What Do Christmas Tree Farmers Do in Summer?
While the title of this blog post may seem like the start of a hilarious joke, it’s an honest question we didn’t know the answer to until just recently.
Spoiler: It's not all pool days and popsicles (but there have been some of those, too.)
Despite the high temperatures and Christmas feeling like it’s a long way off, summer is a busy and beautiful season here at Treetop Acres. As first-time tree farmers, this one has been full of learning, hard work, and some pretty memorable moments.
We’ve been spending a lot of time mowing, weed-whacking, and generally doing everything we can to keep the trees healthy and the farm looking its best. We’re not at all sad to report that the grass has finally started to slow down, which is great because we have plenty of other things to focus on.
One of the biggest jobs this time of year is shearing the trees, carefully trimming them to help shape that classic Christmas tree silhouette you know and love. We’re learning that it’s both a science and an art — how you trim a tree can impact how it continues to grow, so you want to make the right decisions for the health of the tree in addition to making it beautiful.
Here’s a video of Pat shearing, to show you just how much the look of a tree can change.
In addition to all of the work on our farm, this summer season has been rich with connection and inspiration. Two weekends ago, we traveled to Fabius, NY (outside of Syracuse) for the CTFANY Annual Meeting (that’s the Christmas Tree Farmers Association of New York), where we soaked up knowledge from experienced growers, swapped stories with fellow farmers, and came home full of new ideas for our farm. Pat and I also joined the board for the organization and are excited to get started there.
A few weeks before that, we were honored to host the Western NY Christmas Tree Farmer Association’s summer picnic right here at Treetop Acres. Sharing this place with other growers—and learning from their decades of wisdom—has been one of the most rewarding parts of our journey so far. It never ceases to amaze us how kind and generous people are with their time and expertise.
And yes, while we’re working hard in the fields and getting to know our fellow farmers, we’re also thinking ahead. It’s hard to believe, but Christmas is already less than six months away!
We’re officially looking for some pre-holiday season and seasonal help. If you know anyone who might be a good fit for farm work, send them our way! We’ve already started making plans for opening weekend — along with planning our wedding, which is coming up in early October.
Yes, we are certifiably busy, but also very excited and loving every minute of it.
In the midst of all this activity, we’ve made it a priority to experience the calm and beauty of the farm, too. It’s a really wonderful experience, so we’ve invited everyone to join us.
In June, we hosted our very first yoga event—Breathe & Brunch—and had such a blast. There was something magical about practicing yoga surrounded by rows of trees bursting with fresh growth, followed by delicious waffles, fresh juice, and great company.
If you missed it, don’t worry — we have two more planned! Our second yoga event is coming up soon: Treetop Tranquility: A Morning of Self-Care will take place on Sunday, August 17th, and we’d love for you to join us. Expect a peaceful outdoor yoga class, a chance to unwind among the trees, and of course, some tasty post-class refreshments and fresh flower bouquets.
Then, on Sunday, September 21st, we’re hosting a Flow into Fall — Autumnal Equinox Yoga & Journaling experience designed to help us all celebrate the shift of seasons with intention and presence. We hope to see you at one or both of these events.
As always, thanks for following along as we make our way through our first full year as Christmas tree farmers. We can’t wait to share more with you as the seasons turn.
Until then, be like Pierogi and stay cool.
