This week there are lots of events in our communities to celebrate Earth Daywhich is April 22.  Here are a couple activities that you might enjoy with your kids!

EarthDay/MovieNight — Film: The 11th Hour

Thursday Evening, April 22 @ 7pm Special EarthDay Film Show – The 11th Hour with Leonardo DiCaprio. Come experience a thought-provoking primer on our environmental concerns: take a look at the causes of global warming, explore solutions (from eating organic to building with solar power). This feature combines a diverse array of interviews with a dizzying variety of images, both soothing and alarming (droughts and hurricanes vs. serene sunsets and playful polar bears). For more information and a reservation, contact the Rowayton Library at 203-838-5038 or RSVP@Rowayton.org. This film is rated PG.  Celebrate Earth Day at Whole Foods Monday, April 19, 2010 Celebrate Earth Day at Whole Foods.  SIGG water bottles will be visiting with a special promotion: buy two SIGG water bottles and receive a free cleaning brush!  Their Green Team will be outside for a special planting project. Kids can create biodegradable pots made from newspaper and will bring home their own green bean plant Thursday, April 22, 2010 11 AM – 3 PM Whole Foods Market 399 Post Road West Westport, CT 06880 Phone: 203.227.6858 wholefoods.com

Leticia Silva, Brazilian from New Canaan took her Saturday last week to volunteer to clean up the Mianus Park Trail in Stamford.  you can read all about her efforts in the following article in the Stamford Advocate:

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/default/article/Forging-a-path-Volunteers-rebuild-trails-in-439511.php

Way to go, Leticia!  I am so proud of you!  Volunteering in the community is a wonderful way to get involved, to meet people, and share your talents and skills.  It also  makes you feel good!  Just ask Leticia!

Gardening

One way to spend time outside with the children (any age from two up) is to work in the garden. A garden is more than just plants. It’s also a home for birds, bees, butterflies, earthworms and other creatures that help the garden grow.

Children love to care for other living things, and plants are an easy choice that can give a great sense of accomplishment. Check with your host parents about where you can garden. Ideally, your little garden will have at least six hours of sun a day.

For outdoor gardening you will need to buy some seeds. If your garden has less than six hours of sun, choose seeds that can grow in “partial” sun. Select flower seeds that germinate quickly. The back of the seed packet will tell you how long before the plants sprout. Marigolds and morning glories are easy to grow and will come up quickly. Buying vegetable seeds will allow children to eat and share what they grow. Radishes are the fastest growing vegetable – from seed to salad in just three weeks. Green beans, tomatoes, summer squash and cucumbers are other good choices, but they do take longer. Be sure to plant extra seeds because not every one will germinate. This is an important lesson for children – mistakes are natural and an inevitable part of life. If you are starting late and want to make sure you will have a vegetable harvest, you can also buy small plants at a local plant nursery.

Before you plant the seeds, use a shovel, trowel or spade to loosen the soil. Remove weeds, stones and grass from the area. If the soil is very hard (like clay) or very sandy, it would be a good idea to add peat moss or compost to the soil. You will also need a hose or a watering can so that the children can water the earth when it doesn’t rain. If the plants look droopy or the soil feels dry, it is time to water. It is very important to water even before the plants sprout. It is best to water early in the morning or in the late afternoon.

Gardening includes other simple science lessons, all concepts that children can understand. Plants lean or turn towards light. Plants use water, but some of it evaporates into the air. What happens to the water that has evaporated? Without water plants will dry up and die. Plants come from other parts of the world, and sometimes their form gives clues to their origin. Can you find seeds that are native to your country?

When you go out into the garden, take care of the plants, pulling up weeds gently and also any sprouted seeds that are growing too close to another plant. But also look around and look closely at the ground to find birds and bugs that are a part of gardening. You can discuss how living things rely on plants to live, and how the plants need their animal friends. Birds spread seeds; earthworms loosen the dirt for the roots of the plants. What do bees do?

Look for books about gardening in the library. Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss is a wonderful book for very young children. Take photographs of your gardening project. It will be surprising and satisfying to look at the starting photos at the end of the harvest. And don’t forget to put on sunscreen before you do your gardening!