|
Jeff Stevenson from Imagination Station demonstrated how to create an eco-friendly planter and showcased unique gardening designs created from recycled materials. Gordon MacRitchie with United Way of Greater Toledo and Yvonne Dubielak with Toledo Grows discussed how to create a successful community garden.
The kick off was venued at United Way’s community garden at the corner of Jackson and Summit. The garden was established four years ago and is maintained with the help of volunteers from United Way, HCR Manor Care, Fifth Third Bank, and others.
“The garden is there for anyone to enjoy,” said Gordon MacRitchie of United Way of Greater Toledo. “All we ask is if you pick a veggie, please pull a weed.”
About Green Science at Imagination Station
Imagination Station, Toledo’s Science Center, makes recycling fun with Green Science on April 22 – 27 [Remember,…April 22 is Earth Day!]. Each year, US-Americans generate well over 200 million tons of trash, and only 34 percent of that is recycled. The science center believes it’s never too early to learn how to take care of the planet and discover creative ways to reduce, reuse and recycle.
Guests will learn to reduce their environmental footprint by conserving water and energy in their own home. Visitors of all ages will explore creative ways to reuse by creating a trellis using a bicycle wheel, protecting vegetables and fruits from birds using old CDs and discovering many other creative, “green” uses for old products. Imagination Scientists help guests take recycling into their own hands by making their own seed paper out of old newspaper.
The littlest visitors, kindergarten age and younger, can help a Cardboard Garden grow in Little KIDSPACE as they find creative ways to reuse boxes. Construct a castle, design a spaceship, build a tower, and much more! The possibilities are endless as little recyclers use their imagination to repurpose cardboard.
“Green Science is a great way to expose kids to recycling in a fun, hands-on way,” Sloan Mann, Assistant Director of STEM Education for Imagination Station, said. “They are always shocked by how many of the things they think of as trash can be repurposed.”
She said that her favorite creations are the unique gardening designs. “A lot of people think that they don’t have room to grow their own food, but you don’t need a lot of space to grow most vegetables. A container, soil, sunlight and some creativity will usually do the trick.”
|
