April 22nd is Earth Day! This day marks a true celebration of the environment and bringing “Green” into our every day lives. In fact, Earth Day, which started in 1970 following the historic 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, has evolved today into "Earth Week, a time when students, teachers and parents become involved in hands-on sustainable projects and environmental awareness efforts nationwide.

To help kick off this event, we’ve turned our dead tennis balls into “Seedling Starter Kits”! This effective environmental craft is perfect for children in elementary schools, after school programs, and even at home. This creative project is easy, fun to make and costs only pennies, as children not only learn the hard facts about re-using something non-biodegradable, but also how to make it fully functional.


To get this project going, you’ll need

-
Scissors
-
Seeds
-
Spoon
-
6 or more tennis balls
-
Soil
-
Water

Simply cut off the upper part of the tennis ball by beginning at the seam (adult should do this) and wash inside well. Place a spoonful of soil at base, add 2 or 3 seeds, and finish off with additional soil until filled. Gently flatten and pat down soil. Place tennis balls in a tray, on cork board, or on any flat surface and keep in a warm, sunny spot so seeds can germinate. Make sure you label your seeds or sort them with seed markers. Check water frequently so that your seedling’s growth is full of moisture and humidity. Each tennis ball serves as an individual cell or sprout-pot so that seedlings can have a fresh start and your herb garden can too!

Once seeds have sprouted and are ready to be transplanted – simple relocate each cell into the earth or a large pot! No leaky mess – and no waste because each ball washes out nicely for the next seedling kit to be created again.

This is a great Earth-Day booster – especially as you’re able to turn something not so eco-friendly, such as a dead tennis ball, into a wonderful Earth Day project for years to come. It is an effective and impactful way of teaching kids how to RETHINK waste and REUSE them into their day-to-day lives, while recycling used tennis balls! In fact, once the seedlings have grown and are ready to be transplanted, they can prepare to give as a gift for Mother’s Day!

Article by Balls-Go-Round.org Cofounders, Karly & Jeffrey Krasnow