One of my favourite holiday traditions is putting up a Christmas tree. You can buy one from a lot that’s already cut down and ready to go, and that’s okay. You can also buy an artificial one from a retailer, and that’s okay, too. But for the most fun and memorable time, nothing beats an outdoor adventure to a Manitoba Christmas tree farm to find your special tree.
Did you know that a real Christmas tree spends 8 to 10 years growing on a farm, producing oxygen, sequestering carbon from the atmosphere, and sheltering wildlife, before ending up inside somebody’s home adorned with decorations? Or that for every Christmas tree harvested from a tree farm, another two or three more are planted in its place to start the cycle over again? Or how’s about that a real tree is an environmentally friendly biodegradable resource?
Those are just a few good reasons to support Manitoba Christmas tree growers, like Windrift Christmas Tree Farm and Country Pines Tree Farm near Tyndall, Hemminger’s Christmas Trees by Lac du Bonnet, and Timber Trails Tree Farm south of Steinbach. Visiting any of these family-run operations makes a truly festive experience, complete with crisp country balsam-infused air, sounds of crackling fire, tasty hot beverages, and other merriment.
Destined for the trees
CD Trees is south of Steinbach, where Dorothy Freund and husband Cliff have been providing Christmas trees for more than 25 years. And they couldn’t have pursued a more suitable business. Cliff’s father worked in the forest and passed his fondness down to his son, while Dorothy grew up gardening plants, shrubs and trees. Together, these two love making things grow.
Their family loves the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, and the excitement of helping other families find their tree. “While not every tree grows perfectly, what’s in the eye of the beholder is what makes it perfect for them,” says Dorothy. Visitors can pick a pre-cut tree or select and cut their own, choosing from Scots Pine, White Spruce, Balsam Fir and Fraser Fir.
Roaming in a winter wonderland
The Freunds also provide horse-drawn rides, kiddie slide and fire pits, and have plenty of room for people to roam around their winter wonderland. One of their best attractions is the timber-frame lodge. It houses a Christmas store that sells tree tops, trinkets, and other decorations. As well as goods from local vendors like soaps, jewelry, wood crafts, and honey, and their own line of jams and pickles.
Folks can browse the Christmas store while warming up, or relax inside the lodge with snacks. On the menu are hotdogs, chili, bakery items, and beverages. Along with chips, candy bars, peanuts in the shell, and freshly popped popcorn to go with the children’s movies. Add some holiday music and a toy train traveling around the lodge, and you’ve got a magical Christmas scene.
A wonderful place to start a new tradition.
