Organic Christmas Trees
We raise certified-organic u-cut Christmas trees. Why organic? Some people have allergies to the pesticides and herbicides sprayed on the trees in conventional farms. Others just prefer to keep their living rooms free from such chemicals.
I know that Christmas trees are not technically babies, but they cause us as much work as babies in the springtime! This year we planted 580 tree seedlings and that it would be fun to show you the process. (BTW: If any real Christmas tree growers are reading this and want to give us advice on better planting methods, we would love to hear from you!)
First, we prepped the field by measuring and weedwhacking the grass away from where each tree would be planted, then we waited for the trees to arrive...
Every year, when our trees arrive we are the first stop on the delivery driver's route. Can you imagine 11 boxes, each weighing 70 lbs and as wide as a truck? If he only knew what day we were getting trees, he'd probably call in sick that day.
The next 3 hours are spent unpacking the boxes and putting the trees into every bucket I can find that holds water.
After they have had a drink, we heel them into our planting bed until we can plant them.
"If I played in the dirt like this as a kid, I would have gotten into serious trouble!"
By this time, it was 1:00. I had been working straight through since 9:00 and had 3 trees planted. Time to call in the troops!
First, we use the tractor to pick up the trees. We pull the bundles out of the ground and put them into the trailor which is filled with water. Since these are bareroot plants, it is critical that we keep their roots covered as much as possible, either with dirt or water.
The next step is to trim the roots. The roots are 3-4 feet long. We need to trim that back to no longer than the hole they are going into. This trimming will stimulate new growth. After trimming, the trees go into buckets of water that are easier to carry right to the planting holes.
While some team members are prepping the plants, one person digs the holes. We use a handmade tool that is like a heavy shovel. First, you plunge it into the ground, then step on it to push it down. (When I did this, it took me 10 minutes per hole. This guy was going faster than 1 a minute.)
The planting tool is then rocked back to create a gash in the ground that is the perfect size for a seedling.
Each tree is then planted by hand, making sure that the roots face down and the planting hole is completely closed. If the roots face up like a J, the tree will slowly die. If the planting hole is not closed, the roots will dry up.
Taking the bucket back for more trees. This guy loved planting trees and would not let me stop until it was too dark to see any more. At one point he said, "Mom, will you call me every year so that I can plant trees with you? Even when I'm a grown up, I want to come do this with you." How could I say no to that?
Check back in late November for news of events related to our Christmas trees.