How to Decorate an Organic-Theme Christmas Tree

A traditional tree - red and green glass balls, multicolored lights, and an angel or dove at the top - never goes out of style. But if the crass commercialism of Christmas is getting on your nerves, why not register your opinion with an organic-theme tree?

Things You'll Need

• Christmas Tree Lights
• Cardboard
• Dried Flowers
• Glues
• Living Christmas Trees
• Pretty Organic Seed Packets
• Dried Herbs
• Grains
• Herbal Teas Bags
• Nuts
• Netting
• Unbleached Twine Or Jute

Instructions

1. Buy a tree and set it up (a live one is as organic as you can get!).

2. Put lights on it. Simple green or white lights are best for an organic-theme tree.

3. Collect the materials you'll need: herbal tea bags, nuts (in the shell) and dried flowers, pretty seed packets and bits of seaweed and driftwood.

4. Get some string or cord to tie everything on. Unbleached twine or jute will complement the organic theme.

5. Make organic grain ornaments. Cut squares of netting and fill them with grains, then gather the corners and tie them together with jute.

6. Make additional ornaments. Cut cardboard medallions and glue appropriate pictures to them, then punch a hole for jute cord. (This is a good step for kids - as you work, discuss what organic means and ask them to find pictures of things that are organic.)

7. Attach the decorations to the tree, starting with the biggest items. Then move on to medium and smaller items, arranging as you go. Some items will practically attach themselves - dried flowers, for example, can be sort of twined around the branches. Use the cord to tie the rest of the items to the ends of branches.

8. Don't forget something special - such as a raffia bow - for the top.

Tips & Warnings

• Scale your decorations to the size of your tree. If you're decorating a very large or very tall tree, you can use bigger items.