Apple, Orange and Herb Garland

This apple, orange and herb garland is the perfect way to introduce a little light and color into your winter.

I am always looking for ways to be in the moment, create calm, peace, get creative, and get my hands on some kind of plant-centered craft. Anything with plants makes my heart smile. Especially when it comes to decorating the house, I really much prefer to make something myself than to go out and buy it, and hence – this apple, herb and orange garland was born. I also love that I can forage sage from my garden (pretty much the only thing still alive in the garden right now), use some leftover Thanksgiving cranberries and seasonal oranges and make something gorgeous and fragrant.

Simple is beautiful

This apple, orange and herb garland is really not difficult, but it is beautiful, elegant, and makes everything seem festive. Your hands will end up smelling amazing after too, since you’re pushing a needle through cranberries, sage, and dried apples. Yum!

Compostable

The best part of this craft is that it is compostable. When the season is done and you no longer need the garland, you can add the whole thing to a pot (string and all), cover with water, and simmer for a delicious natural potpourri. You can also put it in a slow cooker to keep the scent going. If using a stove top, keep adding water to enjoy the aroma for hours. At the end, compost the remnants.

Tips for making your garland

This garland is made using dried fruit. I used a dehydrator since it’s simple (a “set it and forget it” method) but you can use your oven also. There are more details in the recipe document below.

I like to use sturdy string, since this garland does end up being a bit heavy. I use 100% cotton baker’s twine, and therefore also needed a stronger needle (I used yarn darners) to be able to thread it. Here’s where you can purchase both.

Baker’s Twine

Yarn Darners Hand Needles

I draped the garland over our window, and so needed to make little circles (with knots) in the twine to be able to hook the garland over the corners of the window. Make sure you draw enough twine to allow for that.

Make it yours

No matter what, make it yours. If you love rosemary, add it in. If you want it all with oranges and apples, make it yours. Enjoy the process, put on some beautiful music (I made this one listening to Beethoven sonatas) and enjoy the moment.

Looking for more crafts?

Check these out.

Orange, Apple & Herb Garland

A beautiful craft to adorn any window or door using natural ingredients, such as herbs, cranberries and apples.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Equipment

• Needle (with larger eye) and baker's twine

Ingredients

  

• 2 small apples, medium slices
• 2 small oranges, medium slices
• 1 bag of fresh cranberries
• 8-10 sprigs of fresh sage (stem intact, smallest top leaves of the plant)
• 1 needle, big enough to thread bakers twine
• 100% cotton bakers twine

Instructions

 

• First, dry the apples and oranges. You can do this in a dehydrator at 110 degrees for 24 hours, or simply place them in an oven at your abslute lowest temperature. If you can get it around 100 degrees, that would be ideal.
• String the sage, cranberries, apples and oranges. I used this pattern: apple, 2 cranberries, sage (pierce the stem at the thickest part), 2 cranberries, orange, 2 cranberries. Then I repeated the pattern.
• If you have extras of apples and oranges at the end, I just added them to the ends of the garland.
• Decorate and enjoy!