Harrowsmith, Ont. tree farmers celebrate 10 years in the business – Kingston | 24CA News

It’s an event for the entire household to get pleasure from — choosing a Christmas tree. For many, it’s an annual custom.

“We just think it’s something that you should do every year,” says Christmas tree shopper Josh Switzer. “Just go get a real tree, it makes the house smell good and we love it.”

For the Bowen household, the Christmas custom of selecting out a tree is adopted by adorning, apple cider and vacation films.

“Huge success,” says Richelle Bowen, accompanied by her husband and two youngsters. “We found one (tree) really quick actually, which doesn’t happen every year. Ya, it was perfect.”

Jim Lavers and his household are celebrating 10 years as farmers, proudly owning and working The Christmas Farm in Harrowsmith, Ont. — now with about 10,000 timber within the floor.

And into their second weekend of gross sales for the season, business is selecting up.

“Normally we sell out within three weekends and we’re done,” Lavers says. “So, I don’t think it’s going to be any different this year. So next weekend maybe could be our last weekend.”

While his son Joe remains to be deciding whether or not to take over the household business, Jim has seen a niche within the Christmas tree market as a result of farmers getting older out.

“Our suppliers in Nova Scotia have been in the business for 50 years,” says Lavers. “Next year is going to be the last year that we’re going to be able to get trees from them because they’re in their 80s now and nobody in the family is looking to actually take over the business.”

Lavers says that’s taking place in a variety of the farms throughout Canada — alongside an increase in prices to provide timber.

“It’s costing more to grow the darn things every year,” Lavers says. “You’re looking at huge increases in fertilizer prices, you’re looking at huge increases in fuel prices and it’s on and on and on.”

At The Christmas Farm, the worth of timber went up $5 per measurement class this yr.

Lavers says a great relationship with suppliers has allowed him to stop the worth from climbing even larger.

He says he’s felt the help of area people members, having over 8,000 guests to the farm final season.

One of the household’s best helps comes within the type of his 91-year-old mother-in-law, Oma, who checks in on gross sales each night time.

“She loves to hear how many trees we’ve sold every day, she’s been a huge influence and our biggest fan.”

With no plans of stopping any time quickly, this household farm hopes to proceed offering vacation cheer for neighborhood members for years to come back.

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