Earlier this year, Viterbo University students and staff joined sisters at St. Rose Convent in La Crosse as part of Viterbo's Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, Learning and Celebration.
During this day of service, WisCorps Service Member and FSPA Ecological Assistant, Cassi Creason (pictured above), led the sisters, students and staff through three hands-on activities that explored the concepts of biodiversity, resource conservation and the interconnectedness of all Creation.
Seed Balls
The first activity consisted of making seed balls out of water, seeds and clay powder to be planted in early spring.
Seed balls, also known as seed bombs, are an affordable way to plant a variety of seeds. The clay acts as a protective coating around the seeds to help prevent soil erosion and promote water conservation. When it rains, the clay breaks down, allowing the seeds to spread out over and into the ground. Seed balls can help create habitats for pollinators and other insects, as well as help restore biodiversity and encourage wildlife to return.
"It is predicted that one million species of plants and animals will become extinct by 2050 due to climate change and the weather events and natural disasters that result from it," explained Cassi. "That is why it is our responsibility to take action against this terrifying statistic."
Watch "3 simple and fun ways to make seed balls for your garden" to learn how to make your own!
Solar S'mores Kits
The second activity involved building solar s'mores kits out of cardboard boxes, aluminum foil and clear plastic wrap to be used by Coulee Montessori Charter School students on FSPA land on St. Joseph Ridge in the spring.
A solar s'mores kit, essentially a small solar oven, uses a reflective surface like aluminum foil to capture sunlight and concentrate it inside the box. The heat is then trapped by a transparent cover, in this case, clear plastic wrap, allowing the temperature inside the box to rise enough to melt chocolate and toast a marshmallow, effectively cooking a s'more using only the sun's energy.
These kits will help teach the Coulee Montessori students about solar energy while showing them how a greenhouse works. Interested in making a solar s'mores kit for yourself? Follow the instructions below!
download printable instructions
Reusable Cleaning Wipes
The final activity consisted of making reusable cleaning wipes out of water, castile soap, tea tree oil and cloth squares to help reduce water use on FSPA land.
"Water is a finite and relatively scarce resource," explained Cassi, "Millions of people across the world suffer from water insecurity, which goes hand-in-hand with a lack of access to sanitation items like sinks and showers." These reusable cleaning wipes will be used by FSPA garden and greenhouse staff and volunteers to help reduce the amount of water needed for hand washing and general cleaning.
Wondering what you can do to help make a difference? Cassi encourages you to be conscious of your personal water footprint. Visit watercalculator.org to learn about how your choices and habits affect your daily water use.
We asked some of the students and staff in attendance what their favorite part of participating in FSPA service days is. Here are some of their responses:
About Cassi
WisCorps Service Member and FSPA Ecological Assistant, Cassi Creason, is passionate about environmental action and advocacy. She graduated from Virginia Tech in 2023 with a degree in environmental policy and planning and hopes to build a career through comprehensive climate justice work. Cassi looks forward to advancing her work for the good of the planet and our global community.