A TREE “FIR” EVERY FAMILY

15 CHRISTMAS TREE FARMS, PLUS ADVICE ON CARING FOR YOUR TREE

By Melissa Rubalcaba Riske | Photos provided by Larson’s Family Farm

On average it takes seven years for a small sapling to grow into what will become the perfect 5- or 6-foot Christmas tree. In that time it must survive floods, droughts, deer that rub their antlers and create bare spots — and the list goes on. But with the right care, love and attention, that sapling will grow to fulfill its destiny of showcasing your treasured ornaments and twinkling lights. For many small farms, that care is a family affair. At Larson’s Family Farm near Sandwich, Steve and Rhonda Larson have been tending to their trees since planting the first sapling in 1983. Today, their daughter, son-in-law and grandsons join them for stump removing, tree trimming, plantings and other chores. For more than a century now, Steve Larson’s family has been farming. His father was a corn and soybean farmer. Shortly after Steve and Rhonda took over, they looked for a new avenue and created a place where visitors could pick their own berries. Families traveled to Larson’s Berry Farm for 18 years to pick their own strawberries, raspberries and pumpkins too, but these crops weren’t a perfect fit, Rhonda Larson explains. “Strawberries like sandy, light soil and you have to cut back thistles with raspberries,” she says. So in 1983 the family decided to set aside a few acres to grow Christmas trees, cutting the first ones in 1990. Today they grow six different varieties of trees, each year planting 1,800 young trees. Most years, they can lose a couple hundred. (Last year they lost 500 due to the drought.) But as the autumn evenings grow darker and shorter, the family prepares to welcome visitors who trek from across the suburbs — and even Chicago — to find their perfect tree. “Some people want a skinny tree. Others want a really fat tree. We have a little of everything,” Larson says. “Me personally, I want a 6-foot tree that I place on top of a 1-foot-tall box that my husband built. The stand is higher so it’s easier to water and all the presents fit under the tree.” On weekends she opens the Barn Store, filled with secondhand treasures. She says it’s not quite a garage sale, but not an antique store either. There’s bottled

water and cookies for sale as well as wreaths and roping too. The family plans to welcome the first visitors on the Friday after Thanksgiving and cut their final trees Dec. 18. They provide saws to those who need them and help net the trees to make them easier to transport home. Some years families tramp through mud; other years the ground is cold, hard and already covered in the season’s first snows.

Larson says she enjoys watching entire families gather to select trees in their annual tradition. She also enjoys talking with the young visitors and asking them who picked this year’s tree. To keep your tree fresh, Larson recommends making a fresh cut right before you’re ready to bring the tree in the house and adding warm water to the stand the first time you fill it. She warns against adding anything to the water, less it could spill and damage flooring. Enjoy the fresh scent, the way each branch holds ornaments that evoke memories.

“It’s always an adventure because the tree never looks the same. Each year it’s kind of different,” Larson says.

CHECK OUT THESE 15 FARMS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TOURIST REGION:

Create your own memories and adventure with these cutyour-own tree experiences. Remember it’s best to check websites/social media as locations may have altered hours due to weather. Speaking of hours, most fields don’t have lights, so plan for a daytime trip. Some locations will close when they reach supply limit. Dress for the weather, and leave the pets at home. Many of these locations include a scenic drive, and sometimes that means they won’t always cooperate with your GPS, so check the website for additional driving directions and tips!

DEKALB

¢ CAMELOT CHRISTMAS TREE FARM 16380 S. Somonauk Road, DeKalb www.camelottrees.com Open daily but closes at 4 p.m. Bring cash or check for payment.

¢ LARSON’S FAMILY FARM Located between Hinkley and Sandwich www.larsonfamilyfarm.com Closed Mondays, and bring cash or check for payment.

KANE

¢ ABBEY FARMS 2855 Hart Road, Aurora www.abbeyfarms.org/christmas-joy/ucut-christmas-trees Many families have found their perfect Christmas tree in these fields.

¢ LEE’S TREES 45W002 Lees Road, Lily Lake www.leestreesusa.com A smaller family farm, but there is still a great selection of trees. Open weekends only.

LAKE

¢ GENGEL TREE FARM 38614 N. Fairfield Road, Lake Villa Facebook: Gengel Christmas Tree Farm Since the 1960s, this family farm has been welcoming families to find their perfect Christmas tree.

¢ SULLIVAN FAMILY TREE FARM 24774 W. Petite Lake Road, Lake Villa Facebook: Sullivan Family Tree Farm Check ahead for availability — this family business sold out of trees quickly last year!

LA SALLE

¢ FISHER CHRISTMAS TREES 2373 N. 2879th Road, Marseilles www.fisherchristmastrees.com Visit this family farm where people have been cutting their own Christmas trees since 1985.

¢ INDIAN CREEK TREE FARM 2155 N. 45th Road, Leland www.indiancreekchristmastreefarm.com Douglas or balsam fir? There are five varieties from which to choose at this farm.

MCHENRY

¢ BEN’S CHRISTMAS TREE FARM 7719 Ryan Road, Harvard www.benstreefarm.com Uses organic practices and sells a limited number of trees from the farm.

¢ BILL’S FRIENDLY EVERGREEN TREE

FARM

3102 Miller Road, McHenry www.billsfriendlyevergreentreefarm. weebly.com This beautiful farm is only open on weekends.

¢ GRANDPA’S CHRISTMAS TREE FARM 13616 Route 176, Woodstock www.grandpastreefarm.com They’ll provide the saw and twine, and you’ll provide the family memories. ¢ ONEY’S TREE FARM 16608 Route 14, Woodstock www.oneystreefarm.com/christmas.php Families have been visiting Oney’s for more than 50 years. ¢ RICHARDSON CHRISTMAS TREE

FARM

9407 Richardson Road, Spring Grove www.richardsonadventurefarm.com/ ChristmasTreeFarm/Home More than 50,000 trees across 75 acres means you’re sure to find your perfect tree.

WILL

¢ ANDERSON TREE FARM 508 W. Route 126, Plainfield www.visitandersontreefarm.com/trees Cut your own tree, or chose one that’s been freshly cut. ¢ TAMMEN TREEBERRY FARM 37131 Essex Road, Wilmington www.tammentreeberryfarm.net/ btammen Last year’s busy crowds meant this farm closed early in December, so plan ahead.