Friday, May 30, 2014

All Roads Lead To Healthy Biking

How and Where to Bike for a Healthier Planet and Healthier People: Tips, Aps, Routes, Safety, More

All roads lead to healthy biking with these bicycle, bike trip and safety tips
All roads lead to healthy biking with these bicycle, bike trip and safety tips
Recycle and Re-think Bicycle!

Friends and family that bike together are green to go

Biking is a great way to help Earth and help stay in shape.  It's also a great way to spend time with friends and family and instill good healthy habits in kids. Biking can be a fun filled family activity when you are camping, at the beach, on vacation or just about anytime.

Sometimes, however, it's hard to know where to bike safely. Google has a bike route app for just that! It helps you find local bike routes. 
So, whether you are home or someplace new, you can find a local bike map.  

Biking Everyday 

In many countries, such as Japan,  using bicycles for transportation is a norm. Many cities such as Paris and Boston have implemented Bike Share Programs  which allow you the freedom to get a bike without worrying about storage or transporting one.

You can also rent from private bike companies.  Just check online for the country of your choice.  Here are lists for finding bike rentals in USA and in Europe 
Did you know? 
  • Bicycles  displace over 238 million gallons of gasoline per year, by replacing car trips with bicycle trips
  • When Worldwatch Institute compared energy used per passenger-mile (calories), they found that a bicycle needed only 35 calories, whereas a car expended a whopping 1,860
  • Bicycles use 2% as much energy as cars per passenger-kilometer
  • Bicycles cost less than 3% as much to purchase
  • 6 to 20. bikes can be parked in a single car parking space in a paved lot
(Facts courtesy of www.treehugger.com)
Bicycle Safety
  • Always wear a helmet.
  • Obey traffic signs and signals.
  • Wear Light or bright-colored clothing
  • Have reflectors
  • Install a horn or bell that can be heard up to 100-feet.
  • Ride in the right-most lane that goes with the direction or flow of traffic.
  • Signal your moves 
  • Beware of cars opening doors 
  • Re-think music player
  • Put the mobile phone on hold
  • Avoid busy streets -use designated routes and trails whenever possible
For more detailed info on these tips, such as how to make hand signals, check out this great article from the Baltimore Sun
Happy Biking! 
© jag planetpals.com all rights reserved The Re-cycle design available from Planetpals Shop
All roads lead to healthy biking with these bicycle, bike trip and safety tips
Be a Planetpal Bike Healthy and Be Happy.

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  © Judith Gorgone creator planetpals.com all rights reserved. Contact us for usage and licensing information for Planetpals content and  Planetpals Characters and Brand.
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- See more at: http://planetpalsblog.blogspot.com/#sthash.obkTEeir.dpuf

Friday, May 23, 2014

Patriotic Crafts That Are A Natural For Summer!

Make your holiday RED, WHITE, BLUE and GREEN!
Memorial day marks the beginning of the beach season, at least here in the Northeast.  It's a time when  families open up their summer homes and embrace the coming sun and sea.

If you are headed for one of those sandy beaches on Cape Cod, the Maine Coast or elsewhere, gather some stones and head home to make a patriotic craft you can enjoy all summer long for  Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day.

The lazy days of summer allow us the perfect time to do nature crafts.  
Enjoy the summer by taking part in the celebration in a crafty way!
Cape Cod is a stone's throw to sandy beaches where beach rocks, shells and driftwood are plentiful.  Add some paint and you have the perfect summer project!
See what we did! Painted shells and rock crafts are patriotic for Fourth of July and Simple!
Busy being patriotic and creative!
Ten neighborhood kids in Sandwich, MA decided to make painted rocks, shells and wood to sell in their lemonade stand to put towards their summer activity fund.  The project included children ages 5 to 13.  
It was a perfect way to start the summer and a patriotic holiday...and did I say a blast for Fourth of July?
summer nature crafts  painted flag rocks
Painted shells pieces and rocks make great flags! 
Painted shells and rock crafts are patriotic for usa
Stars and stripes decor for Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day any Patriotic Holiday
Painted shells and rock crafts are patriotic for usa
A fun craft for any age.
Painted shells and rock crafts are patriotic for usa
Kids can learn to take pride in their country and their work.
Painted shells and rock crafts are patriotic for usa
Almost ready for the holiday weekend.  
photos © planetpals  all rights reserved.
For more Patriotic USA Crafts and Crafty Food Ideas check out our  Holiday Craft Page and Pinterest Board
For more summer ideas check out Planetpals Summer Journal 
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  © Judith Gorgone creator planetpals.com all rights res

erved. Contact us for usage and licensing information for Planetpals content and  Planetpals Characters and Brand.
Join @planetpals on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Twitter  

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

How To Tap A Maple Tree And Make Maple Syrup - A Sweet Lesson For Spring


Did you know it's really simple to tap a MAPLE TREE and get some liquid gold ?

How to tap a maple tree and make natural maple syrup.  DIY Nature's gold! Simple.
Photo compliments of Anne Shuman
This project is a natural!

Beat the Winter blues and celebrate Spring by making it an adventure in learning!  This is a sweet nature project my friends Richard and Anne did with their grandson.  You can try this at home, too. All you need is a Maple tree, containers, a spike, jars, patience and ingenuity.

You have to tap the trees in Early Spring, after snow. The equipment needed is simple, you can buy new equipment or reuse things you have around the house.  It's up to you!  

If it's too late for you to do this this year, be sure and put it on your calendar for next!

The Simple Art of Tapping A Maple Tree:
How, when, where:
  • Generally, the sap starts to flow between mid-February and mid-March. (check for best times where you live). It can change year to year depending on the weather, too.
  • Trees should be at least 12-20 inches in diameter.  If the tree is 12-20 inches you can have one tap.  If it's 21-27 inches you can have 2.  Larger, you can have 3. 
  • Once you capture the sap you need to boil it down a lot.  
  • For more information and a complete guide go to TAP MY TREE
  • Need More Help? Great tips on this Video

What you need: (You can buy a tapping kit or be creative and make your own)
  • Healthy tree
  • Drill
  • Spike (Or Spile)
  • Bucket or containers
  • Jars
What you will need to do:
  • Clean equipment
  • Drill holes
  • Insert a spike
  • Tap the tree
  • Boil
  • Prepare jars
  • Fill

Drill holes or buy maple syrup plugs (reusable)


Did you know it's really simple to tap a MAPLE TREE and get some liquid gold
Photo compliments of Anne Shuman

Boil, Boil, Boil.  It takes several containers of sap to make a jar of syrup.


Did you know it's really simple to tap a MAPLE TREE and get some liquid gold
Photo compliments of Anne Shuman

Use recycled or new jars to store the maple syrup

Photo compliments of Anne Shuman

Why not have kids jar their own maple syrup :)  Such a sweet educational nature project for them, too!

Photo compliments of Anne Shuman


Complete Guide Available:


A simple and complete guide with detailed information can be found at TAPMYTREES.com.  It's a great source with diagrams, charts, more.Did you know it's really simple to tap a MAPLE TREE and get some liquid gold
From Tap My Trees .com

Maple Syrup Recycle, Recipes and More Ideas:

For more ideas on maple syrup and items you can recycle to tap Check out Planetpals TAP TAP TAP for Maple Syrup Board on Pinterest

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  © Judith Gorgone creator planetpals.com all rights reserved. Contact us for usage and licensing information for Planetpals content and  Planetpals Characters and Brand.
Join @planetpals on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Twitter 
Thanks to my friends Anne and Richard for a great story. If you would like to contribute a story idea to this blog contact me :)






Saturday, May 10, 2014

How To Make A Fairy Garden With Found and Natural Objects

The Fun and Fantasy Of A Fairy Garden


Make a fairy garden with your kids or grandkids.  It's a simple recipe to teach them about gardening and recycling at the same time, not to mention a chance to share.

This creative project is perfect for the home or the classroom. It allows children to use their imagination and ingenuity to create a world based on any theme.  Fairy gardens can be made around many themes such as folklore, storybook, circus, camping and more.


All you need to know is how to grow moss, or  grow flowers that work well in a fairy garden, for your particular environment (shady spaces, sunny spaces etc), and lastly, gather ideas to make cottages, furniture and other objects for your magical world.

What fun it can be to create items from natural objects such as acorns and twigs, and recycled objects like buttons and bottle caps.  The sky is the limit! Pile it mile high, work it around your flower beds or make it in a container. Then add gates and swings and create signage.  It's your own little world of fun and fantasy.  Perfect for tiny hands and one kids will never forget.

We love this project because it's not only innovative, it's a great way to recycle, repurpose and reuse!

Where do you get things to put in your garden? Get crafty! Get creative!

We suggest you consider recycling and repurposing any of these objects to make items for your fairy garden:


Natural Objects-
  • shells, coral and sand dollars
  • small stones
  • twigs
  • acorns
  • gourds
  • pine cones
  • pine needles
  • berries
  • pods
  • nut shells
  • seeds and pits
  • feathers
  • small flowers
  • moss
  • small plants, succulents and cacti
  • wood
  • nests
  • dried flowers
  • old hives (careful!)




Found Objects-
  • buttons
  • thread spools
  • thimbles
  • bottle caps
  • small bottles, cans and tins
  • k-cups, fruit cups, and yogurt cups
  • popsicle sticks
  • beads
  • small toys
  • old game parts
  • dollhouse items
  • china pieces
  • sea glass
  • glass garden pebbles
  • wire
  • thread and twine
  • burlap and fabric scraps
  • onion bag mesh or net
  • lace
  • small plates and cups
  • miniature frames
  • miniatures

Check out Planetpals Fairy Garden Board on Pinterest, It's loaded with imaginative and unique ideas and alternatives to making your own DIY Fairy garden a wonderland!


  © Judith Gorgone creator planetpals.com all rights reserved. Contact us for usage and licensing information for Planetpals content and  Planetpals Characters and Brand.
Join @planetpals on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Twitter 




Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Plant A Seed Or Swap One, It's A Natural!

It's Spring and that means Spring cleaning inside and out. While cleaning out your garden why not have a seed and plant swap with neighbors or friends?

For Arbor day, Earth Day, Any Day  plant a tree, have a seed swap, make the world greener


Every month, during the monthly meeting of The Garden Club at Highland Lakes, in Palm Harbor, Florida, residents bring cuttings and seeds to share with neighbors.  It's a great way to dispose of their bountiful crops while adding to the beauty of the community.  So, why not make your world a more beautiful and healthier place and have a swap, too!  It's so easy.


If you want to start a seed swap or swap of any kind, check out this article"How to have a swap", it's full of great tips.
For tips on Green Gardening check out Planetpals Green Garden Journal. It's chock full of compost, organic and recycle garden ideas.
Happy Gardening Pals! 



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Saturday, May 3, 2014

Kentucky Derby Recycle Decorations That Make You A Winner




We bet you will have a winning party with these recycle crafts for your Kentucky Derby event.

Use ribbon scraps, paint swatches, chop sticks and a variety of other recycled items to make these clever and fun
Kentucky Derby symbols that will jazz up your table settings! Add Mimosas, Mint Juleps, Fried Chicken and other Kentrucky Derby favorites and your friends will be racing over to your winning party!