Today is World Environment Day and we’re celebrating the theme 'Our Land. Our Future'. We are #GenerationRestoration - a reminder of our duty to care for the land by embracing sustainable practices and eco-friendly solutions. World Environment Day highlights various environmental issues, from pollution to deforestation, and seeks to inspire us to take proactive steps towards a more sustainable future.
One of the most important aspects of World Environment Day is educating and empowering the next generation. 'George the Farmer The Island of Big Ideas' picture storybook inspires readers to think about their relationship with the environment and how they can contribute to its protection. 'The Island of Big Ideas' follows the journey of George and Dr Ruby’s island tour, showcasing how farmers are improving their soil and environment for the future.
Food and farming systems are vital for sustainability. George and Ruby highlight practical ways to protect the environment through soil regeneration, cell grazing, reducing chemical usage in grape production, and harvesting technology that removes weed seeds. This narrative resonates with the core messages of World Environment Day.
"A timely and highly readable book! If you want to learn, while having a smile on your face, then George the Farmer: The Island of Big Ideas is for you. Food and farming systems are so incredibly important, and this story brings them to life and leaves the reader feeling inspired".
Dr Anika Molesworth
Author, Farmer, Scientist, Young Farmer of the Year
As we celebrate World Environment Day, reading 'George the Farmer The Island of Big Ideas' with your children or students is a great starting point to delivering today's message. Here are a few ideas to extend the conversation:
- Discussion Questions: After reading the book, engage children in the environmental themes presented. Ask questions like, "What can we do at home or at school to be more like George, Dr Ruby and their farming friends?" or "What new idea can we come up with to help our environment?"
- Hands-On Activities: Organise activities that reflect the book's themes. For instance, you could start a small garden, create a compost bin, or build a small bird feeder using a toilet paper roll and seed to promote biodiversity in your backyard or school garden (check out how to make a bird-feeder in the back of 'George the Farmer The Island of Big Ideas' picture storybook or how to make a 'Bee Hotel' in the back of 'George the Farmer Beehive Breakout'.
- Community Projects: Inspired by the community efforts in the book, consider participating in or organising a local environmental project. This could be a clean-up around your neighbourhood, a tree-planting event, or a recycling drive. Watch 'George the Farmer In the Classroom' segment video on YouTube on how to plant trees.
- Time-Out Activities: Watch George the Farmer Forestry on YouTube or ABC iView to learn about Australia's sustainable forestry industry or continue with the 'George the Farmer In the Classroom' series on YouTube.
By integrating the lessons from 'George the Farmer The Island of Big Ideas' with World Environment Day, we can nurture kids’ awareness of environmental issues while also equipping and motivating them to take action for a sustainable future.
For more great sustainability and environmental resources, check out the following sites: