Earth Day is Wednesday, April 22, marking the 50th anniversary from when it was first celebrated in 1970! We love having a day set aside to honor and celebrate our beautiful planet, and especially enjoy the conversation it inspires related to environmental sustainability, climate action, and appreciation of nature. While we aren’t able to commemorate Earth Day together this year, we do have a few fun activities for you to try out at home with your family.
Milk Carton Planters
These are so easy, and a great way to reuse your empty milk cartons.
Supplies:
- 2 empty, clean milk cartons
- potting soil
- flower seeds of choice
- scissors
Instructions:
- Use the scissors to cut out one side of your milk carton, and then poke several drain holes in the bottom of the planter. Feel free to decorate the outside of your milk carton or leave it as is.
- Fill the planter with indoor potting soil, leaving an inch or two at the top.
- Add the seeds to your planter as directed on the package of seeds.
- Place in a sunny spot or on a windowsill, with a small towel underneath to help protect your surface. Enjoy watching your flowers bloom!
Pollinator-Attracting Seed Balls
A fun way to add some color to your yard!
Supplies:
- 3 packets of Seed Savers Exchange Bird and Butterfly Mix (or any wildflower seed packets)
- 6 pieces of construction paper
- scissors
- water
- blender
- fine mesh strainer
- plate
Instructions:
- Select six sheets of construction paper (or bits and pieces of recycled paper!) in several colors and cut the sheets in small pieces, keeping the colors separated in individual bowls.
- Add water to each bowl and allow the paper to soak for 10 minutes.
- One color at a time, add the construction paper to a blender along with a small amount of water. Blend the paper to a pulp, and then strain and squeeze the water out. Return the pulp back to the bowl. Repeat for second and third colors.
- Divide your seeds between each bowl, mixing them in with the paper pulp.
- Take some of the pulp and seed mixture from each bowl to form a ball.
- Once your balls are formed, allow them to dry on a plate overnight.
- Once dry, dig a small hole in your garden or container, and pop your seed ball in! These also make great gifts to share.
Clamshell Microgreens
Most microgreens are ready to harvest in 1-2 weeks!
Supplies:
- clean clamshell
- indoor potting soil
- microgreen seeds (radish, arugula, kale, or watercress are recommended)
Instructions
- Poke a few drain holes in your clamshell, and fill with moistened soil.
- Sprinkle a layer of seeds, and then cover with a thin layer of soil.
- Place in a windowsill to start growing!
Germination Activity for Kids
Learn about seed germination with this fun science experiment for kids! This is a great activity to track in a journal – draw a picture each day of what the seed looks like and discuss each step of the germination process.
Supplies:
- 1 large, clean jar
- several sheets of paper towels
- large seeds (green beans seeds are perfect for this!)
Instructions:
- Dampen several paper towels and push them towards the bottom half of the jar.
- Place a few seeds in the jar, making sure they are visible and held in place by the paper towel.
- Place them by the window, and within a few days you should start to see your seeds sprout.
DIY Cleaning Supplies
Use this recipe for a DIY window cleaning spray, along with other DIY cleaning supply recipes.
Ingredients
- 3 tsp. Aura Cacia Lemon Essential Oil
- 14 fl. oz. water
- 1 fl. oz. white distilled vinegar
- 1 16-oz. spray bottle
Instructions
- In bottle, combine essential oil and vinegar.
- Top off with water, replace lid and shake until well blended.
- To use, shake bottle, spray window and wipe clean with a paper towel or lint-free cloth.
Earth Day Community Clean-Up
Join your community to help beautify St. Paul!
Join your co-op and May’s Positive Change recipient Friends of the Mississippi River for an Earth Day clean-up. Register for this free event and pledge to clean up your neighborhood, local park, or favorite outdoor space while maintaining social distance. Send us a photo of you or your household crew picking up trash anytime before April 26th to receive a mailed $5 co-op gift card.