I’m going green this Christmas, with an organic tree grown on a local Christmas tree farm. Earlier this week I dropped by Spademan Tree Farm, west of Port Perry, a 25-acre farm with roughly 1,000 trees ready to harvest this year.
Before I even stepped out of the car Jasper, the friendly black lab, came galloping through the snow to greet me. Manager Matt Youmans who was getting the farm ready to open, explained why a real tree is a great green option. “The tree you use this year will return to the environment in 6 months if you put it through a chipper. An artificial tree takes 1,000 years to break down. Every tree that’s cut this year is replanted next year. While it grows it creates oxygen and gives a home to wildlife.” Well, I was convinced, so off to the woods.
Even if you’ve never held a saw before, the folks at Spademan make this do-it-yourself adventure incredibly easy. There’s a supply of saws for visitors to borrow, as well as toboggans for pulling tots (or trees) through the snow. If you’d rather ride than walk, a tractor-drawn wagon ferries visitors throughout the farm.
Undecided about what would make the perfect tree, I asked Matt about the favourites. Turns out there are fads and fashions in trees, just like everything else. Older people tend to like the trees they grew up with, be that Scotch pine (long needles) or spruce (short, prickly needles). “Fraser fir is the most popular because four years ago Martha Stewart featured one,” said Matt. “All the firs have soft, flat needles, a nice scent and are non-allergenic.”
I settled on a Balsam fir which Matt kindly cut for me. Wearing my city coat and boots, I was ill prepared for all the kneeling in the snow that one has to do to clear the base of the tree and make the cut. But there’s no rush to cut the tree. It’s not unusual to see families (obviously more sensibly dressed than me) spending hours wandering the farm in search of the perfect pine or most fabulous fir. Many bring hot dogs and marshmallows to cook on the bonfire, turning the tree-hunt into a half-day outing.
Shaking and baling are all part of the service, making the tree a nice, tidy bundle that fit easily into my hatchback. “With plenty of water this will last till after Christmas,” said Matt. I drove home inhaling the scent of Christmas and vowing to make this my new tradition – after I’ve bought some snow pants.
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