The national sweepstakes is part of the TurfMutt program, a dynamic digital curriculum designed to encourage kids to protect the environment around them and foster appreciation of green space in their own communities.

TurfMutt “Green Packs” contain eco-friendly school supplies, including a backpack, lunch bag, colored pencils, a water bottle and a seeded bookmark.

Ms. Mary Anne Arabia’s fifth grade class from Palomar Elementary School in Chula Vista, Calif., has been named the Grand Prize winner and received a $5,000 grant to create and build more green space around school grounds and play areas. Ms. Arabia entered the TurfMutt sweepstakes because her school playground lacked sufficient shade, and to help spark science and environmental curiosity through hands-on learning.

Discovery Education and OPEI presented Ms. Arabia and Palomar Elementary School with the Grand Prize check yesterday after students viewed a special congratulations video from Lucky, a real-life rescue dog and TurfMutt spokesdog.

See the video here.

See full release here.

Palomar Elementary Wins $5,000 Grand Prize Award

When planting your yard, keep your pet’s behavior in mind. Do you have a dog that likes to run? Consider a track with mulch or some other paw-friendly material. Plant trees to ensure shady spots during the hot summer months. Make sure your pet has access to drinkable water as well. What other things might you consider for outdoor fun with your pet?

• Ticks like humid, wet areas such as leaf piles, grassy and wooded areas. Keep to the center of trails on hikes.
• After each outing, shower soon after.
• Wear long sleeves, pants and hats.
• Remove any ticks you find immediately.
• Create tick-safe zones in your yard. That means positioning playground equipment, sand boxes, and other items away from shrubs. Remove leaf litter consistently.
• Check: Under the arms, around your ears, inside your belly button, the backs of your knees, in and around the hairline, around legs and your waist.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer more details. Check it out to ensure you have a safe, tick-free summer!

As honeybee populations plummet, our yards can be important for them to find plenty of pollen.

Here are some honeybee facts.

And, a link to some family oriented/kid activities and learning materials with ideas to help honey bees. 

How do you encourage or help honey bees in your yard?

With its deeply fragrant flowers — scallop-edge bells that dangle above bright, emerald-green leaves — this nearly deer-proof shade lover appears to be delicate in an old-fashioned way. But it is also known to spread readily and rapidly, and anyone who gardens in a small space will want to watch this perennial to make sure it stays in bounds.

If you are interested in trying this ground cover, read some advice from Martha Stewart.

*Note,   All parts of the plant are highly poisonous, including the red berries which may be attractive to children.

What a resource this will be for you gardening and plant fanatics!

More info here.

Keep blades sharp, cut no more than one-third of the blade’s length, don’t mow wet grass and remember to recycle the grass for natural fertilizer.

Here is a nice article to remind you how to mow better.

What are your lessons learned on better mowing?

Interesting facts:

• Earth Day is planned for April 22 in all years at least through 2015.
• Earth Day was first observed in San Francisco and other cities on March 21, 1970, the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere.
• Gaylord Nelson, a United States Senator from Wisconsin, called for an environmental teach-in, or Earth Day, to be held on April 22, 1970.
• Senator Nelson chose the date in order to maximize participation on college campuses for what he conceived as an “environmental teach-in”.
  He determined the week of April 19–25 was the best bet as it did not fall during exams or spring breaks and it did not conflict with religious holidays such as Easter or Passover.

Did you know there is an Earth Day anthem set to Ode to Joy?  You can find the words here.

You have so many choices when it comes to pots, plants, soil mixes and the list goes on.  We found this wonderful photo display of container gardening ideas that we hope will delight – and inspire you!