Recycled Art Camps

reCREATE is co-hosting some cool art camps with reuse materials this summer over at the Utility Exploration Center in Roseville. The folks from Good Day Sacramento came over to do a little teaser about our classes... that was kind of fun!

So why reuse materials for art? Using every-day, non artsand craft kit type items pushs the creativity of kids. I observed some students with tennis ball containers, and saw them each see something different - a fish, a rocket, a race car.... it was awesome! Also - your child just might rethink asking you to make that trip to Michaels (no offense to Michaels - I make plenty of trips there too), and grab a box and some popsicle sticks and start creating.

Here are a few examples of the art that was made on TV.





More info about the classes is on the reCREATE website. We still have space for a few more kids!

Awesome Compost Option

Wow... I must admit I found this cool composter over at the LJ Urban Blog. I am just really impressed with this undersink option. The price is right, and it can handle a good amount of food waste. I was most impressed when I read the Earth Facts. here

Composting has been one of those things I haven't done well, but after reading that information, I am going to make a committment to do it better. They offer discounts on orders of 3 or more, anyone want to join me in my purchase?!

Back on my Plastic Soapbox

A few months back, I went to observe Art from Scrap, and learn about their art reuse program. One of the things they told the children is that you can find the little pieces of plastic (the little beads used in plastic manufacturing - called Nurdles) on any beach in the world. I was appalled at this claim, and wondered if it was true... so when my family and I made a trip to Monterey, we stopped that the beach in Sand City to fly a kite, and sure enough, I found those little beads of plastic where all along the shore.

So, why is this a big deal? Take a look at this. It might make you reconsider accepting a plastic bag or buying a bottle of water.

So, to make ourselves feel a little better about the state of our beaches, my 5 year old son and I gathered up a huge bag (that we found on the beach) full of plastic garbage that others had left, in hopes the high-tide wouldn't add it to the sea debris problem. The lifeguard on-duty told us we got good karma for what we did. Me? I wanted to pass my karma on to the ocean - it needs it.
PLEASE pack out every single piece of plastic with you when you leave the beach.

To learn more about the problem of nurdles - you can click here.