straw tied or wired onto the wire, or strips of material or lengths of wool tied onto the wire. Horses and dogs wear blankets and coats so why not add some clothes? The heads could be made of wire netting, or polystyrene (from boxes), plywood or thick cardboard and painted. Accessories might also be the go for these animals.
  
  …your imagination is the limit!

• Creating an edible garden in your own backyard
  
• Edible gardening for all
  

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• This information has been sourced from The Horticultural Therapy Association of Victoria.