A note pinned to our kitchen pinboard tells me that it is ‘Earth Week’ at Jake and Toby’s school. It appears to be an international event. A few weeks ago there was a lot of attention for ‘Earth Hour’. Maybe it is asking our moral attention spans too much to take notice of a whole week, but I haven’t heard nearly as much about this event until now.

Their school has creatively planned items for each day. We’re encouraged to pack litter-less lunches for them. I’d thought we did pretty well with our lunches until my conscience was pricked to make them totally litter free. Usually I pack them a juice box each, and a little yoghurt. This week they’re taking refillable metal bottles of water, and tupperware pots with cereal or crackers in them.

They surprised me by drinking all the water. It’s great, I’ve been suggesting to them to drink more water, rather than juice. I’ve been surprised too by how much I’ve lapsed into convenience with their lunches – by using small plastic snack bags, and prepackaged treats. Earth week has certainly helped me to rethink – although history has shown that some of the little tupperware pots, or lids don’t seem to make it back – which was the catalyst to my slip into convenience with pre-packaged things.

Tomorrow they need to wear blue and green clothes, to harmonize with the earth’s colors ( I’m anticipating they’ll add their own patches of authentic mud from the fields ). 

On Wednesday they’re cleaning up the gardens and yard.

All very neat, and of course they’re 100% committed and enthusiastic. Hats off to St. James.