With Cyber Monday behind us and the biggest gift giving time of the year straight ahead,  it can be all too easy to get caught up in buying single-use, disposable and plastic decorations and gifts. While these may be convenient, they’re far from the environmentally friendly way to go. Fake wreaths can’t just be broken down on compost pile, and faux-decor is no where near as fantastically fragrant as the real thing.

With all this in-mind, our Chief Alchemist Christina Zeidler headed out of town this past weekend in search of sustainable holiday decorations. A short trip out of the city and a quick stop at the woodworking shop later, the Gladstone was ready to be adorned with custom made garlands.  Branches were pruned (no clear-cutting for this project) from coniferous trees just an hour outside of the city. The garlands to be were then brought to a woodworking shop in Toronto to be measured and strung together into festive features.  Small white lights were then intertwined here at the hotel as the whole team pitched in to get the decorations up and twinkling.

Check out the process from start to finish with this photo essay!

Feeling inspired to get your holiday decoration game strong? Check out our Wild Wreath Making workshop with Plantbaby Studio on December 17th!