What You Need:

Cardboard pizza box (the kind delivered pizza comes in)

Box knife or scissors

Aluminum foil

Clear tape

Plastic wrap (a heavy-duty or freezer zip lock bag will also work)

Black construction paper

Newspapers

Ruler, or wooden spoon

What You Do:

1. Use a box knife or sharp scissors to cut a flap in the lid of the pizza box. Cut along three sides,

leaving about an inch between the sides of the flap and the edges of the lid. Fold this flap outso that it stands up when the box lid is closed.

2. Cover the inner side of the flap with aluminum foil so that it will reflect rays from the sun. To do

this, tightly wrap foil around the flap, then tape it to the back, or outer side of the flap.

3. Use clear plastic wrap to create an airtight window for sunlight to enter into the box. Do this byopening the box and taping a double layer of plastic wrap over the opening you made whenyou cut the flap in the lid. Leave about an inch of plastic overlap around the sides and tapeeach side down securely, sealing out air. If you use a plastic bag, cut out a square big enoughto cover the opening, and tape one layer over the opening.

4. Line the bottom of the box with black construction paper - black absorbs heat. The black sur-

face is where your food will be set to cook.

5. To insulate your oven so it holds in more heat, roll up sheets of newspaper and place them onthe bottom of the box. Tape them down so that they form a border around the cooking area.The newspaper rolls should make it so that the lid can still close, but there is a seal inside ofthe box, so air cannot escape.

6. The best hours to set up your solar oven are when the sun is high overhead - from 11 am to 3pm. Take it outside to a sunny spot and adjust the flap until the most sunlight possible is re-flecting off the aluminum foil and onto the plastic-covered window. Use a ruler to prop the flapat the right angle. You may want to angle the entire box by using a rolled up towel.

7. You can make toast by buttering a slice of bread, or sprinkling cheese on it, then letting the sundo the rest. Cooking a hot dog or making nachos with chips and cheese are also fun treats tomake in your solar oven! It would also work great to heat up leftovers. So the paper at the bot-tom doesn't get dirty, put what you would like to cook on a clear plastic or glass plate. A pieplate would work well.

To take food out of the oven, open up the lid of the pizza box, and using oven mitts or potholders,

lift the glass dish out of the oven

EARTH DAY ACTIVITY #1Building a Solar Box Cooker

Have you ever thought about how many chemicals you use every day? Do you wonder how they may be affecting you and theenvironment?

Some disinfectants, cleaners and even air fresheners contain chemicals that can potentially damage your health, as well as the environment. However, by substituting chemicals with naturalingredients you can clean up your home, office, clothes, and the environment.

These Earth-friendly products are made with readily available ingredients that work as well or, in some cases, better than traditional cleaners. And you can save money!Just implementing a few of these at a time will go a long way toward creating a chemical-free house, a safer environment and a healthier family.

Floor and Rug Cleaners

Ceramic Tile: Clean using a solution of 1/4 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1 cupammonia and 1 gallon warm water. This solution also works well as a general cleaner.

Linoleum/Vinyl Floors:

Polish with a mix of 1 part thick boiled starch with 1 part soap suds. Rub this mixture onthe floor and polish with a clean, soft, dry cloth.

To strip commercial floor wax, pour club soda on the surface, scrub, let soak for a fewminutes and wipe clean.

Wood Floors: Damp-mop with a mild vegetable-oil soap; dry immediately.

Rugs/Carpets

Mixing 1/2 cup dishwashing detergent and 1 pint boiling water. Cool and whip into a stiff foam with an electric mixer. Apply the solution to 4-by-4-foot sections with a damp sponge. Wipe off the suds and rinse with a solution of 1 cup vinegar in 1 gallon of warm water,

changing the rinse water frequently. Clean your rug on a dry, warm day so you can open the windows to facilitate drying.

Spot Remover

Butter, Coffee, Gravy, or Chocolate Stains: Scrape off or sponge up as much of the spot aspossible. Then dab with a cloth dampened in a mixture of 1 teaspoon white vinegar and 1quart cold water.

Grease Spots:

Apply a paste of cornstarch and water. Cover with baking soda or cornmeal, let dry, and brush off. Scrub the spot with toothpaste. On rugs, sprinkle dry cornstarch on the spot and vacuum.

EARTH DAY ACTIVITY #2Recipes for a Healthy You and a Healthy Environment

Silver:

Place the silver in an aluminum or enameled pan lined on the bottom with aluminum foil. Fill with enough water to cover the silver. Add 1 teaspoon baking soda and 1 teaspoon salt. Boil for 3 minutes. Remove the silver, wash in soapy water, and polish. Do not use this method for silver jewelry or flatware with hollow handles.

Brass: Scrub with Worcestershire sauce or toothpaste; or apply tomato ketchup, let sit, and re-move when dry. Or, clean it with water in which onions have been boiled.

Copper: Apply white vinegar and salt, and rub.

Brass or Copper: Use a paste of lemon juice and salt.

Glass Cleaner Pour any of these mixtures into a spray bottle. Spray on and wipe off.

3 tablespoons ammonia, 1 tablespoon white vinegar and 3/4 cup water. 1 quart water with 1/2 cup vinegar and 1 to 2 tablespoons of lemon juice or rubbing alcohol.

Oven Cleaner Commercial oven cleaners usually contain lye, which is extremely toxic. Instead:

Apply a paste of water and baking soda to the spot, then scrub it with steel wool. (Be careful not toget any of the mixture on the heating elements.)

Sprinkle salt on spills while they are warm and scrub them off.

Drain Cleaner Prevent drain clogs by covering drains with screens to keep out grease, hair, and food scraps. If blockage does occur:

Pour 1 cup each. baking soda, salt and white vinegar down the drain. Wait 15 minutes and flushwith boiling water.

The less-determined can toss a handful of baking soda and 1/2 cup vinegar down the drain, covertightly for one minute. Rinse with hot water.

Use a plumber's snake or plunger on tough clogs.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Pour 1/2 cup chlorine bleach into the bowl. Let stand for 30 minutes and scrub clean. Scrub with a solution of 1/2 cup borax in 1 gallon of water.

Disinfectant and Germicide

Soapy water works well in place of a disinfectant.

Air Freshener/Deodorizer

Air fresheners do not really freshen air, they diminish your sense of smell with oil or other chemical so you no longer smell the offensive odor. Instead, try vinegar or lemon juice in a spray bottle, or set small dishes of vinegar, lemon juice or baking soda around the house. A cotton ball soaked in pure vanilla will overpower odors in the car or refrigerator. Grind lemons in the garbage disposal for a fresher smell.

Earth Green is Earth Strong; Earth Strong is a Stronger and Healthier You

Furniture Polish

Use olive oil, lemon oil, beeswax, or a mixture of bees wax and olive oil. A pint mineral, vegetable, or olive oil combined with 2 teaspoons lemon oil in a spray bottle also works.

Metal Polish

What is it?

Composting is a natural process, basically decomposition or rotting, that converts organic waste - leaves, grass clippings, small twigs and most kitchen scraps - into a dark, crumbly material that makes a rich soil additive. The waste is broken down by naturally occurring microorganisms into a product suitable for mulching, fertilizing or conditioning soil.

Why Compost?

Adding compost to soil helps it retain moisture and makes soil easier to till. Plants grow better because the soil has more nutrients, resulting in less need for chemical fertilizers. More

importantly, it keeps waste out of landfills and repurposes them in a beneficial way.

Getting Started - The Container

While starting a compost pile is more involved than just raking leaves into a pile, the whole project is fairly simple and generally can produce a good batch of compost every three to four week.

Compost can be made almost anywhere. A bin isn’t necessary. An area to pile leaves and grass clippings together will do, but that can be messy and unattractive. Wooden stakes and chicken wire can be used for a simple compost bin. Inexpensive collapsible plastic bins are sold at most garden stores and are good for military families who move frequently.

A good, permanent bin is a sturdy wooden box, approximately three feet by three feet. It should have a cover and a large side opening that provides a place to stir the compost and to remove it.

After deciding on a compost container, choose a level spot large enough to accommodate it. It should be near a water source, cleared of grass or other vegetation, and preferably out of direct sunlight and away from the house. The compost bin works best if it is off the ground as this allows better ventilation. A wooden palette or logs covered by chicken wire make good base for the bin.

Getting Started - Ingredients

The four most important things to remember in composting are green, brown, water and air.

Bring together green ingredients (fresh grass clippings, weeds, kitchen scraps, etc.) and

Brown ingredients (dry leaves, hay, straw, wood chips, etc.)

Add water to keep this mixture damp but not soggy. (It should maintain the consistency of asqueezed-out sponge.)

Turn the pile every few days to mix old and layers, and to add enough air for the microorganismsto thrive. (Burying a perforated pipe in the pile will supply a constant stream of fresh air.)

The green ingredients supply nitrogen, while the brown ones supply carbon, producing an ideal diet for the microorganisms. Add successive layers of this organic material if possible, but during seasons when dry, brown materials are not available, compost may still be made with only wet, green plant material.

EARTH DAY ACTIVITY #3

Composting Yard Waste

Composting Tips

Branches and other debris should be chipped before being added to a compost bin to accelerate decomposition. If a large quantity of chipped wood is added to the compost, add a small amount of fertilizer to increase the level of nitrogen.

Chopping large material into smaller pieces, keeping the pile moist, and frequently turn-ing the pile can speed up the composting process. The compost pile should begin cook-ing once it is established and should feel warm to the touch. A carefully maintained com-post pile can turn waste into compost in as little as four to six weeks.

What Can and Can't Be Composted?

Most organic materials are acceptable for use as compost, including grass clippings, leaves, coffee grounds and filters, shredded woody yard waste and sawdust, wool and cotton rags, and manure from herbivorous animals, such as cows, horses, sheep and chickens. Many foods can be composted as well, but meats, grease and dairy products should be omitted because they cause odors and attract pests.

Non-organic materials, such as styrofoam, metal, plastic, and charcoal or coal ashes are not suitable for composting. Other materials that should not be composted are diseased plants, food waste that may attract pests, noxious weeds, and pet wastes, which may contain disease.

The Only Option for Yard Waste

According to the EPA, Americans generated about 251 million tons of trash and recycled and composted almost 87 million tons of this material. Reducing our waste is important a we are rapidly filling our nation's landfills, and new sites are difficult to create because of environmental requirements and community objections. Currently there are 23 states that ban some fashion of organics disposal in landfills, mostly leaves, grass and other yard debris. Composting in your backyard recycles wastes that might otherwise go to landfills.

Earth Green is Earth Strong; Earth Strong is a Stronger and Healthier You

Adults, visit EWG on the web: https://www.ewg.org/consumer-guides

SYMPTOMS PROBLEM SOLUTION

Bad Odor Not enough air Turn the pile

Dry center Not enough water Add water while turning the pile

Damp and Warm Pile is too small Add more material to center of pile

Damp, sweet-smelling but not warm

Lack of nitrogen Mix in a nitrogen source (wet, green material)