Sunday, January 19, 2014

Sachets and Soil

“In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.”—William Blake

The Green LIONS Garden Group learned about the concept of “up-cycling” at its last meeting. Up-cycling is defined as “to process (used goods or waste material) so as to produce something that is often better than the original”. It is a great way to turn an item that is usually thrown out into something that can be re-used. Students learned how this choice can have a large impact on reducing what goes into our landfills.

Students explored many different ways to up-cycle like turning empty hand soap bottles into hourglasses, chopsticks into trivets, forks and spoons into garden plant labels, and stuffing from old pillows into cloud art. They shared their own experiences of up-cycling and were inspired to start looking at everyday objects in a new light.

Since our meeting was shortly after the winter holidays, we used Christmas tree needles to make aromatic sachets for an up-cycling project of our own. We combined tree needles, fresh rosemary, cinnamon bark, lavender buds, cedar shavings and even the peels from our clementine snack to make a wonderfully fragrant blend for sachets. Students measured out squares from fabric scraps, cut the cloth and then filled them with the herb blend. We have had reports of using them as fresheners for backpacks, the car, even a desk!

















Our worm bin made its second appearance at our meeting on its way between host classes at school. Red wigglers were passed out to 2-person teams and were gently observed and measured. Our worm bin is being cared for thoroughly by the various host classes at the school. Our fellow garden workers are being pampered to get ready for their fertilizing job in our spring garden.


Sunday, January 5, 2014

Solstice for the Birds

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth 
find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. 
There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of the birds, 
the ebb and flow of the tides, the folded bud ready for the spring. 
There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of 
nature—the assurance that dawn comes after night and spring after winter.”
—Rachel Carlson

The Green LIONS Garden Group celebrated the winter solstice in December by learning what this celebration of the “return of the light” means for growing plants and dreams of a spring harvest. After this shortest day of the year the light each day grows longer and longer reminding us of another growing season to come. It is also a time to honor this season of rest in nature and in our own lives.

During this quiet season when plants and some animals are at rest, those animals still emerging during the day in our communities may have trouble finding food. So a fun way to celebrate the winter solstice is by making edible ornaments that the birds and squirrels can enjoy. Green LIONS Garden Group members strung together organic dehydrated apples and oranges, organic prunes, and organic fresh cranberries to make garlands. They also re-purposed toilet paper tubes by rolling them in nut butter and then birdseed. Instant woodland animal buffet!






















We discussed how important it is that if we are feeding these birds and animals fruits and nuts, that they be sourced from organic growers if possible. Just as the consumed chemical pesticide concentration can be much higher in children than in adults, these tiny animals are even more sensitive to the adverse effects of chemical pesticides.

Students also created a homemade holiday gift of garden lavender-infused bath salts for someone special in their lives. We used dried lavender harvested from the school’s LIONS Garden, epsom salts, baking soda and lavender essential oil to make our bath salts. They smelled heavenly!


The Green LIONS Garden Group hopes everyone had a happy and healthy holiday season!