On Wednesday August 24, 2022, staff of the NC Cooperative Extension, Lenoir County Center, and Lenoir County Master Gardeners,  along with members and volunteers of the U.S. Forest Service hosted an ornament making workshop for the U.S Capital Christmas Tree at the Cooperative Extension Building.  The workshop was open to anyone who wished to contribute their talent to the project.  

Workshop leaders were encouraged to use natural, recyclable, and repurposed materials that reflected Eastern NC, or our area.  Over 400 ornaments were made of local pine cones, local dried okra pods, NC Oyster shells, tree discs, and many other items.  Two sessions were held.  The goal for this tree is to create 2,000 small ornaments and participants are proud of the progress they made toward the ornament goal.   

Big thanks to Heather Harkley, of the US Forest Service for offering us this opportunity, and to all of the volunteers and participants.