Welcome to Sparkle Stories
Martin & Sylvia Celebrate Nature!Martin & Sylvia's Nature School
Every Thursday Martin goes to the Goose-eye Wilderness School, while Sylvia and her friend Sophia create a Nature Home-school. From wild craft cooking to outdoor games to building projects to tree identification, Nature School will be a year of unfolding learning and fun.
Listen NowMay day FunProjects Just For May Day
Nature School Project: Flower Crowns
This tutorial is not just about making pretty crowns, but making a crown fit for a leader -- whether that leader is a big sister who helps take care of her siblings, a boy who watches over the frogs and fish in the pond at the park, or even an elderly person who helps children learn to read each week.
Sparkle Kitchen: Bannock Bread
Bannock bread (also known as plain “campfire bread”) has both Scottish and Native American origins. It’s a biscuit dough that was traditionally cooked over a campfire, either by using a scavenged flat rock as a pan or by twisting the dough around a stick.
Sparkle Craft: May Ribbon Wands
Whether you have a proper May Day Fair or just celebrate the first of May by making a point to get outside and enjoy some sunshine, these May ribbon wands will add a lovely bit of whimsy to your day.
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Our Newest Collection!Martin & Sylvia: Nine and Seven
It's Martin's ninth birthday — the brother and sister are growing up! What is it like to be nine? And what can "sevens" do? Martin finds himself interested in complex magnetism experiments while Sylvia embraces the challenges of leadership. Through science clubs, wilderness adventures, neighborly parties, and family time, Martin and Sylvia lean into their new ages. Together, they learn more about themselves, what they're capable of, and what makes life even more joyful.
Listen NowStories About Growing ThingsA Fresh From the Garden Playlist
Let's Grow ThingsSparkle Garden Projects
Sparkle Crafts: Children's Herb Garden
This week, Martin & Sylvia help Daddy build raised garden beds in the story “No Boo Boo Day,” working carefully to avoid getting injured. We plant an herb garden and show you how, every step of the way.
Nature School Project: Egg Carton Seed Starters
One of the easiest ways to get started gardening is by planting seeds. It's fun and easy to do with children of all ages. Like Sylvia and Sofia, you don't need any fancy materials; you can simply use an egg carton, some seedling soil, and your choice of seeds.
Nature School Project: Up-cycled Seed Sprouting
For this post, we are joined by Kelly of Wings, Worms & Wonder, who shows us how to upcycle and study the growth of seeds into sprouts.
Nature School Project: Three Easy Ways to Improve Garden Soil
You may be wondering, how can you improve the soil in your garden? Maybe you don't have enough space to compost compost everything, or access to goat droppings like Mr. Brown. There are other ways you can amend soil to make it healthy and happy.
How to Make Your Own Wormery
We’ve teamed up with our friends at Tanglewood Hollow to bring you this fun, squiggly wiggly project so that you can capture some of the Martin & Sylvia magic at home by making your own wormery.