Step one of making your own wreath - forage, trim, pluck, and pilfer as much evergreen and dried materials as you can over the next few days. That will be your homework if you choose to take part.
While scrolling social media you may think to yourself, I should to do more fun, festive things like make my own wreath and 2 swipes later it was erased from your brain.
Today you can decide to change that. You can put the brakes on your brain.
You can make a wreath.
And I am going to help facilitate that.
Do it Day by Day
In the coming weeks, I'll provide you with small tasks to complete, and by the end of this month, you'll have a Christmas wreath. You just have to follow along with the posts.
This is exactly how I help everyone get through Christmas mayhem with my Christmas Pledge. You get one small homework task every day of November. By the end of the month - your Christmas prep is completely finished)
You can buy this year's (2023) Christmas Pledge here for $8.
Making a Wreath - Task 1
THIS is the big trick to getting anything, not just a DIY wreath done. Do it bit by bit. If some stupid headache task seems overwhelming don't think of what you're doing as a 1 huge thing. Think of it as a list of small tasks.
The Greenery
The photo above shows how much greenery I got after going on a couple of walks around my yard, the neighbourhood, my mother's yard and a place I prefer not to admit to in public, but it was fairly legal.
Step 1
In the next few days gather as much (ever) greenery as you can find.
Branch pieces should be between 6-10".
Try to get at least 3 different types of greenery - more if you can.
More types of greenery = more colour and needle variation.
For the next small step you'll need twine or paper covered wire.
Over the next couple of days go out scrounge whatever greenery and dried you can.
Yes, you can buy your greenery but you won't get the same kind of fulfillment or variety out of it.
TIPS
- You can leave you branches outside in the shade & they'll be fine but if you want to be extra wreath nerdy, put your newly cut branches in a bucket of water outside until you're ready to use them.
- Only snip from mature trees not juvenile trees which need all the strength they can get.
- Don't cut the tips off off of main branches to use for your greenery. (it's bad for the tree)
- For 6-10" pieces, side shoots off main lateral branches of mature trees are perfect.
- For a 12" wreath try to gather 100 branches. You will use 7-8 branches per bundle, and about 12 bundles per wreath.
- But you don't HAVE to find that much. You'll can just make a smaller wreath.
That's your homework. Gather greenery. In a few days, I'll post again and you'll get your next small step.
Now go for a walk. And bring your pruners and a bag. I will post your next wreath task in 3 days.
We’re going next week from Tucson to Timberon, NM at 7,000 feet. Should be able to collect 100 various branches. Can’t wait!
BTW - in the Lincoln National Forest
Asking for a friend...
Where are the legal areas to harvest if one does not have evergreens on their property?
In the USA you can usually harvest a small amount from a National Forest without a permit under the "Incidental Use" allowance. Each National Forest will have a map of areas where harvesting is allowed. You should check with your closest National Forest, though, because circumstances vary.
If you are not near a National Forest, try asking your friends and any neighbors who have evergreens.
Assume that all parks - national, state, county, and local - ban harvesting. If your state has state forests, check on what they allow.
If you are in Canada, you can usually harvest small amounts from Crown Land forests, but you should check for site-specific conditions at any you plan to visit.
This is going to be fun - what a wonderful surprise - thank you so much!
<Meanwhile.... all of us who completed the puzzle and guessed "wreath", have just said to themselves - "HAH! I knew it!:" lol
My hero! Thanks for the puzzle reveal. I was too tired/lazy/frustrated/stubborn to do the puzzle myself. Let's hope I do better with the wreath collecting homework. 🤞