I know a lot of people won’t love. me saying this, but summer is officially winding down — and that can only mean one thing on the farm: shearing season is officially underway.

Over the next several weeks, you'll find us out in the rows, trimmers in hand, to give our spruces and firs that beautiful, classic Christmas tree shape.

When we have visitors on the farm, many people are surprised to hear that we have to trim and shape the trees. I’d never thought about it much, but it makes sense that people think that trees grow that way on their own.

The truth is, shearing is one of the most important (and most time-consuming) parts of growing a great Christmas tree.

Every cut we make now is setting up the tree you'll bring home in a few short months, so we take our time and do it right, one tree at a time.

A Proud Moment at the CTFANY Summer Meeting

We also want to take a minute to brag a little. Last month, my husband and our own Tree-E-O, Pat Barczys, represented Treetop Acres at the Christmas Tree Farmer’s Association of NY’s Summer Meeting, held July 16–18 at the Cornell AgriTech Center in Geneva, NY.

He presented a session on securing grants for tree farms — sharing hard-won knowledge with fellow growers from across the state on how to find and win funding to support their farms and help them grow.

We couldn't be prouder of the work he put into that presentation, and it’s really special to see him giving back to a growing community that's given us so much help and guidance in our first couple of years as tree farmers. If you were in the room, thank you for making it such a great session!

Save the Date: Autumnal Equinox Yoga & Journaling

Mark your calendars — we're bringing back our Autumnal Equinox Yoga and Journaling event! Join us the last weekend of September for a peaceful morning among the trees, with gentle yoga and guided journaling designed to help you reflect on the season behind you and reset as we head into fall.

There will also be ample snacks and treats. Obviously.

I’ve found there’s something almost magical about grounding yourself among the trees as the seasons shift. Whether you came last year or are joining us for the first time, we'd love to have you. More details on exact date, time, and registration to come soon — stay tuned!.