This Materials Exploration began as a project in my sophomore spring semester in DES 353: Ecological Interaction Design, where our team designed a citizen science ritual at the Festival Beach Food Forest that invited participants to attune to the natural microclimate of the area by comparing sensory, thermometric observations with real sensor data. Seeking a zero-waste way to print the ritual’s guide materials, I explored transforming the Food Forest’s invasive Bermuda grass into compostable paper. The first attempt, which involved cutting, soaking, boiling, blending, and screening the grass, yielded only four usable sheets. In a summer fellowship, I refined the process using scientific pulp yield data and experimented with okra mucilage as a natural binder. I developed a full recipe that included material ratios, drying methods, and handmade Declan moulds constructed from repurposed frames and chicken wire. I then hosted a workshop where participants made their own A6-sized paper sheets, often embedding found leaves and petals from the surrounding food forest. I donated all tools and documentation so the workshop could be repeated sustainably. This project strengthened my skills in materials research, ecological design, and sustainable prototyping and gave me insight into how storytelling, science, and craft can converge through experimentation.