Weather-Resistant 'Mater Tags: Duct Tape and Ale-8 Cans

After years of making 'mater maps and trying to find or make UV-proof and waterproof plant markers so that I actually KNOW which varieties are which (crucial for seed-savers), I may have figured out one solution.

*I know you can buy beautiful metal marker plates that can be incised with a stylus, but I was trying to avoid spending more on tomato tags than I spent on steel cattle panel!

This tag, which marks a Prue paste tomato, is made by punching letters into cleaned flattened aluminum cans with craft punches, sticking the aluminum strip to a larger strip of bright duct tape, and then binding the tag with narrow strips of duct tape.

The aluminum sheets created by flattening aluminum soda or beer containers can be trimmed and cut easily with scissors. Cutting the aluminum in turn sharpens both scissors and the craft punches.

The craft punches cost about $20 per set, and will last indefinitely. An oddly satisfying and useful craft project for that little streak of Martha that lurks inside every OCD gardener.