Did the 2017 Palmetto Sportsmen's Classic go green?

The education booth was introduced to the Palmetto Sportsmen's Classic more than 16 years ago to help make it a family event. Over the years, the educational booth has turned into a big hit with the kids and the adults! Historically, the activities were designed to engage kids to learn while having fun. Some of the activities have included a giant sand box with shark teeth fossils, fish printing, and building bird houses and suet feeders.

This year at the Palmetto Sportsmen's Classic the education booth went green, both literally and figuratively by way of sponsorship from the UP2U program, Hampton Wildlife Fund and Longleaf Alliance. Children were given the opportunity to take home longleaf pine seedlings to plant. Instead of using plastic to transport the seedlings, peat pots were used (made of sphagnum peat moss, wood pulp, and 100% biodegradable molded into the form of a pot).

They were a big hit with everyone, especially when the adults found out the pots could be planted directly into the ground. More than 1000 longleaf pine seedlings were planted in peat pots! With a scoop of soil, a peat pot and one seedling, any child who wanted to participate walked away with their very own tree seedling. Peat pots are an easy way to grow an essential tree without using plastic containers possibly ending up in our landfills and an enormous way to give back to the environment!

DIY homemade peat pots!

Want a great way to upcycle common household items and get a get a headstart on gardening season without buying new pots and trays, here's how!

• Newspaper - Small seedling pots can be made by rolling doubled-up sheets of newspaper around a small jar, then gluing the bottom together with wheat paste (also known as flour paste) , or by folding the paper into a square pot and stapling the edges together. The entire pot can be planted in the ground once the soil is warm and the seedling is mature enough to be put in the ground.
• Egg cartons - cardboard egg cartons can be used to start a dozen seedlings, and then cut apart to plant each one when it's time to plant them in the garden. There's no need to remove the plants from the pots before planting, as the cardboard will break down in the soil as the plant grows.
• Egg shells - can be crushed to make a great compost pile additive, egg shell halves can be also used as seedling pots. Make a small hole in the bottom of each shell for drainage.
• Paper towel rolls - the tubes can be cut to form small seedling pots. Cut several vertical slits in the bottoms of the tubes and to fold the resulting flaps to form the bottom of the pots so the soil won't spill out the bottom.