Earth Day: Mother Earth Art, Violets and More

Do you do anything for Earth Day?

It’s one of my favorite days of the year.

Sometimes I do a “campus clean up,” or participate in a Billion Acts of Green.

But this year, I’ve made a few things AND I’m eating a few things.

Check out the video to see some ways in which I’m celebrating Earth Day.

Of course, you know art and drawing are involved, right?

Here’s a better look at the Sharpie drawing I shared.  It’s called “Earth Mother.”

 

Earth Mother Sharpie Art

Last year, I made a shirt with an earth flower on it, and I still have the drawing.  In honor of Earth Day, I’m sharing here:

And yes, I made violet syrup.  Around where I live, the violet flowers bloom in the month of April.

I collected a LOT of flowers.  You don’t need that many to make syrup, though.  Here’s what I did:

Violet Syrup:

I collected all these violets to make 4 jars of violet syrup.

• 3 oz. violet flowers
• 1 – 1.5 cups of boiled water
• a glass jar
• 20 oz. of organic sugar or confectioner’s sugar
• lemon juice

Instructions:

1. Rinse violet flowers and place in glass jar.
2. Pour 1-1.5 cups of hot, boiled water over the flowers.  Allow to steep for 24 hours.
3. Strain the liquid and compost the flowers.
4. Pour the liquid into a large saucepan and add the sugar.
5. Heat over medium-high heat until the mixture starts to bubble.
6. Reduce heat so that the mixture still simmers but doesn’t stop boiling completely and stir constantly for 10 minutes.
7. While stirring, add a bit of lemon juice (1-2 tsp.).
8. Pour into jar.  Let cool and then cover and refrigerate for up to 6 months.

Use it in tea, drizzle over ice cream or fruit, mix with butter, pour over pancakes, substitute a little in your cake or dessert recipes, and anywhere else you want to add a little sweetness.

And the final thing I’m doing for Earth Day?

Watching the Lyrid Meteor Shower.

What do you plan on doing for Earth Day?