Homespun Harvest

Here is the first installment of our month-long look at planning an old-fashioned Harvest Gathering.

Today, we are exploring the planning, goals, and invitations of the event.

Goals:
The first thing to decide is why you want to host something like this as that will help determine what you do. The goals I came up with for mine are:
- fun
- old-fashioned
- fellowship
- family-friendly
- creative
- encouraging

Planning:
After you have your goals, you can plan the event around those things. For example, I know that the friends I want to invite have children, so family-friendly was one of my goals. I then need to plan activities that can be enjoyed by children and make the atmosphere child-friendly.

So, what I did was write out all of my ideas. Then, under each of the ideas, I listed what I would need to do to make that happen.
For example:

Bob for Apples
- galvanized tub
- water
- apples
- towels
- blanket to sit or kneel on
- sign
- supplies to cut apples and "dipping" ingredients to make this a snack as well

I did this for each of the activities I want to have so that I can easily work on little parts here and there as I have time. Also, this way it is easier to have everything I need ready in an organized way and not find the morning of that I have to run to the store or complete other prep work that could already have been done.

Invitations:
The invitation should obviously include the important information such as what, when, where, who to RSVP to, etc... I also included a few activities and what everyone needs to bring:



I created this post card in Word using a graphic available through that. Then, I colored in the pumpkin and leaves using colored pencils since we do not have a color printer. Post cards are less expensive to mail and yet, you still have plenty of room to list all the details.

Next time: Activities and Games

On the subject of Fall and decorating - make sure to check The Sparrow's Nest for her Touches of Autumn posts!