What's In The Sky for July!

Happy Full Moon Pals!  The full moon is exact on July 9 at 13:10.

What are this months full moon names? The names for the July Moon are Ripe Corn Moon, Summer Moon, Ghost Moon, Crane Moon, Rose Moon, Mead Moon and Moon of Mid Summer.

This is a full month with the DELTA AQUARIUS METEOR Shower Jul 21-Aug 23 and the PERSEIDS Jul 13-Aug 26!

Coming in August we also have the Partial lunar eclipse August 7 and Total solar eclipse August 21!

Did you know we call the moon names?

Don't worry we are being kind!  The moon has been given names from different peoples based on the calendar and their culture for centuries! Some of May moon names are: The Flower Moon, The Milk Moon, Bright Moon, Hare Moon, Grass Moon, Planting Moon, Panther Moon, Dragon Moon and the Moon When Leaves Are Green.The Arapaho Indians referred to this Full Moon as "when the ponies shed their shaggy hair"

See the names for every month: 

Learn more about the Full Moon Names,  Moon Phases and Moon Facts at Planetpals!

Think Pink this June Full Moon!

June's full moon, will reach its peak this Friday, June 9, at 9:10 a.m. EST.  Known as the Strawberry Full Moon, the Strong Sun Moon, Moon When Berries Are Ripe, the Dyan Moon, Moon of Horses, Planting Moon, Windy Moon, Green Corn Moon, Lotus Moon and Rose Moon.  Think about those while you view this special moon! 

This months moon is at 

The Full Moon will be in Sagittarius (Sun in Gemini opposite Moon in Sagittarius. 

Also on June 9, Jupiter ends its retrograde motion.

Learn more about the full moon pages and names.

How We Transformed A Swing Set Into A Tree House For Growing Kids

This recycle idea is not for the birds!

Playthings swing sets are a great addition to your yard when kids are young, but they soon outgrow them.  What do you do then?  

With three boys , one family in Canton MA had a unique idea.  Why not transform the existing swing set into a tree house, hence, get a few more years out of it!  It was a great building project for the kids as well as a lesson in the art of the 4 R's....Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Remake.

A photo story from beginning to end:

The original Playthings Williamsburg swing set configuration.  

Family and friends had plenty of fun on the old swing set through the years.

A front view showing the new configuration as a tree house (still utilizing the swings)

 

Close up of the Tree House  section, roof and deck added, as well as, a bench inside. Allowing more room for grown kids and additional play space.

A side view of the new Tree House 

Brenden, Andrew, Christopher and friend Josh show off the final Tree House!  Notice the ropes tied to the front and sides for safety and adding a fun look.

Patriotic Craft Ideas for Summer Holidays

Whether you are celebrating Memorial Day, 4th of July,  Labor Day  or any other patriotic day or event check out these great craft ideas for the US Flag, decor or parties.

Wave these DIY Recycle Flag Ideas!  Cool, simple, fun.

These RocK!  Painted Flag Rocks.  Fun to find the stones and fun to paint. 

Decorate your Camp site with Red, White, Blue And Oh So Green Patriotic Campers

Have a crafty Summer Pals!

Share and Care for Endangered Species Day Pals!

Endangered Species Day is In May.

On May 19, 2017 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will observe Endangered Species Day in order to recognize the national conservation efforts to protect our nation's endangered species and their habitats.  

At Planetpals, We love Earth and all Earth's Creatures Big and Small,.  Check out Planetpals Endangered Species Page Learn all about Endangered Species!  Learn how may species there are, which creatures are the oldest, why habitats are so easy to break, and more.

Happy Mother's Day Mother Earth!

Love Your Mother,  We Do!

Learn all about Earth and what you can do! 

Happy May 2017 Full Moon Pals!

The Full Moon May's 2017 will be on MAY 10  for the United States (EST) and May 11th in Europe. This months New Moon will come later in the month on May 25th. The full moon for this May occurs on May 10 AT 5:42 pm  (in Eastern Time EST) in the Astrological SIGN of TAURUS.

Did you know we call the moon names?

Don't worry we are being kind!  The moon has been given names from different peoples based on the calendar and their culture for centuries! Some of May moon names are: The Flower Moon, The Milk Moon, Bright Moon, Hare Moon, Grass Moon, Planting Moon, Panther Moon, Dragon Moon and the Moon When Leaves Are Green.The Arapaho Indians referred to this Full Moon as "when the ponies shed their shaggy hair"

See the names for every month: 

Learn more about the Full Moon Names,  Moon Phases and Moon Facts at Planetpals!

The Original Earthday Buttons Circa 1970

Pin This Little Bit Of Earthday History!

My friend Julie went to one of the very first Earthday USA Events and she received this button!  It's a pretty clever design and she saved it all these years.  

 

This is another Earthday button design which was from the original Earthday conference 1970. This one includes the original Earthday logo designed by Ron Cobb in 1969.  Learn more about the original Earthday Logo.

According to the Smithsonian Institute This is another Earthday button design which was from the original Earthday 1970.  David Powell, a University of Pennsylvania graduate, designed this button for the Philadelphia Earth Week Committee on the occasion of the first Earth Day in 1970. The button was made by Horn Badge Co. of Glenside, Pennsylvania.

Learn more about earthday.  Planetpals has the most complete and comprehensive Earthday pages and information available on the web! 

Planetpals complete Earthday pages

Learn More About the Earthday FLAG

Earthday History

This List Of Places To Donate Bottle Caps Is Tops!

Bottle caps are usually made of # 5 plastic.  They need to be recycled separately!

Bottle caps are made from #5 Plastic and get recycled differently than the bottle!

Did you know bottle top Plastic caps are typically made from plastic #5 while the bottles are made from #2. These include, but are not limited to:

• Plastic caps on glass bottles
• Caps on tubes
• Caps on baby food pouches
• Caps on cartons, such as those for milk, orange juice etc 

Remember, plastic takes over 500 years to biodegrade, if ever!  It's best to remove the tops and return them to a place that will use them.  There are a multitude of collection facilities such as manufacturers, grocery stores, schools and organizations.  *NOTE: If your cap is a #2 plastic you can leave it on if your town recycles bottles!

Bottle Cap Art Mural Caps can be sent to schools.  Check your town schools first!

Helpful List of Ideas and Places to Recycle Caps:

• Try Googling “Plastic Cap Recycling”. There are many places that accept and request caps for recycling and have websites where that information is easy to access.

Recycle Caps LOCALLY:

• Check with your city. Some cities do accept plastic bottle caps, but they may require that you remove the cap from the bottle and put it in the bin separately. 
• Check local school or teachers organization to see if they need them for projects
• Whole Foods. Some Whole Foods Markets accept #5 plastic caps for recycling. Next time you’re shopping, check their bins to see if yours does, too! Whole Foods takes part in the Gimme Five Program

Recycle Caps By Mail:  
If you can’t find a local place to drop off your plastic caps for recycling, you can mail them to one of these places!

• Aveda, the skin and hair care company, offers an option for recycling bottle caps
• Caps Of Love, This US charity funds children's wheelchairs 
• Caps Can Do.  Caps Can Do is a company that specializes in recycling #5 plastic.

Recycle BY Repurposing:

Recycling is great, but reusing is also a good idea.  Particularly, if it is a permanent project like a mural! Check out our recycle craft ideas for bottles and caps on Planetpals Pinterest Page

Unique Upcycled Repurposed Garden Ideas

DIY has gone LOL, WOW, and OMG!

Anything goes with recycled garden planters.  People sure are clever!
Here are some of the most unique items repurposed into garden planters that even you could do! Recycle garden containers galore:

Pantastic!

All bottled up

You'll get a kick out of this

Contained

Tired yet?

You can do this, too

Not sloppy just floppy!

bagged up

painted palette 

Ajar

Road rage ?

More gardening info on our Green Garden Page at Planetpals.com and Pinterest Gardening Pages.

The Colors of Composting

What Items Can You Compost?

There is a science too composting and some ingredients are better than others! This chart will teach you how to compost  and get the most from it.  Remember these three colors and you will be good to go!

Learn More About Composting With Squirmy Wormy:

• Informative and Fun Facts About Composting 
• Make a Simple DIY Kitchen Counter Compost Bin
• Our Green Gardening Guide
• Planetpals Composting PINTEREST Page

Planetpals Healthy Eating Plate

Be Heart Healthy Pals!

The USDA recommends you have a certain amount of specific foods to stay healthy paired with exercise.  Planetpals now offers this healthy poster to help teach kids for the classroom! 

To Learn more about Healthy Eating and staying healthy check out Planetpals Healthy Lifestyle Pages.

• Planetpals Healthy Lifestyle:
• Health and Food Precautions
• Food Pyramid 
• New Food Pyramid " MY Plate"
• Healthy Lunch and Green Lunchbox
• Healthy Kids Checklist
• Healthy Food Recipes
• Healthy Edible Food Crafts

What's a Garbage Garden?

It's not just a lot of SCRAP!

What's a Garbage Garden, You ask?

Don't toss it scrap it:

My friend Julie tosses many of her vegetable scraps and seeds into a garden and watches it grow! It not only makes great compost soil.  It makes great vegetables.  It's a simple idea and one that thrives every summer.  It's colorful and resourceful, and it's always a surprise to see what will grow.  She gets a variety of vegetables from tomatoes to peppers, all types, all sizes. So, think twice before you put everything in the garbage disposal.

Toss scaps into one garden spot

Whether you toss the scraps into one spot or separate them into different pots - your garden will flourish and be fruitful!

Toss scraps into separate pots

Many things can be Regrown easily including tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, garlic and scallions,  the list goes on! 

Here is a sample of Julie's Harvest.  Time for dinner!

Regrowing is popular but garbage gardening takes it to a new level.  It's no scrappy idea! Why not try it, too?

There are dozens of fruits and vegetables that can be re-grown. This list includes some of the simplest: 

• Avocado
• Beets
• Bok Choy
• Carrots
• Celery
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Green Onions
• Herbs
• Leeks
• Lemon Grass
• Mushrooms
• Peppers
• Potatoes
• Romaine Lettuce
• Rutabagas
• Scallions
• Turnips
• Tomatoes

More gardening info on our Green Garden Page at Planetpals.com and Pinterest Gardening Pages.

Garden Tips: What To Plant With What

What Vegetables Are Perfect Mates In The Garden?

Did you know that if you plant certain vegetables together with others you get better crops?  It's a centuries old phenomena and one that is passed down for generations!  My great grandfather always told me to put 3 matches in with tomato plants for sulfur and plant peppers next to them.

BURPEE has a load of TIPS AND GROWING LISTS for you, and they agree Tomatoes and peppers go together!

Here is a simple concise infographic from Greeninreallife.blogspot.com to also help you out.

For more great Spring tips and fun check out Planetpals Spring Journal.

For more green gardening ideas check out Planetpals Green Gardening Page on Pinterest  we have over 1,000 ideas!

Planetpals Licensing The Best On Earth!

Healthy Planet, Healthy People. The best license on Earth to teach kids about Earth.  

License Planetpals fun loving, informative, educational and GREEN characters for your product!

Planetpals Character License Available for:

* Toys * School Products * Juvenile Merchandise * Giftware

* Textiles * Stationery * Publishing * Multimedia * More

Learn more

Cardboard Crafts...Just Imagine!

Rainy Day, Snowy Day, Any Day!  Recycle crafts are green.

Max and Alexis Make Masterpieces

Be a Planetpal everyday and find ways to recycle and reuse things around the house.

Max and Alexis are great Planetpals...they are not only reusing, but creating masterpieces.  No matter what your age, you can, too!

Paint, crayons, paper, cardboard, anything goes.

Happy Valentines Day Pals!

Learn how you can love Earth, too!