From a Mountain Retreat to a Thriving Business

by Charlotte Baxter, Afton, New York

In 1969, my husband and I purchased 32 acres of hayfield on the top of a mountain in rural North Sanford, New York as a country retreat. Over the years, a mobile home was set in place, a well drilled and electricity installed. The winters were severe and the snow drifted into the steep driveway, so in 1976 Bruce, myself, our son Bruce, Jr. and daughter Tammy planted 1,000 Scotch pine trees along the ridge, expecting them to grow into a living fence. Every spring thereafter, we planted between 2,000 to 4,000 more trees

In 1979, Bruce contacted the Cooperative Extension to find out why the trees were not growing and was advised to join the New York State Christmas Tree Growers Association. He took their advice, even though we were not "Christmas tree growers", and we and the family have not missed a summer or meeting (of the association) since. We learned about liming, fertilizing, spraying for pest control, weed control and disease, mowing and shearing.

We had a problem with mice eating the trees, so we built perches and put them out in the fields. Owls, red-tailed hawks, and various other birds of prey were delighted to solve our rodent problem while giving the family an opportunity to observe these birds. We also have bluebird houses throughout the fields.

Over the years, we were able to purchase some of the surrounding land and now have a total of 150 acres on approximately 250,000 conifers are planted. Now we don't only grow Scotch pines, but also Austrian and White pine, Blue, Norway and White spruce, Balsam, Concolor, Douglas and Fraser fir. We not only sell Christmas trees and wreaths, but also a variety or ornamental shrubs, bag and burlap, potted and baskets of trees from our two 100 foot greenhouses which house yews, hemlocks, arborvitae, rhododendron and P.J.M. (a flowering plant in the rhododendrum family). We supply landscapers, nurseries and homeowners who want to plant trees or shrubs.

We are also members of the New York State Forest Owners Association and the Southern Tier Christmas Tree Growers and Forest Owners Associations. These two organizations have held two very successful meetings at our plantation, where we had demonstrations of shearing, planting, wreath making, and various other demonstrations using equipment that Bruce designed. There were also several vendors in attendance, so visitors had the opportunity to browse and, in some instances, try out some of the new equipment, such as tractors and different types of shearing tools.

There were also a very impressive demonstration of logging. The meetings were publicized in advance, so there were many people who do not grow trees who were there. Bruce made roads and trails through the woods and around the property's perimeter, which made the woods walk a very pleasant experience for all who wanted to see how woods are managed. Everyone had a good time and went away with a little more knowledge about how a seedling becomes a tree.

Bruce, with the help of the D.E.C., is managing the woodlands. He has had the wood lots thinned and has built four ponds stocked with sunfish, minnows, bass, trout, channel catfish, and gold fish. The ponds have been visited by blue heron and ducks and we are hopeful a wood duck will move into the house which has been placed by one of the ponds. Tammy's son, Erik, loves to fish and ride through the woods with "Grandpa Tree Farmer".

Twelve acres of land on two different parcels were clear cut and planted with Dutch white clover and low growing fescue to make a wildlife sanctuary for deer, turkey, and other birds and wildlife to, hopefully, keep these creatures from feasting on our Christmas trees. There are also bird feeders, which are helping to bring in birds and turkeys; the feeders were visited by a bear and her cub which were never seen, but their tracks were evident.

We hope to create a natural wildlife habitat. Every spring we purchase pheasant, chukkas and quail chicks, and raise them to be released in the fall. Visitors enjoy seeing these birds, since many people are from urban areas that have never had an opportunity to see them.

We enjoy having people visit our farm, especially in the fall to enjoy the panoramic views and learn about trees. The weather is not so bitter cold then and everyone is able to walk around the farm and through the woodland with ease. Also, at this time Bruce has more free time to answer questions and socialize.

With help from the D.E.C. we have set aside an area as a sugarbush stand. The maple trees are still very young, but in the future they will produce sap for syrup and other maple products. Though we have not tapped the older sugar maples on the property, we have allowed our neighbors to utilize sap from these trees.

We have planted approximately 400 black walnut trees in the wood lots, around the main house and along the driveway. Last year some of the trees bore fruit, and now there are squirrels on the farm, too.

We are not only constantly learning new methods, but we also share our inventions and ideas with established tree growers. My husband has helped several people who wanted to start tree farms to get established. Bruce, Jr. and his wife Trish own 11 acres of land nearby, which is also planted with trees and managed by "dad".

Aside from selling bulk order trees, we have a choose and cut operation and, at Christmas time, we don't just sell Christmas trees - we invite families to visit the farm to make a Christmas memory. Families can borrow a sled to give children (or the dog) a sleigh ride through the trees and, if anyone gets cold, there is always a fire in the old potbelly stove and a place to sit and get warm. There is also a "Rogue's Gallery" of pictures of a few families who have purchased trees at Christmas in Previous years. We have watched many children grow to be adults, and they have come back with their families to find their "perfect tree".

We have a photograph book of how our farm got started and it is there for anyone who wants to look at it. It has pictures of how the farm and our family has grown into three generations. Tammy is married to Joe Griebel and they have a five year old son, Erik. Bruce, Jr. is married to trish Ross and their three year old son, Derek, has a new brother, Robert Timothy, born January 10th.

At the end of November, Tammy and I make Christmas wreaths for Scout troops, hockey teams, florists and other groups who sell wreaths. My wreaths also decorate several offices in New York City. After the wreath orders are completed, we make more wreaths for the farm; we fall asleep at night with visions of wreaths in our dreams!

The Christmas season is always hectic at our household - dinners don't get cooked, presents don't get bought or wrapped - but we love having families come to the farm to find the most important part of Christmas - the perfect Christmas tree. Some want a "Charlie Brown" tree (they are hard to find), while some want the biggest, fattest tree - those are usually the people with the smallest cars.

Some people come out late and use their car headlights or a flashlight to find their tree. Last season there was a full moon one night, and a family asked if they could come for their tree at the stroke of midnight. Last year the biggest hit of all was the new Howey mechanical tree baler and, the best part, there is no charge to our customers for this service.

We donate trees, wreaths and boughs to various organizations such as Afton, Deposit and Sidney Chambers of Commerce, Bainbridge Fire Department and several area churches. Several Girl Scout troops and people from the Association of Retarded Citizens come to the farm to make wreaths. When the wreaths are finished, everyone has hot chocolate and cake or cookies, an enjoyable experience for all.

Christmas tree farmers will never get rich. The work is hard and the hours are long. Some days are not long enough to get a job done and nights are too short. Sometimes the weather is too hot, too cold, too dry or too wet. For our family, tree farming is truly a labor of love.