So, I saw something similar for sale somewhere for entirely too much money and not quite as versatile . So, you use the 'piston' and the base to make the paper pot, then put the ring around it and use the other end to tamp down the soil. You can also use it without the paper, just cram the soil in the ring and base. One end of the 'piston' has the bit to make a hole for seeds, the other has a place to crimp the paper pot for strength. It was also fun figuring out how to make the ring with straight sides that deep.