Christmas Spirit That Grows & Grows

A THIRD-GENERATION VERMONT TREE FARMER CELEBRATES THE HOLIDAYS WITH A HARVEST.

- Amanda Werner

My family Christmas memories include my grandmother running a cash box, my parents making wreaths and garlands, and my siblings and me leading customers into fields to help them find the perfect tree.

Werner Tree Farm sits on the edge of Middlebury, Vermont, and has about 20,000 trees of a dozen or so species spread out over 36 acres. The farm got its start when my grandfather Fred Werner gave my parents 13 tiny Scotch pines left over from a tree planting project of his own. Over the years, the business has branched out to include mail-order fresh wreaths, maple syrup, honey and custom greenery. From those original 13 trees, our family operation has grown into one of the most popular cut-your-own tree farms in the state.

Farming is hard work, but we love growing and selling trees as a family. Each spring and early summer, we plant saplings to replace those that were cut in the winter. In summer and fall, we trim and shape each tree with our shearing knives. In November, we convert my father’s wood shop into a Christmas store. From the week before Thanksgiving until Christmas Day, our lives revolve around preparing and selling evergreens.