Welcome to the Earth Crusaders Remote Eco Incursion!

Simply follow the steps below to complete this incursion at home.

It’s so amazing to see you here at our Remote Eco Incursion!

First up, watch our introduction video below. This is where we explain how to complete our Remote Eco Incursion and most importantly, what sustainability means and how to become an Earth Crusading Hero!

A simplified definition of

: To not take away or add to the planet in a way that is harmful.

Rubbish can be a pretty yucky topic. But the more we know about it, the less yucky rubbish we will create!

You’re about to go head first into your bin to find out more about what’s in there.

JUST KIDDING!

But we are going to look into what happens to the things we put in our bins. Watch the next video to find out more.

LIFTING THE LID ON RUBBISH

Let’s learn a little more about single use plastic and why it’s not so great for the environment.

As you just learnt in the previous activity, it will take hundreds of years for plastic to break down, and when some of these plastics are single use plastics, it’s not great news for the environment.

SO, WHAT IS ‘SINGLE’ USE PLASTIC?

Single use plastic is a type of plastic that is only used once before it’s thrown into the bin. Here are some examples of single use plastic:

LET’S MAKE A CHANGE

Where possible, we should try to swap out single use items for items that can be used over and over again.

When something can be used over and over again, do you know what it’s called?

It’s called reusable!

Here are some examples of reusable items that are better for our environment, how many of these do you and your family already use?

A reusable lunchbox is something that most kids already have in their school bag!

Next, let’s looks at what goes in your lunch box and how we can make it better for the environment.

Have you ever wondered where your food comes from?

Let’s take your sandwich for example.

Where does the lettuce come from and how does it get to the sandwich in your lunch box?

Most people buy their lettuce at the supermarket or store, but have you wondered how it gets to the supermarket or store?

The diagram below shows you the journey your lettuce takes to get to your lunch box when you buy from the supermarket or store.

WHEN YOU BUY FROM THE SUPERMARKET

That’s a lot of steps to get food in your lunch box.

Along the way, transport like trucks and planes release pollution into the air and at the packaging factory and at the store, lots of power and energy is used to keep the food cool, and lights turned on.

Is there a more sustainable way to get your food?

Yes! You can grow food at home.

When you grow your own food, it takes less energy and resources to get it from your garden to your plate or lunch box.

Take a look at the diagrams below and compare it to the one above.

WHEN YOU GROW AT HOME

WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN MY LETTUCE GETS OLD?

Your Mini Cos lettuce will let you pick its leaves for quite a few weeks before it starts to grow tall and skinny and grow flowers. This is called:

DO YOU KNOW WHICH

INSECT LOVES FLOWERS?

(We’ll give you 3 clues)

When a bee lands on a flower a fine powder called pollen sticks to the hairs on its body.

When the bee flies to the next flower the pollen transfers and enables that flower to create more flowers.

This not only creates more flowers but more food like fruit and veggies!

Bees are responsible for 80% of pollination.

Some food fruits and vegetables rely completely on bees to pollinate them, like almonds.

Bees also use the pollen as food. 

BLUE BANDED BEE

The Blue Banded Bee is native to Australia.

It is one of the few bees the ‘buzz pollinate’ which means they shake their whole body really quickly to make the flower vibrate and release it’s pollen so they can collect it.

Buzz pollination is needed for tomatoes, blueberries, cranberries, kiwi fruit, eggplants and chilies which makes the Blue Banded Bee extremely valuable to Australian farmers.

Fun fact: European Honey Bees can’t buzz pollinate.

SO LET’S LOOK AFTER OUR BEES

BY GROWING FLOWERS IN OUR GARDENS!

(and don’t forget to let your lettuce go to seed)

Hot tip: Check out the video at the end of the this incursion where Josh from Gardening Australia teaches you why it’s important to look after native bees and how you can build a native bee hotel in your backyard.

How old do you think think you need to be to change the law? Super old? Like, old like your grandparents? Or how about 30? Or, do you think you need to be at least 18?

Watch this video of Molly Steer, who as a nine year old girl saw something she thought was wrong and bad for the environment and decided to take action to make things better.

Wow, I guess even kids can make big changes in their community and change the law! 

We’d love to hear what ideas you come up with!

Share your ideas with us either by tagging @earthcrusaders on Instagram or by emailing a photo to us at hello@earthcrusaders.com.au.

Before you share with us, please make sure you get permission first by an adult.

It’s official, you now have the knowledge you need to start your journey as an Earth Crusading Hero.

Here is your badge to prove it!

We may have come to the end of our incursion, but you can continue growing as an Earth Crusading Hero by checking out these bonus videos. Enjoy!

Here is a useful video by Moreland City Council that will teach you about how to recycle and what waste can go in your bins at home.

Ask an adult at home if you live in Moreland, if you don’t live in Moreland you can ask them to help you look up your council’s website for tips on what to put in your bins at home

LEARN ABOUT AUSTRALIAN NATIVE BEES

Australian native bees and flowers are really important for a happy and healthy environment. Join Josh from Gardening Australia as he discovers Australian native plants that attract native bees.