Every season and year brings something new to learn and enjoy. Now in my 7th year of creating natural Winter decorations, thanks to you & Nature I’ve learned a lot about my land, creativity and Winter!
In this blog post, see the 3 lessons I’ve learned and what you need to know about this year’s Winter Holidays at Lazy Dirt Wildflower Farm.
Every November & December my 220 year old barn turns into a Winter Wonderland filled with evergreens, berries, twinkle lights and cocoa. For 6 weeks, I create unique gnomes, wreaths, centerpieces and even decorate treasures like old Tonka trucks.
Each and every one is made with love, foraged & grown gifts from Nature, and eco-friendly without metal, plastics or foam!
3 lessons learned along the way…
Lesson #1 It’s COLD out there!
I love to play in the barn with piles of fragrant evergreens & twinkling lights. The cold is good for the evergreens but my goodness is that barn is cold!
It’s not so bad until temps dip below 25 degrees. I’m outside foraging anyway and slowly get used to the cold. I have great snowshoes and an old Radio Flyer sled to make trekking in snow easier and certainly cuter!
But over the years, I’ve discovered pocket warmers, cocoa, and layers of wool & flannel are essential! There’s also no shame in calling ‘Uncle’ when it gets to be 12 degrees let me tell ya!
Lesson #2 Time flies when your having fun
In the first two years, I always underestimated the time creating Winter decorations requires. I’ve now learned a 3’ Gnome takes a day (sometimes two) to create from foraging to decorating it’s moss hat with flowers.
So now days, I’m ‘time strategic’ well at least I try very hard… For example, in July I make all the Gnomes red wool noses! I collect wood, pine cones, feathers and more all season. In early November, the final organization happens— mostly so I can always find a pair of snips! ha-ha! This year I’m also determined to spend more time baking, walking and laughing with my family.
Not that I don’t spend family time especially during the holidays… But my family will tell you I can get wrapped up ‘playing with Gnomes’ in the barn!
I lose track of time when I’m designing Winter decorations! The fun just brings me in… Every design is unique. They take take shape ‘as it happens’
Plus with upbeat ‘wintery’ jazz on the radio just keeps the creative energy flowing! I’ll easily spend a whole 10 or more hours out of one day foraging & creating Winter decorations— last year a racoon had to kick me out of the barn!!!
Delivering the Gnomes and other decorations also takes time— Setting them up in gardens or even Cafes for the Winter is so much fun and usually requires an hour. So I learned my first year to budget lots of extra time for pickups or delivery.
After all fitting a 6’ gnome into my Jeep is an ART FORM!
But the extra time is really about people. It’s time to enjoy folks seeing their decorations for the first time especially little children! And watching folks smile at stop lights when they look over at my Jeep full of gnomes is always GRAND!
All the fun continues in ‘26!
I’m now getting the barn ready to create natural decorations for the Winter Holidays! From gnomes to even mini-Christmas trees or gnomes for your table. All are handcrafted to your order ALWAYS sustainably harvested and without any metals, foam or plastics!
Plus I have a few crazy crafty ideas up in my wool cap too!
What’s new this Winter?
PRIVATE PARTIES!!!
Wouldn’t it be nice to have friends over for a relaxed craft day but not have to do any of the work? Yeah—- how great would that be just relaxing and crafting something wonderful with friends. Heck I think a day with friends celebrating the season with a Holiday ‘Ugly Pajama’ & Craft Party would be a real hoot!
That is the inspiration for our new private Holiday Workshops!
2 different PRIVATE Holiday workshops:
You supply the guests & location. We’ll do all the work of set up & take down for you! Why there’s even a ‘picnic’ option!
What an easy way to gather with friends and family!
Next fun holiday idea for 2026:
A Winter Holiday CSA!
Inspired by chats with guests to the farm this Summer~ wouldn’t it be nice during the holiday rush to have a a CSA as a reminder to slow down a bit, save time and “make less decisions”.
Our solution= 3 weeks of beautiful decorations & organic teas!
Gift yourself or friends a treat plus save $50 bucks too! Oh yes of course we’re offering delivery to help you get more time to enjoy the simple things this Winter holiday season!
Winter Holiday Farm Deets
Ordering & Winter Farm Hours: the deets you need to know
As always holiday decorations are pre-order only via our website or by phone . While I try my best to make extra designs they go home immediately — usually before I even get to post them as available or even a photograph of them!!!
Farm pickups will be on SUNDAYS (or by appointment). The barn will be open Sundays 9:00am to 6:00pm begining November 29th thru December 20th.
Local delivery will be Saturdays or by appointment. Yes, appointments during the week will be available for pickup and delivery
Please allow 48 hours BEFORE date of pickup or delivery to forage & design your order.
Shipping is available this year! Order early for shipping as we can not guarantee Christmas delivery after December 1st
Still enjoying this Autumn season…
All this is not to suggest we don’t bask in Autumn’s glory! Nor the season’s gardening fun. I’m still planting thanks to all the warm weather LOL!
There’s lots to do to prepare for the long Winter ahead. Collecting tender Yarrow leaves for a healing salve. Stacking firewood, tucking in young plants with leaves, and putting away all the nursery tables. And of course, collect more of Nature treasures like brilliant red Oak leaves and milkweed pods for Gnome boutonnières.
This time in Autumn is a last chance to prepare for Winter! Perhaps that is really why I started making Winter decorations so many long years ago with just a few porch pots of evergreens, dogwood stems & berries. It’s creating something simple and beautiful to celebrate WINTER to give us smiles long after the December holidays are past.
So let’s embrace the current season but ‘tip a toe’ to peek into our dreams & hopes for the next season…
Wishing you abundance this and every day….
