Get those Christmas trees now, if you want a live one
Christmas tree farms have opened up across the area, and if you want a fresh cut or cut your own, you'll have to get them fast.
Bob White of Whites Tree Farm in Essex, one of the region's larger growers, said his farm sold thousands of trees in the weekends before and after Thanksgiving and was not sure they'd have enough inventory to make it through the first weekend in December. Be prepared to pay a little more this year, he and other people watching the live tree business have said about this season's market.
The additional expense may pay for more this year, though. "Mother Nature has been good to us this year — the trees grew really well. They look as nice as I've seen them in many years," White said.
Here are some farms you can consider to get a fresh tree in Chittenden County during the 2022 holiday season.
Aldrich Tree Farm, Richmond
Aldrich Tree Farm allows customers to use one of their saws and provides any binding materials you need to get your tree home. The website says they are open Monday through Friday from noon until 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. They are located at 2370 Dugway Rd. in Richmond.
Contact them at (802) 793-2700 or visit https://aldrichtreefarmvt.com/christmas-trees/.
High Top Trees, Westford
High Top Trees produces balsam firs and some fraser firs. They have tabletop varieties at one foot tall all the way to 10 feet trees. They are on Buchanan Lane in Westford and are open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Call (802) 899-4827 or (802) 363-8569, though cell service may be poor on the farm, the website says. Visit https://hightoptrees.com/.
Handy Hill Farm, Williston
Handy Hill is known for their large trees including tall Fraser firs, but they have other sizes as well. Generally their trees are priced at $10 per foot, but trees under 5 feet incur a $50 extra charge because cutting those means less inventory of large trees in years to come. They take cash, check and Venmo for purchases and are open Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and weekdays by appointment. They are located on Handy Hill Farm Road in Williston.
Contact them at (802) 373-1890 or gshawnhandy@yahoo.com or visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HandyHillChristmasTreeFarm/.
Isham Family Farm, Williston
Isham Family Farm is a smaller farm but has lots of amenities to add to your tree chopping experience. They are back this year after taking last year off. Isham offers cut-your-own trees up to 10 feet tall. The farm is open weekdays from 3 p.m. until dusk and weekends 9 a.m. until dusk. Find them at 3515 Oak Hill Rd. in Williston.
Contact them at (802) 872-1525 or farmermike@ishamfamilyfarm.com. Visit https://ishamfamilyfarm.com/.
Purinton Family Tree Farm, Huntington
Purinton in Huntington grows 14,000 balsam firs. They are open Monday through Friday from noon until 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They reside at 190 Pond Rd. in Huntington.
Contact (802) 434-4385 or purintonmaple@gmail.com. Visit them at https://www.purintontreefarm.com/home.
Sharp Farm, Milton
Sharp Farm is also known for its sledding when customers aren't cutting balsam fir, Douglas fir, Fraser fir, blue spruce or white pines. Trees under four feet cost $40; four to five feet are $45; five to eight feet are $50 and anything above adds $10 per foot above eight. The Milton farm is open weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by appointment otherwise, and is located at 204 Cobble Hill Rd.
Contact (802) 879-3507 or sharppark@comcast.net. Visit https://www.sharppark.com/christmas-trees.
Upper Meadow Tree Farm, Underhill
Upper Meadow Tree Farm has trees up to 12 feet tall that cost $50 each. They are located at 223 Stevensville Rd. in Underhill Center.
Contact (802) 899-2063 or uppermeadowtrees@gmail.com. Visit https://www.facebook.com/UpperMeadowTreeFarm/ or https://ochsryan.wixsite.com/uppermeadowtreefarm.
Urie's Tree Farm, Williston
Urie's is near Handy Hill Farm and offers trees of any size for $55. They take cash or check and are open during daylight hours. Find them at 1694 Old Stage Rd. in Williston.
Call (802) 879-2720 or visit https://www.uriestreefarm.net/.
Whites Tree Farm, Essex/Jericho
Whites Tree Farm is selling especially fast this year. In a typical year they would have trees until a day or two before Christmas but anticipate running out the first weekend in December. They grow balsam, Canaan and Fraser firs. Trees up to 7 feet go for $58 and 7 to 8 feet trees are $68; cash, check or credit card are accepted. The farm is on the Essex-Jericho line at 255 Jericho Rd.
Contact (802) 899-4977 or whitechristmasvt@gmail.com. More information at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Whites-Tree-Farm/166496566694426.
White recommends checking online or calling before going to a tree farm because the farm may be closed if they have already sold out of available trees for the year. Last year most farms ran out of trees well before Christmas and White expects that trend to be even more pronounced this year.
Contact reporter April Barton at abarton@freepressmedia.com or 802-660-1854. Follow her on Twitter @aprildbarton.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont Christmas tree farms: Where to cut a tree in Chittenden County
