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Walking into Dawson Family Wreath Barn in Weed, the sweet scent of the holidays envelopes you. With green boughs of red fir and brightly colored ribbons festooning the walls, you might expect to see a group of elves working feverishly around you.
The Dawson family wires the fragrant wreaths and ties the bows, as they’ve been doing for 25 years.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said Patc, who learned the ins and outs of the wreath making business in the early 1980s from a friend who used to work at Kendell Ranch in Tennant. When the friend moved away, Patc continued to make wreaths and sell them during the holiday season.
Every October, Patc and her family go out into the woods to collect the boughs, needles and other greenery needed to make hundreds of wreaths. They obtain permits from the Shasta Trinity National Forest, and this year collected four tons of greenery which will be used to make 1,500 wreaths, Patc said.
Each year, Patc rents an open space in Weed as her place of business. This year, she rented a spot in the Pizza Factory building on North Weed Boulevard.
From wiring boxes and decorating wreaths to tying tags and cutting ribbons, every aspect of the business is undertaken by Patc, her husband, and their four children. Her grandchildren, including 18 year old Bryan, 10 year old Savanna, six year old Karly, four year old Isabella and even 14 month old Capreece pitch in, too.
“They’re learning the family trade and earning some money to take Christmas shopping,” Patc said.
A large bulk of Patc’s business is through fundraisers for a variety of organizations, including the Butteville Elementary School eighth graders, Cubco, Weed Junior Bowlers, Gazelle 4-H, the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Anderson, Colusa Elementary, Lone Pine 4-H in Chico and Strawberry Valley 4-H of Mount Shasta. For every wreath they sell, the organization keeps a portion of the profits, Patc explained.
“The wreaths sell themselves... everyone wants a one,” said Madison Beltramo, the Gazelle 4-H Club president, who was picking up 20 wreaths on Friday afternoon. “I love having one because they smell so good.”
Beltramo said her 4-H club has been selling the wreaths for 10 years now. This year’s profits will go toward the gift baskets they give out every holiday season.
Patc also does special orders, including wreaths, swags, centerpieces, candle rings and garlands for Hanukkah and other occasions.
Walking into Dawson Family Wreath Barn in Weed, the sweet scent of the holidays envelopes you. With green boughs of red fir and brightly colored ribbons festooning the walls, you might expect to see a group of elves working feverishly around you.
The Dawson family wires the fragrant wreaths and ties the bows, as they’ve been doing for 25 years.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said Patc, who learned the ins and outs of the wreath making business in the early 1980s from a friend who used to work at Kendell Ranch in Tennant. When the friend moved away, Patc continued to make wreaths and sell them during the holiday season.
Every October, Patc and her family go out into the woods to collect the boughs, needles and other greenery needed to make hundreds of wreaths. They obtain permits from the Shasta Trinity National Forest, and this year collected four tons of greenery which will be used to make 1,500 wreaths, Patc said.
Each year, Patc rents an open space in Weed as her place of business. This year, she rented a spot in the Pizza Factory building on North Weed Boulevard.
From wiring boxes and decorating wreaths to tying tags and cutting ribbons, every aspect of the business is undertaken by Patc, her husband, and their four children. Her grandchildren, including 18 year old Bryan, 10 year old Savanna, six year old Karly, four year old Isabella and even 14 month old Capreece pitch in, too.
“They’re learning the family trade and earning some money to take Christmas shopping,” Patc said.
A large bulk of Patc’s business is through fundraisers for a variety of organizations, including the Butteville Elementary School eighth graders, Cubco, Weed Junior Bowlers, Gazelle 4-H, the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Anderson, Colusa Elementary, Lone Pine 4-H in Chico and Strawberry Valley 4-H of Mount Shasta. For every wreath they sell, the organization keeps a portion of the profits, Patc explained.
“The wreaths sell themselves... everyone wants a one,” said Madison Beltramo, the Gazelle 4-H Club president, who was picking up 20 wreaths on Friday afternoon. “I love having one because they smell so good.”
Beltramo said her 4-H club has been selling the wreaths for 10 years now. This year’s profits will go toward the gift baskets they give out every holiday season.
Patc also does special orders, including wreaths, swags, centerpieces, candle rings and garlands for Hanukkah and other occasions.
Patc pointed to one wreath, which features silver tip, rose hips, long needle pine, lodgepole, manzanita, juniper, holly and incense cedar. “I call it the woodland wreath,” she explained.
This year, she launched a line of fragrant arches to celebrate her 25 year anniversary.
“I think my favorite part is all this,’ Patc said, indicating the hustle and bustle around her. “Getting the whole family working together to make something that makes everyone’s home cheery for the holidays.”
Patc’s wreaths are available for sale and shipment from now until Dec. 20. If you’d like to purchase a wreath, you can visit her at 134 North Weed Boulevard, call (530) 351-3242 or email dawsonwreaths@aol.com.
