Thanksgiving Crafts

This Thanksgiving instead of spending money on table decorations spend some time with your family making your own with supplies already lying around the house. This sustainable approach to decorating will put money in your wallet and also put reusable items to good use. To learn more about these DIY projects, see below.

Twig Candle Holder

IMG_3552This is a great DIY for table decorations and for saving energy around the home by adding incandescent light around the house.

Supplies needed:

  • Twigs & Branches
  • Empty candle, jar, or glass ware
  • Hot glue or E-6000 super glue
  • Small hand held pruner (optional)
  • Tea light candles

Instructions:

  1. Collect twigs & branches from around your yard.
  2. Begin cutting twigs with small hand held pruner that are a little longer than the jar you are applying them to (or just use your fingers to break apart like I did, it gives a rougher look to the twigs). Once you have a big enough pile of branches set to the side for application.
  3. Begin applying hot glue or E-6000 super glue to each individual stick and begin applying them around the glass. I used my hot glue gun because it was what I had lying around the house.
  4. As you will find out, not all the sticks will lay perfectly straight onto the glass. After applying most of the big branches to the jar, take little twigs and place them within the cracks with a little extra glue. This will give the jar a more completed look.
  5. After you have added all the twigs to satisfy you let the glue dry. After the glue is dry go back and check for any loose twigs and reapply a little glue to secure.
  6. Place tea light candle in jar and enjoy!

TP Tube Turkeys

IMG_3432This is a great project to keep the kids preoccupied during the Holidays and to reuse TP Tubes that would’ve originally went to waste.

Supplies Needed:

  • TP Tubes
  • Marker
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Googly Eyes
  • Paint Brushes
  • Decorating Supplies

Instructions:

  1. IMG_3422Trace onto TP Tube three spikes for the head and twowings, and on the back trace out the feathers by making long vertical marks.
  2. Cut out turkey shape with scissors. Fold wings all the way down and only half of the head spike to show a neck. For the feathers, cut the slits on the back of the turkey and begin coaxing them to fan out with your hands.
  3. Decorate! There are infinite amount of ways you can do this. For most of these, we decided to use glitter. The easiest, less wasteful way to do this is to put the turkey on a sheet a paper, paint glue onto the feathers and wings with a small paintbrush, and shake glitter onto the turkey. When the desired amount of glitter is on the turkey, simply fold IMG_3427paper into a funnel like shape and put remaining, unused glitter back into its container. Repeat until the desired amount of glitter has been added.
  4. Glue googly eyes onto the head of the turkey. And there you have it, a TP Tube Turkey!

*If using glitter with kids sounds absolutely dreadful, you can always hand them some markers or crayons for decorating!

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Native Tree Picks Part Two

We are well into fall, and the brilliant autumn color is gradually fading. Before entering the busy winter holiday season of shopping, cooking, and gathering with family and friends, we may spend time raking the last of the fallen leaves, stacking firewood, and getting ready to spend more time indoors. Despite the cooling weather, the late fall and early winter season is an excellent time to plant trees.

Many local nurseries have fall sales, and as long as the trees have been well cared for in the nursery, you can find high-quality, larger nursery stock trees at a significant discount. Selecting the right native species for your site is essential for the long-term health and survival of your tree.

I have picked a few of my favorite native species that grow well in Central Kentucky:

Shellbark Hickory                                                                          Carya laciniosa

Photo 1- Shellbark Hickory- Dan MullenShellbark hickory’s broad yellowish-rust foliage, large edible nuts, straight trunk, and thick shaggy bark make this tree a unique feature in the landscape. This tree prefers deep, fertile, moist bottomlands, although it can less commonly occur on drier sandy soils and open cedar glades. Shellbark hickory thrives in full sun, and requires ample growing space for its broad crown. Its leaves are dark green and pinnately compound, with usually seven finely-toothed leaflets. Leaves turn yellow, rust, or golden brown in autumn, and typically fall in October. Also called kingnut, shellbark hickory boasts the largest of all hickory nuts. Each oblong nut is encased in a thick husk, which splits open in the early fall when it ripens. The sweet nuts are edible to humans and are also consumed by mice, chipmunks, squirrels, raccoons, foxes, deer, ducks, and wild turkeys. This tree has no serious disease or insect problems that affect its development, but it can be susceptible to pecan weevil, hickory bark beetle, and twig girdler. Shellbark hickory is relatively long-lived and slow growing, but its strong branches will reward patient planters with its ability to withstand wind and ice storms. Shellbark hickory can reach a height of 60-80 feet on most sites.

 Sassafras                                                                                          Sassafras albidum

Photo 2- Sassafras-Fritz Flohr ReynoldsSassafras’ brilliant fall foliage, distinct branch architecture, deeply furrowed bark, and persistent fruit make this tree exceptional for all seasons. This moderately fast-growing, aromatic tree grows well in slightly acidic, moist, well-drained loamy soil in full sun or part shade, but can also tolerate dry, sandy soils. Its leaves have three distinctive shapes: oval, mitten-shaped, and three-lobed, and are bright green in the summer and yellow, orange, red, and purple in the fall. Sassafras trees are dioecious (separate male and female trees). Small, greenish-yellow, fragrant flowers appear in the early spring, and give way to clusters of bluish-black berries that mature in September. The fruits are readily eaten by various species of birds, and squirrels, rabbits, beaver, and bears eat the fruit, bark, and wood. A variety of insect and disease problems can affect sassafras, but they are usually not a major concern. Japanese beetles, sassafras weevils, promethea moths, and scales can be found on this tree, and diseases such as leaf spots, cankers, mildews, wilts, and root rots can also develop. This tree is easy to grow and generally requires little care. Sassafras can reach a height of 30-60 feet.

Witch-hazel                                                                                           Hamamelis virginiana

Photo 3- Witch-hazel- Jessie HirschWitch-hazel’s attractive yellow autumn foliage, multi-stemmed arching branches, fragrant and distinctive fall-blooming flowers, and persistent woody fruit offer year-round interest in the garden or yard. This large shrub or small tree grows best in rich, moist, slightly acidic or neutral well-drained silty loam, but can tolerate heavy clay soils and a variety of moisture conditions. Witch-hazel will grow at a slow to medium rate in full sun or partial shade; however, prolific flower development requires full sun. The leaves are alternate, simple, and oval-shaped, with large wavy-toothed margins and a distinctly asymmetrical leaf base. Dark green foliage turns gold to yellowish-orange in the fall. Witch-hazel has an extraordinary flower pattern. The fragrant, creamy to bright yellow flowers have slender, ribbon-like petals, and appear from late October to December. Although pollination takes place in the fall, fertilization does not occur until the following spring. Seeds develop inside a woody capsule, and are forcibly ejected 20-30 feet away when mature. This ejection has a distinct “snapping” sound, which has led to the plant’s other common name, snapping hazel. Occasionally, cone gall aphids or spiny leaf gall aphids can cause galls to form on leaves, and powdery mildew may also be found on leaves. These are generally not significant problems. Witch-hazel is typically multi-trunked, and usually grows to a height of 10-15 feet.

Photo Credits:

1-             Shellbark hickory- Dan Mullen
2-             Sassafras- Fritz Flohr Reynolds
3-             Witch-hazel- Jessie Hirsch

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Don’t Waste That Turkey!

Turkey Stock out of Turkey Carcass

Ingredients:

  • Leftover turkey carcass, meat, and bones
  • 1 Tbl. Parsley (dried)
  • 1 Tbl. Onion Flakes
  • 1 Tbl. Celery Salt
  • 1 Tbl. Pepper
  • 2 Tsp. Sage
  • 2 Garlic Cloves (crushed just to release flavor)

Instructions:

  1. Place Carcass in stock pot and fill with cold water, about 1 inch above bones.
  2. Add spices: Parsley, Onion flakes, celery salt, pepper, sage, and garlic cloves.
  3. Bring pot to simmer and allow it to simmer for 4 + hours. Cover and Stir occasionally.
  4. Use utensil to remove bones and throw away.
  5. Strain using a mesh strainer to pull out excess fat, spices, etc.
  6. Put in a container and use within a week or freeze in small portions!

*This turkey stock is great as your favorite soup base or gravy.

Bacon Wrapped Stuffing Bites

Ingredients:

  • Left over Stuffing (or dressing)
  • Bacon
  • Toothpicks

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 385 degrees.
  2. Spoon stuffing and roll into individual balls.
  3. Take individual stuffing bites and wrap a ½ piece of bacon around the base of each.
  4. Secure bacon wrap with tooth pick.
  5. Place the bacon wrapped stuffing bites on a baking sheet and put it in preheated oven. Bake until bacon is crispy. (about 10-12 minutes).
  6. Transfer to serving platter and enjoy!
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Join the GreenForce!

It has almost been a year since we started the Bluegrass GreenForce volunteer program. There have been dozens of people who have gotten involved with zero-waste events, rain garden planting, litter clean-ups, and storm drain stenciling all across the Bluegrass.  But we know there is still more work to be done to promote environmental education in Central Kentucky!

We want you to join the GreenForce!  Don’t know how to get involved or get started?  Then you should come to our next GreenForce 101 training class (this will be the last training of the year):

GreenForce 101

When: Saturday Nov. 21st, 10am – 12pm
Where: Bluegrass Greensource, 835 National Ave
Why: Learn the basics of environmental education and volunteering at Bluegrass Greensource.

RSVP by Nov. 20th to Ashley@bggreensource.org

Want to volunteer, but can’t make it to the training?  We have the following volunteer opportunities coming up:

Gobble Grease Toss

When: Friday, November 27th 10am – 2pm (day after Thanksgiving)
Where: Sayre School, 194 N Limestone, Lexington
Why: Help Lexington collect oil/grease.  The used oil will be turned into biofuel.

We will need one volunteer per hour to assist with unloading oil from cars and handing out educational materials.

Holiday Litter-clean up and FOG Education

When: Saturday, December 5th 2-4pm
Where: Location TBD

Everyone is welcome to help clean up litter and pass out FOG (Fats Oils and Grease) educational hangers.

Children’s Environmental Education

When: Tuesday, December 22nd, Times TBD
Where: Athens-Chilesburg Elementary, 930 Jouett Creek Drive, Lexington

You will be assisting our Environmental Educators with activities during ESP (extended school program) – 3 volunteers needed.

For more information about the GreenForce or to get involved with any or our volunteers trainings or events, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Ashley Bryant Cheney, at ashley@bggreensource.org

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Stream Days at the Academy for Leadership at Millcreek Elementary

IMG_3916Millcreek has a wonderful tradition of having Stream Days twice a year. On these days, every student learns to appreciate the stream that they have behind their school. By seeing the creatures that live there and exploring their school’s landscape, students discover why the health of water matters to everyone and everything and how they can help to keep water clean.

This year kindergarten through second grade went on a wildlife safari where they saw animals that used the stream, including ducks, minnows, and even some aquatic insects.  Third through fifth grade were in the gym due to weather. However, with the help of experiential education extraordinaire and Children’s Garden Education Coordinator at the Arboretum, Emma Trestor-Wilson, the creek was brought to them! They shifted through leaf packets and rocks to discover that a lot of creatures live at the bottom of stream! After that, students played a game with a parachute (remember the multi-colored parachute you used in gym class?) where they tried to clean the litter out of Millcreek and other pollutants out of larger bodies of water. It was wonderful to see students so engaged in an activity where they were practicing cleaning a stream!

The stream itself has gone through a major transformation. It began as nothing more than “eroding, urban ditch” but was restored to “improve water quality, create habitat for animals and aquatic life, and create a facility for environmental education,” according to the sign at Millcreek. This was a major effort put together by 17 agencies and businesses including Toyota, Kentucky Fish and Wild, Ecogro and more!

Millcreek continues to provide a wonderful opportunity for their students to get outside and appreciate nature! The students there truly have something special!  Not only do they have the stream, they have a committed staff.  This includes the teachers, especially Ms. Snowden, who organized the event, and Coach Parr who was so concerned about the litter we found at the creek from stormwater runoff that he led a group of students to do a litter clean up, and an administration that are committed to environmental education. Nice work, Millcreek!

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