Everyone has heard of lots of different tools to use. Here are mine.
I have tried pencils. Didn't work well for me. I tried a letter opener. Nah. I tried all the toy implements sold for kids (don't waste your money on these!). I tried my finger. All I got was mud caked under my nails.
I was even fortunate enough to find some real indoor gardening tools, made of forged aluminum. They are great for indoor plants, but I haven't found them helpful for planting seeds, or for transplanting seedlings.
These tags accumulate by the hundreds. They are sturdy plastic, so they last for hundreds or thousands of uses. The wonderful little fold in the center lets seeds roll off into the seed-trays. The tops are wide enough to smooth and pat down the soil without dislodging the seeds. The sharp end makes a great dibble. If you are really particular, you can make marks for planting depths, and if you mess it up, who cares? We all have plenty more where these came from.
So in the best environmentalist way, don't just recycle: reuse.
