There is no snow on the ground in Berkeley around the winter holidays, but that does not mean that here at the Edible Schoolyard we don’t celebrate the changing of the seasons. This week we had our annual holiday wreath making party, guided by Wendy Johnson, who has been our advisor and mentor since the Edible Schoolyard’s inception in 1995. Wendy is a fabulous teacher and everybody loves to learn with her. She brought heath, California bay laurel, eucalyptus, Douglas fir, redwood, and pine, from Muir Beach, California, where she lives. Here at the Edible Schoolyard, we collected rosemary, olive, Grecian bay, catoneaster, and ivy to use as well.
When all the students arrived after school they were given a basket, and instructed to collect their materials. The choices were nicely scattered across our oversized picnic table beside the garden, and without any arranging, made a beautiful display. After we all assumed our indoor positions, Wendy told us about the basic techniques we could choose from to form our holiday wreaths. Each wreath maker was given a metal circle which would serve as the frame, and then we were to put together small bunches of greenery, and wrap wire cord around it and the frame to attach it. We were instructed to repeat this process until the completion, and then she showed us a tricky method to finish off our masterpieces.
The staff made them too, but I think the students wreaths looked the most beautiful. They used lots of color and texture, and were not afraid to go big. I was suprised how easy it was under Wendy’s guidance, and with such beautiful materials. I am already looking forward to the next change of season so we can make spring wreaths.
Wendy helping one of the students wrap her wreath
One of the wreaths half finished
Some of the materials we had to choose from
One of our students beautiful completed holiday wreath
Wreath Making
There is no snow on the ground in Berkeley around the winter holidays, but that does not mean that here at the Edible Schoolyard we don’t celebrate the changing of the seasons. This week we had our annual holiday wreath making party, guided by Wendy Johnson, who has been our advisor and mentor since the Edible Schoolyard’s inception in 1995. Wendy is a fabulous teacher and everybody loves to learn with her. She brought heath, California bay laurel, eucalyptus, Douglas fir, redwood, and pine, from Muir Beach, California, where she lives. Here at the Edible Schoolyard, we collected rosemary, olive, Grecian bay, catoneaster, and ivy to use as well.
When all the students arrived after school they were given a basket, and instructed to collect their materials. The choices were nicely scattered across our oversized picnic table beside the garden, and without any arranging, made a beautiful display. After we all assumed our indoor positions, Wendy told us about the basic techniques we could choose from to form our holiday wreaths. Each wreath maker was given a metal circle which would serve as the frame, and then we were to put together small bunches of greenery, and wrap wire cord around it and the frame to attach it. We were instructed to repeat this process until the completion, and then she showed us a tricky method to finish off our masterpieces.
The staff made them too, but I think the students wreaths looked the most beautiful. They used lots of color and texture, and were not afraid to go big. I was suprised how easy it was under Wendy’s guidance, and with such beautiful materials. I am already looking forward to the next change of season so we can make spring wreaths.
Wendy helping one of the students wrap her wreath
One of the wreaths half finished
Some of the materials we had to choose from
One of our students beautiful completed holiday wreath
Another gorgeous final product