Have a Green Christmas

Owners Bill and Paula Jacobs say that natural Christmas trees leave a much smaller carbon footprint than artificial trees and can be used after Christmas to create shelter for wildlife or fish.

It seems everyone is talking about recycling and being environmentally-conscious these days, and at the Owasso Tree and Berry Farm, green is the color of the season. Owners Bill and Paula Jacobs say that natural Christmas trees leave a much smaller carbon footprint than artificial trees and can be used after Christmas to create shelter for wildlife or fish. “Many people don’t realize that if you put a real tree outside on a steel post, it will stay green throughout the winter and provide a great habitat and protection for birds,” says Paula.

Trees are a renewable resource, and the Owasso Tree and Berry Farm replants them every year. “We rotate the sales fields and replant at least one tree for every one we harvest,” explains Bill. “The trees provide a windbreak and prevent soil erosion as they grow. They also furnish the atmosphere with oxygen while absorbing carbon dioxide and other gases.” Combine that with the fact that they look pretty and smell good – really good – and you’ll know a real tree is the way to go.

When you start your outing to the farm with a hayride to the fields, you’ll see thousands of Virginia pines growing. You can experience cutting down your own tree with the provided saw, or stand back and let the friendly staff take care of it. There are also a few hundred Leyland cypresses available that offer a softer, wispy look. After your tree is chosen, you can return to the cozy atmosphere of the gift shop while your tree is being processed. While you shop for Christmas décor and charming ornaments, your tree will be shaken, drilled for a stand and given a square, fresh cut to break the seal. This allows the tree to easily take in water, extremely important in keeping the tree fresh throughout the season. The Owasso Tree and Berry Farm staff will secure the tree to your vehicle for the ride home as well.

If you prefer the look of a fir tree, nothing compares to the beauty of precut trees brought in fresh. A variety of Douglas, Noble, Grand and Nordman firs are available from Oregon, as well as Fraser firs fresh from North Carolina. The precut trees arrive in refrigerated trucks and are then kept in a large barn equipped with a sprinkler system to keep them moist and out of the sun and wind. Don’t worry about the weather as you plan your outing. A large covered tree display area keeps the precut trees, and your family, out of the weather.

It’s amazing how spending a bit of time at the tree farm can bring back childhood memories for adults and create new ­memories for children. “We have families who come here year after year. They pick their tree, go on a hayride, have some apple cider and tell us it’s the best part of their holiday season,” says Bill. “We are honored to be a part of that.” Don’t forget to bring your camera and take lots of pictures; there are photo opportunities all around the farm to help you capture memories from your family outing.

Best of all, Paula says tree prices have not increased the last two years, and in fact, some have actually dropped. Trees are graded for quality and priced accordingly, ranging from $4 to $7 per foot. Sizes vary from five to nine feet and a perfect six-foot tree is very affordable at about $40.

Pre-tagging will be accommodated on the two weekends prior to Thanksgiving, November 14, 15, 21, and 22. Pretagging hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. The official season opening will be Friday, November 27, the day after Thanksgiving. You can pick out your tree and have it all paid for, so all you have to do is pick it up when you are ready for it. Christmas hours are Monday through Friday noon to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For more information, contact

Owasso Tree and Berry Farm

(918) 272-9445

or

(918) 939-8820

www.owassochristmastreefarm.com