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| A California Christmas Tree Tradition By Darby Patterson There are few moments happier than returning home with a fresh-smelling Christmas tree tied to the roof of the family sedan — unless its’ owning about 65,000 Christmas trees yourself. Ginger and Jim Armstrong know all about this seasonal joy as owners of Snowy Peaks Tree Farm just north of Sacramento, CA. "This is a very happy business," says Ginger. "The best part of it is that people come to us because they want to. We help them by fulfilling family traditions and that’s especially important as we’ve gone through the events of the past few months." The couple bought the farm near Auburn in 1998 after Jim, a forester in Tuolumne County, innocently told the owners how beautiful their farm was. They quickly mentioned it was up for sale and Ginger said, "the rest was history." Today, the couple spends about two months living in a trailer on Snowy Peaks, getting ready to welcome the succession of families that make the yearly trek to select the perfect Christmas tree. Appealing to many generations "We have third-generations of families coming," Ginger said. "That’s really neat. We have just wonderful stories to tell and the view from our farm is just outstanding." Many folks wait until there is a light dusting of snow on the ground to make the journey. At the end they are met with a cup of steaming hot chocolate, a bonfire and, perhaps, a wagon ride. Last year, Ginger remembers, four families whose tradition was to picnic together in the parking lot, didn’t arrive on their normal weekend. Ginger worried until they appeared, complete with a new baby. They’d waited, they explained, for the birth to include the newcomer in the families’ annual Christmas visit. "It’s fun to see people year after year," she admits. "We have a wonderful German woman who loves silver tips. But she has multiple sclerosis so it’s getting more difficult for her. We know we won’t be seeing her many more years so we are always happy to help her. It means so much to her." Snowy Peaks has been an operating tree farm for more than 20 years. Covering 77 acres, 55 of those in trees, the endeavor takes dedication and education. The white fir and silver tip are lovingly nurtured — encouraged to become proper Christmas trees. "We are learning how to work with Mother Nature," Ginger says. "It’s a very clever dance we do." Like any agricultural-based operation, nature can deliver some harsh blows. "We lose seedlings and then get a year behind," she reports. "We practice sustainable forestry and we replant. There’s a great deal to shaping the trees," Ginger adds. "Mother Nature doesn’t always do it the way a tree buyer wants it to look in their living room." Part of family traditions This fascination with trees runs in her husband’s family who once made sugar pine shake. Nonetheless, it took some effort to tackle their new business. "We have years of observation and involvement," Ginger said. We also study. We joined associations and talked to other farmers. We have been learning as we go." Ginger herself is no stranger to the woods. She is in charge of educational programs for TuCare (Tuolumne County Alliance for Resources and the Environment), where she advocates for the wise use of natural resources. She heads up a field-trip program for school children and does presentations on the local public access cable channel. She enjoys telling people how young trees provide increased oxygen to the atmosphere. "Our farm is creating a better environment," she says. "As an educator, I am always looking for opportunities. I am hoping people will get a better sense about these issues and it will move into their opinions about logging. You can’t stop harvesting trees and yet demand billions of board- feet of lumber a year. Those two things don’t mesh." She wonders how the changed political and economic climate following September 11 might affect this year’s sales. "I am hoping that while they may not buy a wreath and they may buy a five-foot tree instead of a seven-foot, we can help them grasp some positives," she said. "Our families are so important. We are not looking at this in a business way, but we are hoping to help people make that family connection." Ginger and Jim – and their cat and dog – packed up and moved to Snowy Peaks the day after Thanksgiving. They’ll stay open seven-days a week until December 22 when they will select their own, perfect tree and head home. "We really do provide more than just a Christmas tree for people," Ginger says. "It’s a way for them to get away from the concrete and get back to the earth. I hope we can contribute to the understanding that trees are renewable." NOT AVAILABLE WITHOUT PERMISSION CONTACT US Article reprinted with the permission of the California Forestry Assn: www.foresthealth.org |
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