Farm to Classroom Tree Celebrates The “Seeds That You Plant”

— by Madie Murray —

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant.”

If you visit the Rosario Mansion between now and the end of the year, a host of beautiful, whimsical, magical and delightful trees will greet you as you enter. For the third year in a row, the Mansion has welcomed non-profits to decorate a tree and vie for prizes based on the number of tickets placed in the box at each tree. The tree receiving the greatest number of tickets wins a nice cash prize along with the next two runners-up.

For the second year in a row, Mandy Randolph’s K-6 Farm to Classroom students made the decorations for the tree sponsored by the Orcas Island Farm to Cafeteria Program/OIEF. They focused on seeds and what seeds mean to them by making seed packet ornaments and hand-drawn pictures of plants framed in popsicle sticks.

The theme concentrates on what a seed represents in reality and in philosophy. The Kindergarten class made the beautiful popcorn (from corn grown in the garden) and cranberry garland that creates a lovely necklace around the whole tree. Finally, bright packages, gardening artifacts and a sleeping puppy reside at its feet awaiting your visit. It’s in the corner on the way to the big dining room.

It’s worth a trip to the Mansion – especially in the evening when the trees sparkle. Take in dinner while you’re there and walk around the hallways with all the trees. Then, buy a whole strip of tickets and vote for one or all of your favorites. It’s very special Orcas Island experience.