We recently spoke with Molly and Jesse Jimerson, owners of Real Maine member Piper Mountain Christmas Tree Farm in Newburgh, about the work that is performed year-round to prepare for the holiday season, and what makes buying a local tree special.
What work does a Christmas tree farm perform year-round to get ready for the season?
A lot of people think that Christmas tree farmers are just busy during the few weeks leading up to the big holiday season, but in fact, tree farming is a lot of work all year long.
In the early spring, you’ll find us out removing stumps and prepping the fields for planting. Planting starts in April or May, and each year we plant around 3,000 trees here at Piper Mountain! Once we wrap up planting, our focus transitions to mowing, planting companion crops like clover, combating pests, fertilizing, and maintaining the fields.
We then spend much of the summer shearing trees. Shearing is when we give each tree an individual trim using large knives, helping them grow into the perfect classic Christmas tree shape.
When we wrap up shearing, it’s back to mowing and more field work, making sure our customers can enjoy browsing our 30 acres of choose-and-cut trees. We also spend much of the year shopping and setting up our gift shop in the big red barn.
In November, we begin tipping in the woods (“tipping” is a term used to describe the seasonal practice of harvesting evergreen branches for holiday decorations) and making wreaths and garland, so that by Thanksgiving, we have a barn full of wreaths and fresh evergreen roping for sale along with our trees.
There are many benefits to buying a fresh, local Christmas tree. What are some?
A fresh tree smells like the holidays and is the backdrop for those special family moments. There’s a reason a real, fresh Christmas tree is the cornerstone of so many cherished memories. That experience comes from the entire journey: shopping for the perfect tree, setting it up, decorating it, watering it, enjoying its fresh scent, decorating it as a family, and even recycling and repurposing it when you’re done. A fresh, local tree is also the most sustainable option, and you are directly supporting local family businesses.
How does your farm, and other Christmas tree farms, make the experience of picking out a tree special?
Piper Mountain Christmas Tree Farm in Newburgh has been a family tradition since 1978 because it makes picking out the perfect tree fun and memorable. We have 30 acres of beautiful balsam fir trees to choose from, hot cider and fresh donuts from local apple orchards, horse-drawn sleigh rides, a food truck, walls of handmade wreaths, and a gift shop absolutely bursting with ornaments, handmade and locally sourced items, plus unique gifts and decor. The farm is full of photo props and opportunities to capture family memories that will last a lifetime.
What is something that Mainers might not know about Christmas tree farms?
The tree you cut down this year at a Maine Christmas tree farm will have been carefully tended by a farmer for the 7-12 years it takes to fully grow!
Real Maine is the state’s official agriculture and agritourism promotions program. From the perfect Christmas tree to holiday gifts and decorations to just the right ingredients for your holiday meals and celebrations, plan your agricultural experience with Real Maine. Visit www.RealMaine.com to connect to farms, food, and agriculture throughout Maine.
