Ever since P'lovers opened its doors in 1992, its owners and staff have happily accepted invitations to talk about the environment and how people can make a difference. We have enjoyed these visits and have been very impressed with the knowledge and interest of young Nova Scotians.
We typically present the following topics:
"No Such Thing As Garbage"
People are beginning to change their vocabulary and instead of saying 'waste' are saying 'resources'. P'lovers can demonstrate products that have been made from materials that are used to be simply thrown out (eg. pens made from cornstarch, doormats made from old tires, jewelry made from old cutlery, bird feeders made from recycled plastic) and we can identify ways for everyone to reduce what they throw out (such as choosing products which are responsibly packaged and/or which can be refilled and/or which can be reused).
"Home Is Where the Earth Is"
Household (and school!) tips to reduce, reuse and recycle.
With students' input, we can review common practices in the home or school and consider other alternatives that could be considered to be more 'earth-friendly...such as solar flashlights and manual carpet sweepers (to save on energy), low-flow faucets (to conserve water), non-toxic personal care and cleaning products (to reduce toxic waste in the water stream) and recycled paper products and cloth hankies (to conserve trees).
"Why Didn't I Think of That?"
While it often seems depressing to observe what is happening to our environment, it is also inspiring to reflect on the creativity embodied in new products....such as toothbrushes with replaceable heads, radios powered with the sun or a simple winding technique, bags made from old juice boxes. Students can be asked to identify products which are troublesome and then to use their imaginations to come up with creative options.
If you have particular topics you would like us to cover, we make every effort to tailor sessions to meet your needs. For visits in the greater metropolitan area or beyond, please call (902) 422-6060 - depending on our staff resources, we would love to visit your school. For visits in other areas, contact your nearest P'lovers.
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