{While this post is part of a sponsored campaign by Unilever Project Sunlight, all opinions and experiences expressed are entirely my own}
One of the things I love about having a backyard is the ability to grow our own fruits and vegetables. I definitely don’t have a green thumb, but over the years we’ve planted tomatoes, avocados (which we’re still waiting for!), lemons, peaches, and blackberries. We don’t have a ton of space, but I dream of one day having a garden so abundant, that I could simply “shop” in my backyard for fruits and vegetables.
Earlier this month, I shared some information about Unilever’s Project Sunlight, which aims to empower families to live sustainably. For years I’ve tried to share my journey towards a greener lifestyle, focusing on the simple and attainable. Separating out our recyclables, conserving water and electricity, and cooking real food with real ingredients has become so second nature, that I don’t have to put much time, thought or energy into these simple sustainable activities. For families just getting started, the idea of reducing, reusing, recycling, and repurposing can seem daunting. That is why Unilever’s Summer Sunlight Activities are so resourceful! When you visit Unilever Project Sunlight, you’ll information, tools, and project ideas to make a difference right in your home.
After perusing the site, we decided to “Be Our Own Farmer’s Market” by upcycling a few plastic jars to grow tomatoes, onions, and cilantro (my son has always wanted his very own taco garden). Even growing a handful of fruits and veggies can help reduce our carbon footprint…just think how collectively we could positively impact our planet if we each started a small garden in our backyards. And rather than purchasing yet another planter, why not reuse that glass or plastic jar that once housed your favorite spread! This project is very easy and doesn’t take long so it’s perfect for younger kids like my own.
Here is what you need to Be Your Own Farmer’s Market
- Six 8-ounce jars (glass or plastic)
- Potting soil
- Small pebbles
- Fruit, vegetable and/or herb seeds
- Water
- Marker/Labels
1. Rinse out your jars to remove food debris.
2. Label each jar with the fruit, vegetable, or herb you’ll be growing. You can also get fancy and create/print your very own labels.
3. Fill jars 1/4 full with pebbles to provide drainage.
4. Add soil to the jar, leaving approximately 1 inch of space at the top.
5. Make a hole for seeds and refer to the packet for specific growing instructions.
6. Water daily and place near a sunny area (we have our plants situated by our kitchen window).
Not only is this project fun, it provides teachable moments for kids and begins teaching them about responsibility, since they’ll have to “care” for their plants. Typically, results don’t take long so kids can also see how their efforts are making a difference. My kids get very excited when it’s time to pick lemons and they like to suggest recipe ideas like lemonade or lemon desserts. If you have a child that struggles with eating certain fruits and veggies, this may be the motivation they need to try something new.
Once you finally start to see the “fruits” (hehe) of your labor, try one of Unilever’s fresh summer recipes like their Black Bean & Corn Salsa using the fresh cilantro you’ve grown or Chicken & Basil Rice Stir Fry using home-grown basil and bell peppers.
We know that our planet is in need of preservation, or our precious resources will be used up before our children and grandchildren have had an opportunity to grow up. Project Sunlight aims to help families achieve a world where no child goes hungry, every child lives to their fiftieth birthday, every family has enough water to drink and cook, and clean with, and families can enjoy living today while protecting the planet for future generations. Are you ready to make a difference? What Summer Sunlight Project will you try this season?
Images: Rockin’ Mama/Unilever
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