Finding the perfect tree

By Aimee Huynh, contributing writer
Posted on December 3, 2007

As the holidays approach, people everywhere are searching for the perfect Christmas tree. While many opt for an artificial one, Virginia is full of tree farms with evergreens waiting to be picked.

“[My family] gets our tree from Home Depot or Safeway parking lots,” freshman Christine Dang said. 

Junior Lauren Sorrentino’s family uses a similar tactic.

“My family used to get it from a gardening place,” she said. “Now we have a fake tree that we bought from Costco. We’ve had it for about three years.”

In Harrisonburg, the closest Christmas tree farm is Evergreen Tree Farm, about a 20-minute drive from campus.

Manager Jim Culpepper, who has worked for the farm for about eight years, uses his expertise to help people find a Christmas tree for their home.

“There are six types of trees that are grown here on the farm: White Pine, Scotch Pine, Colorado Spruce, Norway Spruce, Concolor Fir and Canaan Fir,” he said.  “We also sell Douglas Fir, but this is brought in from another place because we do not have any ready. And Fraser Fir is also brought in from a farm in Fancy Gap, Va. because it can’t be grown here.”

When asked which kind of tree was most popular, Culpepper jokingly said, “Tall.” He went on to explain that it takes about seven to eight years for a tree to grow from a seedling to a six to seven foot tree.

“Most people choose seven-foot trees because their ceilings are about eight feet tall,” he said.

Since the farm is a choose-and-cut operation, customers can walk around the 21-acres to choose from about 2000 trees. Then workers shake the tree clean and wrap it up to make transporting it home easier.

Averaging around 1,300 customers each season, Evergreen Tree Farm has been around for a while. David Thomas bought the existing farm after its previous owner retired in 1987.

“I’m a forester, so naturally I like outdoor things,” he said. “I worked for the previous owner, and then as he was getting ready to retire I offered to buy it from him.” 

Contrary to the idea that there isn’t work left to do after Christmas is over, Thomas and the others work on the farm year round. They need to prepare for the next season, and in doing so, need to constantly care for the trees.

“There is planting in the spring, fertilizing, weed control, trimming, mowing, watching out for insects,” Thomas said. “There’s enough to keep us busy year round.”