L IFE Making the (holidays) cut HILLTOP PRESS
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2013
Tree farms are a growing business as families renew their holiday traditions of choosing and cutting their own Christmas trees. While you may have to drive a bit to find them these tree farms are worth the trip to put you in the holiday spirit.
Ever Green Acres 287 WEST PEKIN ROAD, LEBANON Scott Graves, owner of Ever Green Acres, said his tree farm offers customers a family atmosphere. “We’re a hometown, family-oriented tree farm,” he said, noting he runs the farm with his wife, Lauren, their two children, Kristine and Kevin, and their grandson, Elliott. Established in 2005, Graves said Ever Green Acres offers customers the choice of cutting their own tree or picking from a selection of pre-cut trees. The farm also offers balled and burlap trees for those who want to plant their tree after Christmas. Types of trees include Canaan, Douglas and Fraser firs and Norway and Colorado spruce. Trees sell for $6 per foot. Graves and his family will bail trees and assist customers in tying them to their cars. After finding your tree, stop in the Christmas shop to browse the wreaths, grab a free hot chocolate and cookies and sit down by the wood stove. Ever Green Acres is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 22. – Kurt Backscheider/The Community Press
Corsi Tree Farm HAMERSVILLE This tree farm has been in business since 1955. Situated on 100 acres at1651Bolender Road, Hamersville, owner Sheldon Corsi’s farm offers about 50,000 cut-your-own Christmas trees. Yep, that’s 50 – as in thousand! Customers walk up, down and around the gently rolling hills of the farm along gravel roads carrying a saw provided by the business. Trees range in height from 3 feet to 16 feet and no matter what size blue spruce, Norway spruce, white pine, Scotch pine, balsam fir or concolor fir tree a customer chooses to cut down for Christmas the price is the same – $42 with tax included. The tree farm also includes a 2,500-square-foot Christmas shop with tree ornaments and gifts, an indoor petting zoo, homemade Italian chili, hot dogs, metts, and hot and cold drinks. Call 937-379-9200 or go online to www.corsitreefarm.net for more information. – Eric Spangler/The Community Press
Dirr Nurseries GOSHEN Tom Dirr has been growing trees since 1960 on his 115-acre farm on 6066 Goshen Road. Customers drive through a .75-mile gravel road system to choose their tree, which costs $45 for any size. Customers can cut their own white pine, balsam fir, Canaan fir, Scotch pine and Colorado spruce trees. Saws are provided and tree shaking and netting is available. Workers help secure the trees to the customer’s car. But as Dirr says, “We’re in the entertainment business, not the Christmas tree business.”
PEOPLE | IDEAS | RECIPES
open on weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and will take requests to meet at the farm on other days by calling 756-1998. Directions to the tree farm can be found on the Koch website, www.kochchristmastrees.com.
PINING FOR MORE? Find more Christmas tree farms online at Cincinnati.com.
So check out the farm’s nativity display or get pictures on Santa’s sleigh while sipping hot cocoa. Then take the kids to the petting zoo, where Schnitzel the goat takes center stage. Schnitzel has led the Bockfest parade in Over-the-Rhine for the past four years, pulling the ceremonial first keg of bock beer. For more information about the farm call 513-625-2000 – Keith BieryGolick/The Community Press
Big Tree Plantation
Timberwind Tree Farm LEBANON Sheldon Corsi, owner of Corsi Tree Farm 1651 Bolender Road, Hamersville. The farm, which was started in 1955, features blue spruce, Norway spruce, white pine, Scotch pine, balsam fir and concolor fir on nearly 100 acres.ERIC SPANGLER/THE COMMUNITY
“Our mission here is to provide a place for families to create memories and traditions,” Big Tree Plantation owner Bryan Keeton said.FORREST SELLERS/THE
PRESS
COMMUNITY PRESS
MORROW With an estimated 45,000 trees situated on more than 60 acres, Big Tree Plantation is one of the largest cut-your-own tree farms in Ohio. The family-run farm, which is owned by Bryan Keeton, is located at 2544 S. Waynesville Road. Trees range in price from $45 for a 6-foot tree to $400 for an 18-foot tree and include Canaan firs, Scotch pine, white pine and blue spruce. “Our mission here is to provide a place for families to create memories and traditions,” said Keeton. Customers are taken by tractor to the trees and provided with a saw and sled to transport them. Big Tree Plantation has a gift barn, Nativity, and “Winter Wonderland” where children can make a craft, visit with Santa Claus and see live animals. Admission to the Winter Wonderland is $5 per child. The farm also has a cafeteria. For information, call 513836-0975 or go online to http://bit.ly/4iajsF – Forrest Sellers/The Community Press
John T. Nieman Nursery ROSS John T. Nieman Nursery, 3215 Hamilton New London Road, has been in operation since 1962 with 125 acres, growing about 70,000 trees of various varieties. Customers looking for the perfect tree can wind their way through rows to cut a tree down themselves with their own saw, borrow one or ask an employee (or grandchild) to cut it. They will also load the tree onto the car as well, and if you need a stand, they sell four sizes of stands that they’ll cut your tree to fit. If you buy one, bring it back next year and they’ll fit it for free.Tree varieties include blue spruce, Canaan fir, white pine and Norway spruce that vary in height from 2 to 16 feet. Trees that are balled and wrapped in burlap can be bought to plant after Christmas as well. Trees are pre-priced and range from about $15 to $300, depending on size and variety. The nursery also has a Christmas store with that Nieman’s late wife Marilyn started, where they sell their in-house live wreaths, swags and other decorations that can either be bought as decorated or be made-to-order. Open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Fields with trees are open until dark. 3215 Hamilton New London Road, Call 513-738-1012 or
At Timberwind Tree Farm, every tree has a story. Located at 1566 W. Pekin Road, Timberwind Tree Farm is eight acres with about 400 trees. The family-run business has been in operation for 25 years. Owner Jim Luers said last year he and his family began placing name tags on the trees giving each an individual story. For example, Tammy is the “Miss America Tree” because she is “tall, well rounded with a perfect figure.” This year students from St. Susanna School will help write the name tags. For information, call 937746-5027 or go online to http://bit.ly/1aJzlfR – Forrest Sellers/The Community Press
Whitetail Acres Tree Farm Tom Dirr has been growing trees since 1960 on his 115-acre farm on 6066 Goshen Road. KEITH
“The difference in trees depends on what you prefer, like odor, long-lasting and color,” says owner John T. Nieman.LEAH
BIERYGOLICK/THE COMMUNITY PRESS
FIGHTMASTER/THE COMMUNITY PRESS
Timberwind Tree Farm owner Jim Luers said last year he and his family began placing name tags on the trees giving each an individual story.FORREST SELLERS/THE
Kevin and Alice Priessman’s Whitetail Acres at 9127 Cooley Road started in 1984 as a Christmas tree farm and boasts 170 acres of trees.JENNIE KEY/THE
COMMUNITY PRESS
COMMUNITY PRESS
Koch Christmas Trees Reily Township This family-owned farm in Reily Township has been in operation since 2001. LEAH
Scott Graves, owner of Ever Green Acres, said his tree farm offers customers a family atmosphere. KURT BACKSCHEIDER/THE
FIGHTMASTER/THE COMMUNITY PRESS
COMMUNITY PRESS
go online to www.johnniemannursery.com for more information. “The difference in trees depends on what you prefer, like odor, long-lasting and color,” says owner John T. Nieman. “We don’t have a petting zoo or anything like that. People come here for a nice tree.” – Leah Fightmaster/The Community Press
ing lot at this farm, a few miles south of Oxford, at 6232 Hamilton-Scipio Road. Farm workers will help to cut the tree if requested, and hand saws are available for use. the tree will be shaken to remove debris, then properly fit by drilling the cut end of the tree for a tree stand. The tree will be wrapped, free of charge, and help is available to load the trees on the car. What kind of trees? Scotch pine, eastern white pine, Canaan fir, blue spruce. Price range: $35 to $100. Free treats and hot chocolate are available, and tree stands are available for sale. Because this is a small family farm, Koch is
Koch Christmas Trees REILY TOWNSHIP This family-owned farm in Reily Township has been in operation since 2001. The trees are a short distance from the park-
BROOKVILLE Kevin and Alice Priessman’s Whitetail Acres at 9127 Cooley Road started in 1984 as a Christmas tree farm and boasts 170 acres of locally grown trees. Some families tailgate in the parking lot and make a day of it. Once you are ready, you take a hayride through the fields to scope out your tree. When you see an area where you want to look, you just stop the wagon and get off. The farm provides saws for cut-your-own and will pick up the tree and bring it in for you once it’s cut or you can drag it out to the wagon trail and wait to be picked up. There are lots of Whitetail staff members in the fields to help if you want it. Once you pick your tree, Whitetail staff will even up the trunk, drill a hole in the bottom for a stand, shake it out so the loose needles fall away and then tie it up and secure it to your vehicle for the trip home. There are also fresh wreaths and roping made daily, as well as mailbox huggies, swags and crosses. Cut tree species include Canaan, Fraser and Douglas fir; Scotch and white pine; and blue spruce and Norway spruce. Balled and burlapped species include Douglas fir, white pine and Norway and white spruce. Trees range from $19 to $250 depending on size and variety. Whitetail Acres also has a herd of more than a dozen reindeer – that’s more than Santa. You can also enjoy a free hayride, a bonfire, and if you’re hungry, there is popcorn, apple cider and hot chocolate in the gift shop. The farm also has indoor restroom facilities. Call 765-647-0528 or visit www.whitetailacrestreefarm.com for hours or information. What’s the secret to finding the perfect tree? “It’s personal taste. You should think about the ornaments you plan to use. Make sure you walk all the way around the tree and look at the overall shape. You can gauge the height by comparing the tree’s height to yours. Don’t hesitate to ask the staff for advice or help.” – Jennie Key/The Community Press