While some are pulling plastic trees out of the storage closet this holiday season, others are heading to the great outdoors to celebrate the tradition of Christmas with a freshly cut tree.
As families begin to prepare for the Christmas season, many are heading to local Christmas tree farms to find their tree of choice. Many Christmas tree farms both in Eugene and just outside of town, such as Northern Lights Christmas Tree Farm, Carroll’s Country Christmas Trees and Parks Christmas Tree, have many acres full of lush green trees ready to be cut down by their customers. They come in all shapes, sizes and shades
of green.
Among the biggest tree farms in Lane County, Northern Lights Christmas Tree Farm in Pleasant Hill, Ore. dedicates 80 of its 162 acres just for harvesting Christmas trees.
Northern Lights owner Lynn Schutte said that the beauty of a tree is all in the eye of the beholder.
“The perfect Christmas tree is different for every person; it is just about picking the one that you love,” Schutte said.
Whether it be a Scotch Pine, Douglas Fir, Noble Fir or Grand Fir, the selection process is unique to each family or individual. Mel Parks, owner of Parks Christmas Tree Farm, said tree selection depends on how much a person wants to spend and preference.
“If you want an inexpensive tree, you might want to stick with a Douglas Fir, but the Noble Firs are more sturdy and hold up better,” Parks said.
Although from a distance the hundreds of trees at Northern Lights Christmas Tree Farm may look similar, the customers coming to choose their trees have varying strategies and techniques in choosing the right one.
Sam Johnson of Eugene comes out annually to cut down the family Christmas tree, and she says she knows how to pick out a tree with strong limbs.
“My kids and I put a lot of ornaments on our tree, and we need strong branches for that,” Johnson said. “We like to pull down the branches and see if they spring back up, indicating branch strength.”
Northern Lights employee Steve Stoney said his idea of an ideal tree may not be what most people think.
“The best trees out there have gaps,” Stoney said. “Many people don’t think so, but it’s the trees that aren’t full and lush that you can get ornaments deep into. There is a real strategy to it.”
While some spend hours walking through the rows of pine needles and branches to make their selection, others decide quickly and head to the bundler and shaker.
The shaker shakes the tree with a vibrating motion to get all of the lose needles to fall out. Stoney says that this keeps the loose needles from falling out when you put the tree up in your home. Next, the tree is brought to the bundler, who wraps the tree up in plastic, making the tree thin and narrow. Stoney says this makes the transport home much easier.
Sharon Carroll of Carroll’s Country Christmas Trees explained how there are industry standards for Christmas trees that help keep the trees at high quality. She says the industry has four specific elements that make up a good tree: good top, color, density and three sides. Carroll also thinks the tree cutting process is a great way to facilitate family bonding and time outdoors.
“It gives families an opportunity to be outside and decide on something as a family,” Carroll said. “They aren’t just pulling fake plastic limbs out of a box, but they are going on an excursion, getting outside, maybe getting something hot to drink, and that is what it is all
really about.”
Dawn and Matt Kosinski of Eugene visit Northern Lights Christmas Tree Farm each year with their two kids to pick out their tree.
“We came here because it’s about the family and value of tradition and cutting down your very own tree,” Matt Kosinski said. “It may be a lot easier to get a fake tree from the store, but it’s not always about being easy.”
For Kristy Way of Pleasant Hill, the idea of having a real, fresh tree is a holiday necessity.
“I love the pine aroma that fills our house, and it’s just so fun to come out and pick your very own tree. It’s really something that everyone should do,” Way said. “If you have never been out here before to cut down your own fresh tree, well, put it on your bucket list.”
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