Earth Week 2016 at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum

This is the third year in a row that Friends of Brower Park participated in the Brooklyn Children’s Museum’s celebration of the earth.  This year, in the museum’s greenhouse, children had a wonderful time making seed germinators from recycled and eco-friendly clear plastic egg cartons.

The activity was such a success that over the course of three workshops we made close to a hundred germinators. We made a quick decision to use plastic cups rather than disappoint the children and their families. In addition to the egg cartons, we provided Mammoth Russian Sunflower seeds, harvested by community volunteers from the Monarch Butterfly Garden in Brower Park, and soil.

Families were sent home with homework. They had to measure the growth of the seedlings over time. When they reach 3 to 4 inches they will be transplanted into a sunny spot in a garden or a large container. Children who don’t have a place to plant their seedlings can come to Brower Park on one of our It’s My Park Day events, to plant the seedling in the Monarch Butterfly Garden coming completing a life cycle. Sunflowers require direct sunlight, consistent watering, and loving care to grow to their full 9 foot height.

 

If you would like to build your own seed germinator you may download the instructions: BuildaSeedGerminator