Reminders from Mother Nature

#DoItYOURSELF
#MakeACHANGE

Yes, it’s one of those times where you sweep your lazy bums off the sofa for watching too much, or sitting on the chair in front of a laptop, in a dim room, wondering what year it is. No, you get up. Stand up. Walk around the room. Walk out of the room. Greet your mother hello. Greet your sister hello. Greet your father hello. Get out of the house, knock at your neighbour’s house, greet them, share a smile, and don’t continue reading this post until you’ve done that. (Not wise if you’re reading this in the middle of the night.) I hope you learned something new from them.

Now that you’re all pumped up for the activity, or just the exact opposite, no matters! It won’t be a craft that requires a lot of technical skills. God bless.

And the dish(craft) you will be cooking(making) today is…

A terrarium necklace. I’m guessing that is a quite straightforward craft to do. “Just stick a plant and some soil into a little container and you’re good!” But it would be silly of me if I put it that way, even when that is the truth.

YOU WILL NEED:

• A glass bottle charm

 

Honestly, I have no idea where you can get these bottles without buying them intentionally. When I was young, they were in the ‘trend’, and the people who sold these bottles decorate them prettily. And they put pink glittery things into it and make it sparkly. And you put little messages for yourself ten years later, and bury it in the garden……

• A small plant and soil (that fits in a bottle)

Yuka comments “The plants that I’ve put in my necklaces so far have stayed small (mostly clovers and plants that don’t become huge), but yes, that’s totally possible if you use other plants!” I think having small plants is a nice idea, but what if you put a normal small plant in it, if it overgrows the bottle, replant it on solid ground, and place another small plant in the bottle? Excuse me for the sudden bold in words. That was a good idea for the environment, and I want people to take note of that.

• Tweezers

Some things that I don’t really need to elaborate.

• A chain or string for the necklace

Length depends. Making it a bracelet would be a bit annoying dangling around your arm. If you don’t like it as a necklace, there are always other options to be explored, like hanging somewhere on a hook where you see it every day.

• Jump ring

Don’t take it literally. It will not hop out of your sight.

 

METHODS:

1. Stick the dirt and plant in the bottle. Or, stick the soil first, then use the tweezers and stick the plant in. (Don’t squish it!!!)
2. Also, clean the inside of the glass because it won’t look like nice with dirt everywhere. “I cleaned mine with a chopstick wrapped with a little tissue around the end.” Quote by the author. Then, close the bottle.
3. Attach a jump ring, and let the chain or string go around it.
4. Lastly, water it every day! So this lovely plant will grow.

I actually love this idea of bringing a little plant around. When I first saw this post, I thought it’s simply brilliant for the workshop I’d be doing for a primary school, as part of the environmental group committee, and teach them about sustainability.

That little necklace is a constant reminder of the urgency of global warming, and the way they will water it every day, will become a habit to participate in events for the environment. I also interpreted it as a souvenir from Mother Earth, reminding, reminding, reminding that this is our Earth, and we’re to make a change here.

 

Also, shameless promotion of semi-related environmental programmes in Australia:

Youth Decide: The Energy Election is a national youth vote on renewable energy. In the next few months, the Federal Government will make a decision about how much of Australia’s future electricity will come from coal, gas, wind or sun. For one week in September, young people across Australia will come together in a national youth referendum. This is our opportunity to have our say on this critical issue.

From 10-17 September, join young people across the country holding voting events in their schools, universities, workplaces or communities. Put up your hand to help tens of thousands of young people be heard: register to hold your own voting event by filling in the form below.

(READ MORE: http://youthdecide.aycc.org.au/)

Because this is downright important business. And my group had only a week to organise this, and we need as many Australian youths to vote. I am aware that all my recent posts are environment related subjects, but… (resisting the temptation to use a witty response like #yolo)

      Please don’t forget about the environment.
                        Please don’t forget about her.

 Thank you, Clossette, for sharing us this craft! For the original article, here is the place. Picture credits in chronological order: x, x, x, x, x and x.