Moss Grafitti is a really cool new trend which involves growing moss in certain formations to create words or images. It’s the height of urban-dwelling earth-loving hipster culture, but you can easily do it on your homestead to add some beauty and creativity.
Maybe you’re looking to give your barn a bit of visual appeal, mark your property line on some trees, or just have fun with a new artistic medium. Painting with moss is a unique and ecologically-sound way to release your inner artist around the homestead.
Here’s how:
Choose your spot
First, choose the appropriate place to grow your grafitti moss. Avoid walls and fences that get more than six hours of direct sun each day. Too much unfiltered sunlight does not make a good environment for moisture-loving moss. Try to choose a spot near a water source. The shallow root system of moss will thrive on almost any surface, but it needs to be porous. Glass, polished stone, and similar surfaces will not work. The best time to create your moss artwork is in the spring or fall.
Plan and sketch
Next, use a temporary marker or chalk to sketch your design on your chosen surface. For more intricate designs, plot a guiding grid first.
Gather your materials
Next, get together what you need to complete the project:
- Two handful-size bunches of moss
- Two cups of buttermilk or yogurt
- 1/2 teaspoon of sugar
- 2 cups of water
- Blender
- Paintbrush
- Container for the finished product
- Corn syrup for thickening the consistency, if needed
Make Your Paint:
- Rinse and remove as much soil from the roots of your moss as possible.
- Break it apart into small pieces and add it to the blender.
- Add the buttermilk, water, and sugar.
- Blend until completely smooth.
- Test the consistency with your paintbrush.
- If it drips like thin paint, add enough corn syrup to achieve a thicker, viscous consistency.
- You want it thin enough to paint with but thick enough not to drip.
- Transfer to your container and refrigerate until ready to use.
Paint!
When you are ready to paint your chosen surface, simply paint as you would on a canvas! Use a variety of brushes for broad strokes or fine details. Stencils also work very well. After your “moss-terpiece” takes root and begins to grow, you can trim or remove areas with a knife to shade or lighten the image. You can also spray the moss with lime juice which acts as a natural “Round-Up” on moss.
Maintain Your Moss
Remember, your moss medium is a living organism. You want to care for it the way you would a member of your garden. Use a spray bottle to thoroughly mist the moss every other day. In springtime and fall, the moisture in the air should be sufficient and you should only need to mist it once per week.
Enjoy your new living artwork!
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