New City Neighbors is a community development organization in the Creston Neighborhood of Grand Rapids. Their mission is to empower youth to reach their full potential. They work with a diverse community of youth in 1st through 12th grade. Through social enterprises (an urban farm, cafe, and bakery) as well as after school and summer programs, they offer high school employment opportunities, spiritual growth, academic tutoring, job skills training, and leadership development.

The creation of a miniature greenhouse to sustainably grow small plants. Recommended for all ages.

Materials: (1) Plastic cup, (1) see-through plastic cup slightly smaller or larger than the other plastic cup, (1) push pin or needle, potting soil, seeds of small plants with short germination period, and access to water and sunlight.

Instructions:

1. First, poke a few small holes in the bottom of the plastic cup with the pushpin or needle so that water can drain from the cup if necessary.

2. Next, fill the cup with potting soil almost fully and compress it gently.

3. Then, add the seeds of your choosing while spacing them apart and cover them with a small amount of soil.

4. Add a bit of water and cover the cup with the clear cup, leave in the sunlight, and add water every day or two. Soon, you will see the seeds sprout up through the soil and you have made yourself a miniature greenhouse!

STEM: Science

Composting reduces the amount of waste in landfills, cuts back on greenhouse gases, and provides organic fertilizers. Recommended for all ages

Materials: Food scraps, yard waste, or paper products; an old tub/bin (optional); an outdoor space for a pile

Instructions:

1. To begin your own compost pile, you will need space outdoors in which you can create a pile of food scraps and other waste. The size of the area is relative to how much composting you have/would like to do.

2. The compost pile can be an unconstrained mound, but, if wanted, you can create an enclosure out of old palettes or chicken wire to hold the material.

3. Throughout your daily life, collect any unwanted food scraps, unwanted paper products, or yard waste and simply toss them into your designated compost pile area. There should be a balance between food scraps and paper waste, with higher amounts of food scraps going in the pile.

5. If desired, you can keep an old plastic tub/container in your kitchen as a temporary compost collector between trips to the outdoor pile!

6. Continue to add to the pile and turn the materials often (every couple of weeks, or as you see fit) to ensure there is adequate airflow.

7. Within a matter of months, the materials will break down creating a nutrient-rich substance that looks like dark soil. This substance can be spread in gardens and used as a natural fertilizer.

STEM: Science

The preservation of food through simple techniques. Recommended middle school age and up.

Materials: As many glass jars as you plan on canning with lids and lid rings, (1) cooking pot that is large enough to fit your jars, (1) towel for drying the jars, (1) pair of tongs or a jar lifter to grab the jars from hot water, access to water, a stovetop, and a food item of your choice to can such as corn, pears, or asparagus.

Instructions:

1. The first step in canning is to sanitize your jars. This means you must put your jars into a pot of water and fully submerge them in water. Then, bring the water to a boil. Let them boil for about 10 minutes so they are perfectly clean. While doing this, you can also sanitize your lids and lid rings as well. When your jars are done sanitizing, remove them carefully and place them on the towel to dry. Make sure to let the water simmer down; you’re going to need it later.

2. Once the jars are dry, you can add whatever food item you want to preserve into the jars. Specific instructions change depending on what food item you are canning, so be sure to look up instructions that match your food product. Make sure the rims of the jars are clean before continuing.

3. Next, place the sanitized lids on the jars and seal them with the lid rings. It is important to make sure they are tight, but not too tight. Then place your jars full of fresh food into the pot of water again. Bring the water to a boil once again with the jars in the hot water.

4. Depending on the food you are canning, the amount of time to seal the jars varies, so you can do a quick google search to know the specifics. Once you think the seal might be good, you can remove the jars from the water and place them on the towel once again to dry and cool off. Once they are cool enough, a good way to test the seal is to unscrew the lid rings and lift the jar by the lid itself. If the lid holds: you have a good seal.

5. If all of your jars have a good seal, then you can put the lid rings back on and now the process is complete. You now have canned goods that can be stored for long periods of time!

STEM: Math and Science