It is the Saturday after Thanksgiving and as is typical in most years the Season of Advent begins for most Christian denominations on Sunday. One of our local churches celebrates a “Hanging of the Greens” Service to mark the beginning of Advent and their spiritual journey toward Christmas.
For years they have included the Farm in their service by procuring Farm-made wreaths and a garland for the church entrance area. We have always welcomed the sale of the greens and hung them as a small service to the members of that important community pillar.
The afternoon is amazingly pleasant for late November and it shouldn’t take very long to hang the garland. Before I start, I add some fresh nails and begin to wire the fresh garland around the church entrance. But damn—there is a little bit of a problem. The garland is too short; if left in place it would look like someone wearing pants that are a couple of sizes too small—not very flattering especially as a symbol of everlasting life. So I take down the garland and head back to the Farm to get a 30’ rather than the usual 25’ garland that we have used for years. Apparently my new nails have rounded out a more attractive but slightly longer path for the garland. And our new garland winding machine is equipped with a totally accurate builtin measuring gauge so the garlands from years past may have been a little longer than they were meant to be. It is kind of maddening but on this pretty afternoon I remain calm.
Back at the Farm, a family of accomplished musicians are taking turns playing Christmas carols on the Farm piano located on the Big Barn porch. The carols are so beautiful wafting across the landscape. While Taylor goes to work making my new 30’ garland, I get ready to take a walk with my son Ben who is visiting from Florida for the holiday weekend.
We amble off to strains of Pachelbel’s Canon coming from the piano. It is just the beginning of the piece as drama and tension build. Our first stop is to overlook the River’s quiet flow. The water is darkly clear but its mirrored surface reflects the streaky sky’s myriad of late afternoon color. Then we walk around the field past tall weeds and prairie plants and grasses as the sun drops toward the horizon and finally sets. I think that Canon in D still playing in my head is an apt accompaniment to a really pretty walk and sunset.
Outside of Greenhouse 7 I grab the new 30’ garland and then head the truck back to the church even though it is now nearly dark. The church entrance is well illuminated by a sign and I am able to quickly hang the fresh garland, trimming just a bit off of each end. Then I hang the two 24” Fraser Fir wreaths with hand-tied red velvet bows, one on each door. In my opinion the church’s simple traditional entranceway looks beautiful with the addition of the garland and wreaths. I’ve done my Hanging of the Greens service for this year. Of course the real “Hanging of the Greens” Service will come in the morning. But I feel very lucky, the greens have framed a late afternoon/evening full of beauty and camaraderie. I have been blessed.
For years they have included the Farm in their service by procuring Farm-made wreaths and a garland for the church entrance area. We have always welcomed the sale of the greens and hung them as a small service to the members of that important community pillar.
The afternoon is amazingly pleasant for late November and it shouldn’t take very long to hang the garland. Before I start, I add some fresh nails and begin to wire the fresh garland around the church entrance. But damn—there is a little bit of a problem. The garland is too short; if left in place it would look like someone wearing pants that are a couple of sizes too small—not very flattering especially as a symbol of everlasting life. So I take down the garland and head back to the Farm to get a 30’ rather than the usual 25’ garland that we have used for years. Apparently my new nails have rounded out a more attractive but slightly longer path for the garland. And our new garland winding machine is equipped with a totally accurate builtin measuring gauge so the garlands from years past may have been a little longer than they were meant to be. It is kind of maddening but on this pretty afternoon I remain calm.
Back at the Farm, a family of accomplished musicians are taking turns playing Christmas carols on the Farm piano located on the Big Barn porch. The carols are so beautiful wafting across the landscape. While Taylor goes to work making my new 30’ garland, I get ready to take a walk with my son Ben who is visiting from Florida for the holiday weekend.
We amble off to strains of Pachelbel’s Canon coming from the piano. It is just the beginning of the piece as drama and tension build. Our first stop is to overlook the River’s quiet flow. The water is darkly clear but its mirrored surface reflects the streaky sky’s myriad of late afternoon color. Then we walk around the field past tall weeds and prairie plants and grasses as the sun drops toward the horizon and finally sets. I think that Canon in D still playing in my head is an apt accompaniment to a really pretty walk and sunset.
Outside of Greenhouse 7 I grab the new 30’ garland and then head the truck back to the church even though it is now nearly dark. The church entrance is well illuminated by a sign and I am able to quickly hang the fresh garland, trimming just a bit off of each end. Then I hang the two 24” Fraser Fir wreaths with hand-tied red velvet bows, one on each door. In my opinion the church’s simple traditional entranceway looks beautiful with the addition of the garland and wreaths. I’ve done my Hanging of the Greens service for this year. Of course the real “Hanging of the Greens” Service will come in the morning. But I feel very lucky, the greens have framed a late afternoon/evening full of beauty and camaraderie. I have been blessed.
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