Organic seeds in jewelry. The idea sounded strange to me when I first heard it, but then I remembered teaching school kids how to string dried beans to make necklaces and bracelets. The beans were not organic seeds and the rope was mere cotton rope so the results were harsh and unusable. However, mothers wore them out for the love of their children and children had fun making them.

Using organic seeds in jewelry making is now an art, with some artisans learning how to incorporate organic seeds into beaded jewelry and other materials.

Beans are excellent organic seeds for jewelry

Most of the organic seeds used in jewelry are beans. There are many reasons for this.

1. Beans naturally have beautiful patterns and colors.

2. Beans dry naturally and retain their shape when dried.

3. Beans will not wilt with use.

4. Bean jewelry will last indefinitely, with proper care.

Bean varieties

Black beans are great organic seeds to use in jewelry. Although their names include the word “black” as in Black Nightfall, black beans are not completely jet black. These beans display shades of black, gray, brown, and ivory. Swirls of color appear to glow when the grains are separated by small glass or silver metal beads.

Kidney beans are another good organic seed option to use in jewelry making. Those with red and scarlet in the name can be predominantly deep reddish brown, or they can be half beige, half dark red, like the red Calypso bean. The Red Calypso makes fascinating organic seed jewelry, as its uniform division of color turns into wavy lines on a necklace or bracelet.

Paint Dried beans are a good choice or organic seeds for summer jewelry. The light tan and off-white coloring looks fresh and would complement light summer colors and fabrics.

Flagolet green beans are another good option for summer. The green of these organic seeds is pale and fresh in appearance. When combined with deeper vegetable glass beads, the organic seeds look almost like ivory beans.

For organic seeds that look like polished stones in jewelry, Tiger Eye Bean is a good choice. It looks a lot like a tiger’s eye stone.

Other organic seeds

While beans are the most common organic seeds used in jewelry, some artisans also use dried corn. Red, gold, orange, green and gray tones appear in dried corn. Interspersed with gleaming metals and glass beads, these pieces often have a vintage shine.

Other organic seeds that can be used successfully include watermelon seeds, pumpkin seeds, pumpkin seeds, and other large vegetable seeds.

Use your own organic seeds in jewelry

If you decide to use organic seeds to make jewelry, you will need to prepare your seeds by following these steps.

1. Wash the seeds well and let them dry.

2. Buff each seed with a soft cloth.

3. Drill holes in the seeds, being careful not to break them.

4. Apply a clear protective coating inside and out to preserve the seeds.

Once you’ve prepared your seeds, use them as you would use any bead to make jewelry. In fact, if you teach in school, why not make truly wearable jewelry with your students using prepared organic seeds?

Advantages of using organic seeds in jewelry

My research reveals only one advantage of using organic seeds to make jewelry, and that is the “green” factor. The organic seeds incorporated into the jewelery can be presented as an “ecological” gift.

While organic seeds are eco-friendly, I couldn’t find any organic seed gem that didn’t also use glass and metal products that may or may not be as “green” as beans.

If environmental protection is your main reason for hunting jewelry made with organic seeds, ask questions before ordering.