Home-grown holiday ritual

A pristine blanket of snow covered Allen Huckaba’s 40-acre Christmas tree farm in Green Bluff on a recent chilly morning. Soon hundreds of families will troop through rows of spruce and firs in search of the perfect Christmas tree.

“I cut down my first tree 75 years ago,” Huckaba said. “My dad and I went out to the woods and cut some for me to sell. I had all kinds of fun cutting those trees.”

He’s still having fun. Each year he looks forward to seeing throngs of children running through the rows of trees. Shouts of “How ‘bout this one?” and “Come see what I found!” echo around the farm. Some parents bring sleds to pull their children across the snow.

A crew of 16 helpers areon hand to assist buyers in loading and baling their purchases. But the choosing and the cutting are all up to the customers.

Thirty years ago, Huckaba’s son Steve started the growing operation. When he died in 1997 Allen and his wife, Edith, took over the tree farm. “This is my pride and joy,” he said, pointing to a beautiful stand of Fraser firs. The elegantly shaped trees shrouded with a dusting of snow will soon grace living rooms across the area.

Forty thousand trees dot Huckaba’s 40 acres, but only a couple thousand will be available for sale. “We oversold for a few years and we’re paying for it now,” he said. It takes eight years for a tree to be ready for harvest. Each spring Huckaba and farm superintendent David Fitzpatrick plant new trees. “Wherever we cut a tree, we plant a tree,” Huckaba said. He pointed to a large stand of mature blue spruce. “The whole landscape changes after Christmas,” he said with a sigh.

It’s been difficult for local growers to keep up with the demand for fresh-cut trees. At Camden Ranch Christmas Trees in Elk, owner Stan Clouse said last year they sold out by the second Saturday in December. He attributes the increased demand to a reduced supply. “Several choose-and-cut operations in the area have gone out of business in recent years,” he said. He added several other farms have sprouted up, but their trees won’t be ready for a couple more years.

In fact, according to Huckaba, the you-cut market is the fastest-growing segment of the industry. “We make up close to 30 percent of the Christmas tree market,” he said.

The reason for their increasing popularity is clear. “We guarantee our trees won’t dry out if you follow our instructions,” Huckaba said. “The trouble with Christmas trees from a lot is you don’t know how long ago the tree was cut.”

In addition, Clouse has seen a resurgence of younger buyers. After 22 years in the business he now serves second-generation customers. The allure of choosing a fresh tree is compelling. Mikayla Daniels of Deer Park takes her four sons out each year to cut a tree. “I think they like the almost magical experience of searching for their tree,” she said.

Debbie Gray of Moscow, Idaho, also goes to a tree farm, but for a different reason. “I like the idea of supporting a sustainable local business,” she said. Her children, however, are more interested in the adventure and the thrill of the search. Nine-year-old Alex said choosing the tree is the start of Christmas. His 5-year-old sister said she likes playing in the snow and playing hide-and-seek with her brother among the trees.

Everyone has a different opinion about what makes the perfect Christmas tree. Clouse and Huckaba agree their best-sellers are grand firs. “They smell like Christmas,” Clouse said. “What we get most requests for is an 8-foot tree for a 7-foot room,” said Huckaba with a laugh.

He has high hopes for his planting of Nordman firs, a new variety for the farm. The trees have a lovely shape and sturdy yet soft needles. More importantly, “Bugs don’t like ‘em and they don’t get root rot,” he said.

If only they could be deer-resistant as well. Deer are the greatest enemy of the Christmas tree farmer. Huckaba pointed to hoof-prints in the snow. “The deer eat the baby trees,” he said and shook his head. “One year they destroyed 500 trees.” Several times a year the trees are sprayed with a very expensive deer repellant, but the fresh tracks show hungry deer are on the lookout for tender, young trees.

“It’s a very labor-intensive business,” said Clouse. “But it’s fun. This is my favorite time of year. I love watching the families. Unlike mall shopping, there isn’t a lot of stress involved.”

Huckaba concurred. As he stood in a tall stand of firs, snow-capped Mount Spokane with a draping of low clouds loomed behind him. “It takes a lot of TLC to grow these trees,” he said. “But it’s no work at all. It’s a pleasure – it’s a real pleasure.”