The Earth is what we all have in common.
– Wendell Berry
Earth Day is the perfect day to introduce great science projects for your kiddos. If you’ve been cooped up all winter, it’s also a great time to stretch your legs & get back outside! I remember always loving Earth Day as a kid because we’d almost always come home with a tree or some sort of plant from school to plant around our home. Yes, I’ve always been a mother nature nerd.
Invite the Bugs
Since living in Germany, I have found out about bug hotels. Bugs are by no means my favorite, but we’re more afraid of things we don’t see often or understand. Having a bug hotel is a great way to invite bugs to come and rest until they move on their merry little ways. If you have a garden, this is a great way to give your beneficial bugs a place to rest. Many pollinators aren’t hive insects, so they need a safe place to rest with the loss of natural habitats.
I haven’t tried it myself, but they look fairly simple to make. Keep in mind that, depending on what materials you use to make it, it can get heavy. I’ve seen pinecones, bricks, little circular tubes, & bark in them. If you plant some flowers near it, this will also help to attract your bugs. Don’t forget, your bees & butterflies need water too! Find a shallow dish or bath then put some rocks that will stick up and out of the water. This will allow your bugs to rest on the rock while drinking some water.
Get Your Hands Dirty!
Having a garden, even if it’s just a couple potted plants, is a great way to get in an evening routine. Taking the girls outside while supper is cooking to water and do a quick weed check is something we start doing in the spring evenings and it goes until fall.
Take half an egg or buy the compostable seed trays, potting soil, & some herbs or flowers you enjoy. Make sure to read the back of the packet to see how deep they need planted, the amount of sun & water they like, & when it can go outside. Some plants, like lettuce & spinach, don’t mind the cold. Others, like mint, enjoy the warmth. Make sure to not move your mint outside until it’s done getting cold at night.
If you plan to keep your plants in a pot, make sure to use potting soil as it drains better & won’t cause your plants to get root rot.
Make a Seed Jar
This use to be one of my favorite things to do! I’d take a corn kernel or bean, wet a napkin, then put it in a jar with the seed facing the glass. I’d sit it on my window sill in my room and watch it sprout! I always thought this was the neatest thing & felt like it was some sort of magic.
Make Birdseed Feeders
I remember doing this as a kid too & loved seeing the birds that came to eat it. This is a nice way to help the birds as they may not yet have access to other food sources & some of the plants that you allowed to come to seed in your garden may be picked at by this point. These are great for you to make in the winter too so the birds have something to eat. All you need is some bird seed, water, and gelatin or corn. If you want to hang them, make sure to find something biodegradable to hang it with like twine.
Another bird feeder option is taking a pinecone. slathering on peanut butter, then rolling it in birdseed. Hang it up somewhere so the birds can chow down!
Homemade Seed Bombs
Last spring I found a paper sheet with wildflower seeds in it. All we had yo do was put a thin layer of soil over it then water it occasionally. Our wildflowers grew like crazy & some are popping back up this year. I found these DIY versions that use recycled newspaper. These could also be a cute gift for friends and family.
Clean Up Your Area
Grab a bag you can throw away & go for a walk with your kids. Try to spot trash & pick it up. Not only do ya’ll get some fresh air outside, you’re helping pick up trash so your area is cleaner. Stella’s kindergarten has done this a few times & I love it. I feel it really shows kids the importance of picking up trash & why being low waste people all year is important!
Start A Compost
If you’re unsure about composting, just on over here to learn more. It’s not at all gross or smelly as most people think. You also get some of the best soil you could hope for! Use it in your garden, around your trees, or just sprinkled out in your yard if you have no where else to put it.
Make Environmentally Friendly Swaps
I know many Earth Friendly companies will have Earth Day Sales this weekend. These items can be pricey up front, so take advantage of sales and start switching today. Toxin free cleaning, body care, zero waste kitchen & bathroom swaps, or pledging a meat free day are all a few ideas!
Build a Bird House
There are so really easy patterns to follow online and this can be a fairly cheap product that gives you a year’s worth of enjoyment. Bird watching can allow your kids to learn about nature and even be artist. I use to try and draw the birds when I was younger. You could even buy your kiddos a bird watching guide book to help identify them.
Read Books!
There are some great books you can read with your kids for Earth Day. We love The Earth Book by Todd Parr, The Berenstain Bears Don’t Pollute (Anymore), 10 Thing I Can Do to Help My World by Melanie Walsh, & Dr Suess’s The Lorax.
What activities do you have planned for Earth day? I’d love to hear them.
Have a beautifully blessed weekend friends!
Leave a Reply