5 Sun-Powered Summer Projects

The warmer sunny afternoons of June have us excited for all kinds of sun-powered projects!

As the sun travels on its path through the sky, it will make its longest trip on June 21st. That’s because the earth tilts slightly on its axis and on this day, the North pole will be the closest to the sun, giving us maximum sunlight. This day is known as the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the whole year. Summer Solstice is celebrated by many cultures to honor the sun and the immense life-giving energy it provides. We can also honor the sun with our own rituals!

Below are some ideas for a sunny day project. We will be sharing more about each project on Instagram throughout this month.

SUN PRINTING

Cyanotype printing (aka sun prints) is an early photographic method. It uses paper coated with iron salts that react with sunlight to create a direct print of whatever objects are on top of the paper. Cyanotype was the original “blueprint” used for architectural plans. This project is a lesson in botany, chemistry, orienteering, nature journaling, and art. 
 Learn more about sun printing.

SOLSTICE sun TEA

Connecting the cycles of the seasons, solstice tea is a ritual that begins and ends on each solstice. To make a solstice tea, you’ll need to pick herbs on solstice day and save them for enjoying on the next solstice. There are two solstices each year, the Winter Solstice, which occurs on December 21st, is the shortest day of the year, and the Summer Solstice, which occurs on June 21st, is the longest day of the year.

On the Summer Solstice, harvest summer herbs such as mint, chamomile, tulsi, and lavender to dry. Save these herbs in a labeled jar, marking the date of your harvest. On the Winter Solstice, open this special jar of tea for a taste of summer during the darkest days of winter. During that same day, pick winter herbs such as rosemary, sage, and thyme to dry and save. Then, on the Summer Solstice, open this special jar of tea to steep and savor the flavors of the cooler seasons.

Here is a useful step-by-step guide for making an herbal sun tea.

SOLAR DYEING

The sun not only provides us with light, but also heat. Solar dyeing harnesses the sun’s warmth to gently cook dye plants, releasing their colors. Part of the fun of solar dyeing is gathering plants and discovering their hidden colors. Summer blooms such as marigolds, coreopsis, hollyhocks make great dyes.

First, you’ll need to prepare your fabric (silk or wool works best) for dye absorption by filling a quart mason jar 1/3 full with warm water and adding a mordant (2–3 teaspoons of alum per 100 grams of fiber). Shake this vigorously so the alum dissolves. Then, drop in your fabric and stir. Next, fill the jar with dye materials, then add water until the jar is full. Let the jar sit in direct sunlight. Check on it each day and give the jar a shake. It will take at least one week for the color to show. The longer it sits, the deeper the color. For a full breakdown of the process with photos, check out this great post on solar dyeing.

SUNDRIED TOMATOES

One of the hallmarks of summer is sun-ripened tomatoes. And equally delicious is sun-dried tomatoes! Drying food helps to preserve it so it can be stored and eaten throughout the year, but beyond this practical purpose, the sun also intensifies and sweetens food and changes its texture. To dry your own tomatoes, slice the tomatoes in half, lightly sprinkle with salt, then place them on a rack. Make sure there are a couple of inches of air flow under the rack. Turn the tomatoes every day and bring them indoors at night. The process can take a few days to a couple weeks depending on your climate. Check the tomatoes every day to make sure they’re fully dried (but not crispy).

Sun-Grown Grape Leaf Dolmas

During the summer months, grape vines put on tremendous growth as they reach for the sky to soak in as much sunlight as possible. This is a perfect time to harvest these nutritious leaves and make dolmas, a refreshing Greek dish. Dolmas are typically made by wrapping blanched grape leaves around a filling made of cooked rice, nuts, and herbs. The grape leaf rolls are then gently steamed with olive oil, lemon juice, and water. They can be eaten warm or cold, but cold dolmas are especially refreshing on hot summer days. Give this traditional Greek Dolmades recipe a try! We'll be sharing a version of this recipe shared by our friend Anna Maria (@beekeepingmama) of @sunandbloomfarms.

To soaking in the sun,

Ann