Autumn decor with dried legumes and grains

A photo doesn't do this justice. I have it
sitting in front of the brick fireplace surround.
It looks natural and lovely.

This has got to be the tightwad-iest autumn decor project around. All of it can be found in one's home right now. Almost all of it can be eaten, composted/chipped, or reused (you can reuse the plastic wrap, too, but I wouldn't fault someone for tossing it when done.) 

But because it's made with natural materials, it seems perfect for the season. When the end of season rolls around (for me, the day after Thanksgiving, late November), rinse the legumes and grains well, then cook up a ginormous pot of soup, or, don't rinse just yet, but divide into 2 portions to store (and rinse just before cooking), and make a not quite ginormous pot of soup, twice, at a later date.

To make, you'll need: 

1 clear jar or vase (an extra large mason jar is also nice and homey)
assorted dried beans and grains (the more colorful the better, but I just use what I happen to have)
bare branches, twisted and curved are always interesting
a bit of plastic wrap
some raffia or neutral-colored ribbon

This takes me about 30 minutes, including going outside and finding the branches, and cleaning up the vase.

Wrap the bottom 6 inches of the branches with plastic wrap. This is to prevent any sap from damaging the beans.

from top to bottom:
pintos, barley, split peas, garbanzos, lentils

Begin layering your dried beans into the vase. When the vase is half-filled, insert the wrapped end of the branches into the beans.  Using a cupped hand, carefully pour the remaining layers of beans and grains into the vase, until about 1 inch from the top edge.

Tie your raffia or ribbon around the branches or vase, trim the raffia ends, and you're done.

If you have small children who like to put things, like beans, where they really shouldn't go, set this on a shelf or mantle, where they cannot reach. The same goes if you have pets who may like to paw through the contents.