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.
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