OXBOW, Maine — Steve Sherman, president of the Maine Christmas Tree Association, has been busy in recent weeks, preparing trees from his farm for shipment to market, and helping visitors to Deep in the Woods Gift Shop (operated by his wife, Judy Sherman) in selecting just the right trees for their homes. He’s no stranger to the business, having dedicated nearly 30 years to the industry.
“We started planting trees in 1988. We had started a wreath business in 1986 and thought trees would complEment that,” said Sherman, noting he now has 15 acres devoted to growing Christmas trees.
Sherman explained why he’s selected balsam fir as his tree of choice.
“Balsam fir is our native fir and is the easiest to grow here,” he said. “Trees are generally 4 years old when we put them out in the field. It takes another 6-8 years to get them to marketable size. Seven-foot trees seem to be the most popular size,” he said.
Raising Christmas trees is a year-long endeavor.
“Trees can be either spring or fall planted. We do site preparation to control weeds and brush. We apply lime and fertilizer as needed; we scout for insect damage throughout the season. Shearing starts in mid-summer and must be done yearly,” said Sherman.
Hundreds of trees are shipped annually to destinations outside of Maine.
“We sell wholesale trees in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. A trailer load would be from 600-800 trees, depending on grade and size ordered,” said Sherman.
Trees are also sold locally.
“We also offer choose-and-cut on our farm on the weekends. We have pre-cut trees at our gift shop throughout the week,” he said.
Sherman said pricing of trees for market varies.
“Trees are graded. Wholesale prices are negotiated by grade and size. Wholesale growers sell their trees by the truckload. Retail growers offer individual trees for sale to the consumer. Many growers sell their trees both ways,” said Sherman.
The MCTA president said growing Christmas trees takes commitment.
“Make sure you are committed to a long-term process. Planting is the easy part; the job gets bigger as the trees grow. Anyone interested in growing Christmas trees should have a marketing plan several years before their first trees are ready to harvest,” he said. “The 2012 census of agriculture lists Maine Christmas trees at 195,000 cut.”
Sherman encourages anyone interested in the business to check out the MCTA website and consider becoming a member.
“They can go to our website, mainechristmastree.com, and fill out our online application or contact me by phone at 435-6171,” he said.
The Maine Christmas Tree Association holds two meetings each year.
“We have a two-day farm tour in September and a winter meeting at the Maine Agricultural Trades Show at the Augusta Civic Center in January. We bring in specialists to put on programs and workshops at these meetings. The meetings are also a great chance to network with other growers,” said Sherman.
“The Association also maintains two seed orchards where trees that have been chosen for their superior qualities are grown to produce seed. The offspring from this seed can only be purchased by MCTA members,” continued Sherman.
Sherman said the organization also annually provide trees to military families.
“We also support the Trees for Troops program. MCTA members contribute 300 trees for this program each year,” said Sherman.
A post Nov. 30 on the Deep In the Woods Facebook page noted the Shermans’ recent contribution to Trees for Troops. “We delivered our balsam beauties to Piper Mountain in Newburgh for the Trees for Troops today,” noted the couple’s post about their day’s journey.
Sherman offered some tips for those looking for a live tree for Christmas.
“Besides freshness, customers should be sure the tree is the proper height for the room it is going in. They should also be sure their tree stand is adequate and never let the tree run out of water,” said Sherman.
Lynette Frederick, of Mapleton, made the trip to Oxbow on Nov. 29 with her family to select this year’s Christmas tree.
“It was an absolutely wonderful experience. That afternoon we were the only family there at the time; it was so peaceful and beautiful, and the trees were fantastic,” said Frederick.
An added bonus for Frederick was stopping by Deep in the Woods Gift Shop for a little Christmas shopping.
“We’d brought something to cut the tree down, but it was 12 degrees, so Steve cut our tree with his chainsaw,” she said.
She said the trip was “well worth the drive.”
“It was absolutely peaceful and so beautiful out there. Steve pointed out you can see Haystack from his farm. The view is amazing,” Frederick said.
Once they got the tree home, Frederick said it didn’t take long to decorate.
“It’s now decorated with keepsakes, including a bird’s nest we’ve had for many years. I wasn’t sure we could use it again this year, but I found a basket it sits in perfectly on the branches,” said Frederick. “It’s the perfect touch for a perfect tree.”
Sherman said a list of tree growers can be found online.
“People can go to the MCTA website and look for growers in their area,” said Sherman. The list for wholesale includes: Amy’s Christmas Tree Farm, Dover-Foxcroft, 564-7536; Callnan Family Christmas Trees, Houlton, 532-9600; Finestkind Tree Farms, Dover-Foxcroft, 564-7500; Higgins Balsams North, Presque Isle, 227-7425; and Pleasant View Tree Farm, Hodgdon, 532-4769. Retail sellers include: Deep in the Woods Gift Shop, Oxbow, 435-6171; Finestkind Tree Farms; Higgins Balsam North; Pleasant View Tree Farm; and Stadig’s Christmas Tree, Wallagrass, 800-338-1587.
Sherman stressed the importance of buying real trees over artificial.
“I think it is a way to support the local economy. Artificial trees are made in Asia,” said Sherman. Artificial trees are produced using petroleum-based products, while evergreens such as Sherman raises are a renewable resource, with health benefits that include the production of oxygen.
For more information on Christmas trees, contact Sherman or visit the MCTA website.
“Judy and I would also like to wish everyone happy holidays!” said Sherman.
