Green Life Project: The Water Cycle

This is a fun family project to do to show how water recycles itself!

Things you will need:
- A clean glass jar and lid (mayonnaise jars work well)
- Gravel
- Clean sand (play sand or aquarium sand)
- Potting soil
- A small plant such as moss, or grass seed or small beans
- A bottle cap or small seashell.

Directions:
1) Layer into the jar the gravel, sand, and then the soil on top. Use thinner layers of gravel and sand, and a thick layer of soil.
2) Add a small plant, or seeds.
3) Gently water.
4) Add shell or cap with water in it, and close lid.
5) Place in a sunny spot and watch the water cycle over the next hours and days!

GREEN LIFE PROJECT: Pinecone Bird Feeders

The Green Life was developed as a way for Metro GreenScape to share the fun of outdoor living with families in our area. This month we would like to bring you a quick and easy project to do with the kids.

Pine Cone Bird Feeders

Materials you will need for each pinecone feeder:

• A large, open pinecone
• Vegetable shortening and peanut putter
• Birdseed
• A few feet of string, fishing line or twine
• Mixing bowl
• Butter knife
• Spoon
• Scissors
• Pie tin, paper plate or cookie sheet
• ½ cup measuring cup
• Optional: High-energy bird foods such as dried fruit (cut in small pieces), chopped nuts, sunflower seeds or millet

Directions

1. Tie a three to four foot piece of yarn around the top of the pine cone for the hanger.
2. Mix two tablespoons of peanut butter with two tablespoons of shortening.
3. Spread the peanut butter and shortening mixture onto the pine cone.
4. Pour some bird seed onto a plate or shallow dish and roll the pine cone in it.
5. Optional: add dried fruit (chopped up), chopped nuts, seeds (especially sunflower and millet) which are high-energy bird foods.
6. Place the seed-covered pine cones in the freezer for about an hour or until it is firm.
7. Hang it outside in a tree!

Tips:
1. Hang your pine cone at the end of a smaller branch so squirrels don't get it.
2. Work with the bird seed over newspaper to help make clean up time easier.
3. The feeders are best when it is cooler outside. If it is too warm, the shortening will melt and the mixture fall from the cone.

*** please send us your completed feeder pictures! We would love to include them on our blog! (send to: heather@metrogreenscape.com)

Upcoming events from Metro GreenScape

On August 28-30 at the Park (formerly the Charlotte Merchandise Mart), we will be exhibiting at the Southern Ideal Home Show. Details are below. We will be live on the Carolina Gardener radio program on WBT 1110AM talking about The Women's Show August 29th from 8-10am.

Then on September 16th we will be sponsoring an event to teach Realtors how their clients can get better down payment options with Home Services Lending.

Our next Green Life Event, "Bring Your Garden to Light" will be October 6th from noon-1pm at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. Then on October 10th, we will be at Daniel Stowe again for a session on outdoor lighting. Details on both events coming soon.

Would you like more information on The Green Life or other Metro Greenscape Events?
Check our Outdoor Living Website.

Metro GreenScape Newsletter Archive

Metro GreenScape is please to announce our new newsletter archive for back issues of THE GREEN LIFE. Check that out and learn more about outdoor living, living green and Metro GreenScape.

Earth Friendly Tips: Get your landscape off chemicals

Many homeowners wish to have lush green lawns all year long even in the heat of the summer. We use high concentrate chemicals packed with nitrogen to make grass green and grow at a fast rate. The more chemicals that are used, the more the nutrients from the soil are depleted. The high salt amounts draw moisture out of the soil and grass and causes the grass to burn. We think by adding more fertilizer to the grass that we will correct the issue. There are better ways to correct these problems and the following will give you a step by step program to revitalize your grass.

First, take a soil test. The soil test will give you the ph level of the soil and tell you what nutrients and too high or too low. This will give you a good guide so that you know where to begin with the revitalization. You can then add the correct nutrients and minerals to the soil to correct the issues. Make sure that you are adding organic matter to your soil. Another way to revitalize your soil, take up some of the grass and add native plantings. Plant shrubbery and trees that attract birds and bees that will pollinate plants and control insects. Try to avoid exotic plantings that will crowd out native plantings and destroy current ecosystems.

You will use less fertilizers and your lawn will be healthier if you mow less often. Let the grass grow between 2.5 to 3.5 inches before mowing. Also, the grass clippings are good for the soil. The grass that is being cut away is full of nutrients and once the clippings fall back down to the soil level, it will decompose adding that nutrients back to the soil.

When it comes to weed control, use natural products such as vinegar and water. Try to avoid using chemical products such as Round Up to remove the weeds. Some areas may be better to remove the weeds by hand versus a spray. Also, if you are going to use a weed barrier, find something that will be biodegradable instead of vinyl or plastic which will only cause problems in the future.

Invite nature into your landscape. Install a birdbath or birdhouse. Bats are very good to have around because they eat insects. Installing a bat house will attract them to your landscape area. Bats will help keep insects in control instead of using insecticides which are not healthy for the environment. Also, don’t waste precious natural resources. Compost leaves and fruit and vegetable peelings. These natural resources will break down over time, creating a very nutrient rich compost soil that can be added to planting beds. Capture water off gutters in a rain barrel and use the water to irrigate plantings. Creating nutrient rich soil will also reduce the amount of water that is needed on turf and landscaping because the soil will retain more water instead of the salt content in fertilizers which draw water out and dry the soil.

If you would like to learn more about green living, you may think about joining The Green Life. Check out our website, www.metrogreenscape.com, to read more about The Green Life, our E-newsletter, meetings, and much more.

(c) 2009 Metro GreenScape