Imagine a scene that feels like it’s straight from a festive film: A family journeys to a picturesque farm to chop down their very own Christmas tree, spending the day meandering through rows of trees, crafting wreaths, and enjoying steaming cups of cocoa. At approximately 15,000 Christmas tree farms in the United States, this enchanting experience is a reality rather than a fantasy. Numerous farmers bypass the wholesale market by inviting families to pick out their freshly cut trees—part of the 25 million sold annually in the U.S. Let’s delve deeper into the operations of Christmas tree farms by engaging with the families that manage them.
How do Christmas tree farms operate?
While the majority of business occurs from the day after Thanksgiving through early December, cultivating Christmas trees is an all-year-round endeavor. “People often ask me what I do throughout the rest of the year,” shares Christian Nicholson, who owns Hidden Pond Tree Farm and leads the New Jersey Christmas Tree Growers Association. “There isn’t a break; it keeps going.”
As soon as the spring thaw occurs, thousands of seedlings are planted. The choice of crops planted by growers depends on geographic location, soil quality, weather patterns, and consumer preferences. Lately, fluctuating climate conditions due to climate change have added complexity to their decisions, as unexpected extremes affect crop viability.
During the spring and summer months, farmers cultivate cover crops, manage pest control, and apply fertilizers. By mid-summer, around July, the farmers meticulously prune the trees by hand, shaping the conifers into the ideal Christmas tree silhouette. All year long, they also mow paths to ensure easy navigation for visiting families. These splendid firs and spruces require eight to ten years of care before they’re ready to be harvested as standard 6-foot Christmas trees.
Farmers aim to attract families not only with one of the season’s cherished symbols but also by helping create timeless memories. This nostalgic charm brings visitors back season after season, spanning generations. Behind the scenes, diligent farmers employ hard work and diversification strategies to sustain their livelihoods and way of life.
Piper Mountain Christmas Tree Farm
Newburgh, Maine
The owners of Piper Mountain Christmas Tree Farm, Molly and Jesse Jimerson, took charge of the property in 2022, although the farm’s foundation dates back to 1978 when Jim and Norma Corliss established it.
“It felt like a Hallmark film. It’s a dream come true,” says Molly of their new enterprise, a perfect blend with her agricultural background and her husband’s resourceful nature. “We cherished the idea of cultivating Christmas trees and imparting that lifestyle to our children.”
The Jimersons cultivate around 28,000 trees, planting between 3,000 and 4,000 predominantly balsam firs each year. Caring for the crop is a continuous endeavor. “We function as an operational farm for 11 months each year and embrace agritourism for one month,” Molly explains.
“It feels like Easter was just yesterday, and Christmas is right around the corner,” adds Jesse.
The Jimersons target their marketing efforts toward women, who frequently organize events and make financial choices for their households. “People can easily head to Home Depot, grab a Christmas tree, and call it a day. [Women] prefer to turn it into a memorable day with their families,” Molly states. At Piper Mountain, the Jimersons offer a whole day’s adventure complete with horse-drawn carriage rides, food trucks, and ornament purchasing.
While the couple enjoys the enchanting atmosphere of the Christmas tree farm all year, Molly recalls the delightful scent that filled the barn as they began accepting materials for wreath-making during their inaugural season. “Tippers” gather branches from the wild—about 30,000 pounds for the farm’s wholesale wreath production, which is another facet of their diverse business model that encompasses an e-commerce component.
Pioneer Trails Tree Farm
Poland, Ohio
Farming is a family tradition for the Perdulla family. Patriarch Frank grew up on the 52-acre land where he and his wife, Mary Jan, whose family also has a history of growing Christmas trees, planted their inaugural trees in 1983. Now, forty years later, the couple is thrilled to be celebrating their ruby anniversary at the farm. Their three children are now part of the operation, with two acting as co-operators, overseeing a diverse crop that includes various firs, spruces, and pines.
Pioneer Trails Tree Farm’s grounds create a beautiful backdrop for photographers who rent the space to capture cherished holiday moments. The Perdullas have even established photography sets, featuring an antique wagon and a hot chocolate stand, to enhance the ambience. The fees from photographers add another stream of income, alongside newly introduced primitive tent camping spots launched during the COVID-19 pandemic when there was heightened demand for outdoor activities. The farm also experienced an upswing in visitors during the holiday season of the pandemic, as people sought safe, socially distanced outings.
Holiday experiences at the farm encompass a flat-rate tree option (where visitors can cut their own tree or choose from pre-cut selections), wagon rides, and a visit to the Big Red Barn gift shop for handmade ornaments, hot chocolate, and doughnuts. To accommodate families with bustling schedules, the farm opens a few evenings for Friday Night Lights, during which visitors can pick their trees under solar illumination, enjoy rides on a wagon adorned with holiday lights, and gather around bonfires for s’mores and hot dogs.
Mary Jan takes joy in their continuation of family traditions. “I’m grateful that we can persist as a Christmas tree farm. Many tree farms have shut down as my children matured. I have two grandchildren, and I hope they’ll be interested in continuing this legacy too,” she reflects.
Hidden Pond Tree Farm
Mendham, New Jersey
Christian Nicholson established Hidden Pond Tree Farm by leasing 35 acres and selling his inaugural tree in 2008. Since then, the farm has evolved into a quaint locale—so much so that the filmmakers at Netflix and Hallmark have utilized the site for multiple holiday movies.
Nicholson finds great satisfaction in opening the farm to the public. “I could opt for wholesale and be completed by the end of the weekend,” he admits. “It’s far more enjoyable to welcome the same families year after year. I’ve seen customers’ families grow and have children of their own.”
The farm attracts families from New York City and its boroughs. “Families seek more than just a Christmas tree. It’s a cherished tradition that harks back to simpler times. I offer more than just a tree; I provide a Christmas spirit experience,” Nicholson states. Hayrides, tractor-drawn train rides, bonfires, and a snack bar contribute to a full-day outing for those cutting their own Canaan fir, Fraser fir, or concolor fir. (He also provides pre-cut trees.)
To enhance income throughout the remaining eleven months, Nicholson opens the farm for photographer sessions—Christmas card snaps are popular here—and oversees a wholesale boxwood business. “To ensure a farm is sustainable, you must discover additional revenue streams. Very few farms can thrive relying solely on one product,” he observes.
Covered Bridge Ranch
Montrose, Colorado
Natalie Riessen grew up as the daughter of a tree farmer in Michigan. After a decade-long career in finance in Chicago and New York, she returned to join her father’s operation in Colorado twelve years ago. “I spent so much time in the corporate world, looking for a venture with more entrepreneurial spirit. I wanted something to eventually take over and pass on to the next generation,” she shares.
Her father’s passions led him to often-romanticized covered bridges and U-cut Christmas tree farms, both of which he integrated into his enterprise in Colorado before Riessen joined the team. She believes that this setting and activity provide multi-generational enjoyment. “It’s one of the few activities that enable multiple generations—grandparents, children, and grandchildren—to bond together while engaging in something meaningful. It embodies the true spirit of Christmas,” she explains.
Covered Bridge Ranch transports visitors into the fields on tractor-drawn wagons to choose from Canaan firs, Douglas firs, concolor firs, Colorado spruces, or Scotch pines. After selecting the ideal tree, guests can visit the wreath-decorating barn, savor hot cider, meet the collection of animals on-site, and browse the gift shop.
The farm dedicates only 100 of its 300-acre property to Christmas trees while diversifying revenue channels. “We predominantly operate as a tree nursery,” Riessen describes of their venture Colorado Conifers, which cultivates trees for wholesale and nursery distribution. In addition, they run a pumpkin patch, produce hay, and raise longhorn cattle.
Having transitioned from corporate life, Riessen now relishes her time spent mostly outdoors. “Nurturing living things is incredibly fulfilling. It’s gratifying to witness the results of our efforts and see them flourish and become more beautiful,” she concludes.
