a family affair...

Every Christmas tree has a story!  It takes 7-10 years to grow the perfect Christmas tree.  During that time birds have made nests, and new fawns have found their beginnings.  Our entire family is involved in all stages of the process!  Your tree began as a carefully selected seedling, transferred to our farm after being in a quality nursery for 4 years.  SPRING TIME: 3,000 trees are planted each Spring by hand and with a tree planter.  Roots are trimmed, rows are measured, and children line up to pack in the dirt behind.  Next, all trees are fertilized by hand.  Late spring, the trees begin developing cones.  These steal nutrients from the tree, can deform the top of the tree, and can make a mess later in the season when the cone starts to fall apart.  Trees can contain anywhere from a couple cones to a 1,000 cones.  Each of these must be removed by hand (it's a sticky business!).  SUMMER: Our farm is MAEAP certified- meaning we practice environmentally-conscious practices.  We apply a very low-grade dose of weed killer, but this must be applied to ensure the proper growth of the trees.  Mowing also must be maintained throughout the summer between the rows.  MID-LATE SUMMER: trimming begins!  All sides must be sheared and tops trimmed to maintain the beautiful Christmas tree shape!  Dead trees must be removed, and stumps cut out from previous year's trees.  FALL- all salable trees are tagged and then ready for you. Before you take your tree home and enjoy it with your family we have touched that tree 30-40 times throughout its life on our farm. Many times when I (Ben) see trees after they have been cut down, I not only recognize the tree but could probably tell you where it came from on the farm.  This is how familiar we get with your tree during its life. 

Spring Planting - 3,000