“We are a gift the earth is giving to herself.”
–Joanna Macy

Harvest is traditionally the time to take stock, when longer nights and colder weather send out a strong call to turn inward, to identify the accomplishments and qualities of character that will see us through the long dark months ahead.

Find out how to make this easy, simple wreath that celebrates our own autumn harvests. Your finished wreath will make a beautiful and unique door decoration, or a centerpiece for your harvest table. This Autumn activity is perfect for the whole family, a heartwarming way to honor each person’s uniqueness that is their gift to the world.

1. Give some real time and thought to your own harvests over the past year. What did you learn? What did you do? How have you grown, deepened, or changed? What were the major events or accomplishments you would like to honor?

2. Find small ways to represent these inner harvests. For example, if you just bought your first home, a tiny house carved out of wood or shaped from clay would make a perfect addition to the wreath. If your child just learned how to ride a two-wheeler, she or he could draw a small bike on a piece of cardboard to glue on. I might include one of my new Care2 business cards, folded and tied with a gold ribbon. My son could make a small copy of the letter telling him he won a contest for young artists and roll it up like a scroll. My sweetheart just became a yoga instructor, so he might make a tiny yoga mat. You could cut discs of wood from a fallen branch and paint them with personal harvest symbols. Take some time as a family to think and talk about your achievements.

3. You may want to harvest some wild grapevine and twist it into a circle-shape or you could buy a premade grapevine wreath to be the base for your creation.

3. Using non-toxic wood glue or green wreath wire, glue or attach your symbols to the wreath base. Add any decoration that strikes your fancy: autumn leaves, nuts or seed pods, dried flower-heads, corn necklaces (see the September ‘03 issue of Care2 Lifestyle for a How-To), feathers, crystals, apples cut in thin slices through the center and dried–all would make pretty additions to your wreath.