Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1977-1989 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 29, 1978)
On local farms Tradition grows all year By Don Ives Of The Print Tree farms, like the one above, raise in profits at this time of year. Photos by Chuck Quimby Craftswomen turn dough into extra holiday cash By Leanne Lally Of The Print The dough artists are in the process of writing a book so anyone interested can learn how to create the miniature miracles themselves. The book is scheduled to appear on the shelves in September 1979. With Christmas just around the corner, people are looking for unique and old fashioned ways to show off their Yuletide spirit. Homemade cookies, pies, “The popularity of dough art and candy adorn many tables. Macrame, sewing, knitting, is sky rocketing for two and other handmade items find reasons,” Zimmer said. “One is their way into the hearts and that people have more leisure hands of appreciative time, and two, they are really recievers. Handmade items are into making things them becoming more popular for selves.” The sense of “I did it Christmas. Sandy Zimmer, part-time myself,” is expressed in Zim staff member at the college, has mer and Schaffer’s book not been hand-crafting for five yet titled. The book goes instructions and years. She and partner Dianna through Schaffer make and sell dough variations on the constructing art ornaments for decorating of the dough artistries. Christmas trees. “It’s hard to explain the The pair work out of Zim process of making the or mer’s home in Canby and are naments out of dough,” Zim doing very well. Last year an mer said, “it’s like baking, you estimated 4,000 ornaments just have to ‘feel’ when it’sz were sold from August to right.” “We add a lot of extra December. touches to our works,” said Zimmer. “One is that we mix the paint right in with the dough so we don’t have to paint them after they, are baked.” In these modern times some traditions are being tossed by the wayside. But one tradition still lives and grows bigger every year: the Christmas tree. Ed Wanke, Oregon City Christmas tree grower, hopes it will stay, that way. Wanke retired into the tree business in 1970, and his three-acre tree farm gives him “more than enough work,” especially during the holidays. According to Wanke, the Christmas season has already begun for tree growers. “I’ve had people come in and reserve trees eyen before Thanksgiving,” he said, “but business doesn’t really get heavy until about the first of December.” There is more to growing Christmas trees than planting and cutting, as Wanke is quick to point out. When Wanke buys his Douglas Fir seedlings from either state or commer cial nurseries, they are usually no more than four, inches tall. “These are about two years old,” he explained. After planting, trees sprayed to ward off insects control weeds. Then begins long process of trimming shaping. “I begin shearing them early as July,” Wanke said; The first shearing a I receives, according to Wan is the trimming of the “handl The handle consists of the I foot of the tree from] ground. It is trimmed to be I of branches for easier cult and carrying. Then eachtrei trimmed yearly to obtain popular cone shape of Christmas tree, lii addition this, Wanke cultivates and] tilizes his three-acre tree fa at least once a year. “It’s not a paying thin Wanke said, “when you c sider the work involved, takes six to seven years to gi a good five-foot tree.” I Wanke is now selling b cut and u-cut trees for j foot. His farm is located Molalla Avenue between College and the Fire Stall Besides his tree busint Wanke sells filberts for 50« a pound and says he will« them free of charge. The two also have a trademark. They sign and date each ornament they make, so the objects become; timely and worth a little more to each customer. They also use a draftsman pencil to draw in facial features and accent small lines. The artists also make mirror frames, jewlery, macrame beads, toys and other bright and useful items. Zimmer will demonstrate dough art techniques Thursday from 12:30 to 1 p.m. in Barlow Hall, room 252 for the Calico Christmas class. Anyone in terested in purchasing or naments may contact the shop at 651-2711. /MILWAUKIE R4CQUETBXLL CLUB SPECIAL STUDENT RATES o<*i *3500 Trees such as the one above, adorn many houses. “ALL KINDS OF BOOKS FOR ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE” North Willamette • 10 Championship Courts • Weight & Exercise Room • Jacuzzi & Sauna • lessons & Tournaments HO MOHTHIV WES HO MMBRSHIE 00H1MCTS ta 659-3845 Book Company 707 MAIN- STREET, OREGON CITY. (503) 656-6626. HQURS:.MON.TOTHURS. 10-6; FRI. 10-9: SAT. 10-5 4606 SE BOARDMAN ST. • MILWAUKIE (By Rancho’s Flowers) Clackamas Community Colli inches I D50 Illuminant, 2 degree observer
