Earth Day 2013

 

Happy Earth Day! 

If you are like me, then you feel guilty when Earth Day rolls around, wondering if there is anything more you could do -beyond efforts in household recycling and conservation- to mark the now 43 year old celebration of our planet...

 I have found a project for next year. I am thinking the Earth Day Groceries Project might be the perfect thing for our elementary school to get involved in- it would be a great way to get the kids talking about Earth Day and an easy way to spread awareness throughout the community!

Images: foodem

pansies

Yesterday was Earth Day and to celebrate we planted pansies everywhere. I have a special appreciation for pansies. They are hardy in our always unpredictable climate, they come in so many beautiful varieties and they are the only flower in my gardens that never has bunny trouble.
So I put them around the trees and in the containers on our porch and I know they will still be there, thriving, for the rest of the growing season.....

Here is a cheat sheet if you are interested in including pansies in your garden.

Images: photographycorner, blog.behnkes.com, containergardening.about.com

"Plant a new truffula. Treat it with care. Give it clean water, and feed it fresh air. ..."

Although it was first published in 1971, The Lorax by Dr. Seuss continues to be the foremost example of anti-industrialization and nature conservation in children's literature. The Lorax was earth friendly before a lot folks really knew how important it was to be aware of protecting the natural resources of our world.
In 2008, The Lorax Project was launched by Random House Publishers, Dr. Seuss Enterprises and Conservation International to encourage people of all ages to do their part in conserving the planet's forests and protecting the world's endangered species. The site is filled with information, activities, games, and brings general awareness to not only children, but any visitor to the Project's page.
Earth Day is April 22nd, a couple of months away, but if you have children that would like to participate in a conservation project or if you are wondering how you can be more proactive this year, The Lorax Project is a great place to start getting informed!

Image courtesy of The Lorax Project

Land Art

"Leaf Star" by Land Art for Kids

And ever by delicate powers
Gathering along the centuries
From race on race the rarest flowers,
My wreath shall nothing miss.

--from "Song of Nature," Ralph Waldo Emerson

The images below are all from one of my favorite Flickr pools: Land Art for Kids

Land Art, according to landartforkids.com, "involves making art and sculptures using natural materials you find in the environment, such as leaves, fir cones, twigs, pebbles, rocks, sand and shells."

"Floating Leaf Boat" by Land Art for Kids

"Circle" from landartforkids.com

"Mosiac Bark Cube" from JRTPickle

"Winter Leaf Spiral" by Land Art for Kids

"Dragonfly" by Land Art for Kids

"Leaf Tree" by Land Art for Kids

"Pebble Fish" by Land Art for Kids

"Grass Flower Doodles" by escher...

For more land art, including land art from the grown-ups, visit the Land Art Flickr Pool.

Happy (belated) Earth Day!