Keith Tree Farm -

VARIETY for your TASTE

WE are UNIQUE in CENTRAL NEW YORK

VARIETY: Our trees do not all look alike. We hand-shear them to create overall symmetry, but each has its own character. We shape them to enhance each tree's natural tendencies - you'll find every combination of tall, short, narrow, wide, open and sparse, densely limbed, steeply tapered, and gently tapered. We prefer a more natural appearance, and our regular customers agree. We do not try to make them all look alike as many big farms do. That would take all the fun out of choosing your own! If you enjoy "shopping around" instead of just grabbing one off the rack, we offer that experience.
EASY CUTTING: You can cut many of our trees at knee-high, waist-high, or higher. We've removed branches to make this easy for you. This is called "Pollard" cutting. You cut at a more comfortable height, and leave living branches on the stump, below your cut. We'll turn one of those little branches into a new tree! The key is to leave all the branches undamaged below your cut. We are gradually transitioning to an all-Pollard farm. There are many advantages to this practice, for you, for us, the trees, the atmosphere, and for wildlife. See "POLLARDING" Below, and in the GALLERY!
GIANTS: In 2025 we have many large trees up to 15 feet or more. All sheared. Same price as regular trees! Come and get 'em! You don't have to take the whole tree. They've all got a bare Pollard "waist", so you can cut the top out. See "GIANTS" below and in the GALLERY. You may shorten a giant to your liking!
SUPER GIANTS: We have some 20-30 foot (or more) trees that we sell to municipalities. Great Prices! Call or text.. Spruces, Balsam Fir, Scotch and White Pines. These usually require a flat-bed trailer. We have some badly shaped super giants that we sell to wreath makers. YOU CHOOSE, WE CUT! Must call first!
SIMPLICITY: We are an an old-fashioned small, Cut-Your Own, no-frills Christmas tree farm. We have no special non-tree items nor bathrooms or other facilities yet, but we may add wreaths, kissing balls, etc. if we get customer interest.

THINGS YOU'LL WANT TO KNOW

Open (full service) every Fri. Sat. and Sun. after Thanksgiving through Dec 22. 9 AM-5 PM. Week days text first. There's a good chance we'll be here 1-5 PM
Before Thanksgiving or for other times: Text or call first! Texting is better! Be brief! We will reply by calling. (315) 228-8296 Full Service is not promised at these times.
FREE Tree baling, saws, twine. Fri-Sat-Sun. Giants can't be baled!
PRICES: YOU-CUT: $ Pre-Cuts: $. Giants you cut - $. No giant pre-cuts!
Pre-cuts are all fresh: To maintain freshness we limit the pre-cuts to 16 at a time.
We are at 1500-1600 feet elevation: expect it to be colder with more snow.
We mow almost all weeds and burrs, but wear boots, and rough clothes.
SPECIES. We have experimented with many species. Below are the successful ones.
- White Spruce: Short needles, strong limbs, pleasant fragrance, color variation.
- Norway Spruce: Short needles, strong limbs, pleasant fragrance.
- Balsam Fir: Short needles, flexible limbs, strongest fragrance.
- Meyer Spruce: Medium-length needles, more prickly, unique color, much like Blue Spruce.

CAUTION!

STAY ON PATHS, and stay away from all buildings, machinery, vehicles etc. OBEY POSTED SIGNS.
WANDS and FLAGGING indicate PLACES YOU MUST AVOID: woodchuck holes, stumps, steep banks, or other hazards. We cannot possibly mark all of them: watch where you're going, and step carefully.
PLEASE TRY NOT to step on the hundreds of little seedlings in the rows!
ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK. If for any reason you have a problem or limitation with walking in the field and cutting/dragging a tree, bring help, and be sure to come at full-service times, and ask!
Do NOT drive vehicles into the lots!

SEE GALLERY BELOW!

PLEASE Consider putting in a word or photo on GOOGLE! It'll help us in a big way!

9382 Keith Road, North Brookfield NY 13418
315 228 8296

ADVANTAGES of POLLARD CUTTING
(regrowth from living stumps, after you cut.).

Makes it easier and more comfortable for you to cut.
Maintains greenery close to ground for small wildlife habitat. Small birds love to nest in the extra-thick growth on pollard stumps.
Living stumps maintain the mycorrizomal system (fungus/root symbiotic relationship that neighboring trees share) which help trees accept water and nutrients, and make the soil healthier for all plants.
Shades the ground around the stump to minimize weed growth.
Grows a new tree several years faster than a planted seedling because the stump's roots are established, and the higher pollard tree gets more sunlight.
Saves us time, effort, and fuel that we'd otherwise use in planting and mowing.
Provides stump branches that protect the main tree from antler rubbing and Bambi snacking.
Allows us to replace each tree in a shorter time.
Allows sunlight to feed the stump limbs while allowing the upper tree to ventilate, which reduces fungus and moss growth.
Living Stumps keep producing oxygen and sequestering carbon continuously.
In recent years our seedling suppliers have reduced their inventory and reliability. By pollarding we can replace our trees reliably, independent of suppiers.
Keeps our prices competitive for all the reasons above.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/coppice-farming-grows-christmas-trees-keep-giving-180971068/

https://modernfarmer.com/2022/12/stump-culture-christmas-tree/

WEED, PEST, and DISEASE CONTROL.
Our practices would almost qualify for Certified Organic status. Unlike many big commercial growers, we have never used pesticide, and we keep our herbicide use to a minimum - using it only where a weed directly threatens a tiny seedling. We do this in spring before flowers come out, so as to protect pollinators. We let milkweeds thrive July - September to provide sustenance for the Monarch Butterflies. We are now mixing species in the rows to prevent the spread of disease and pests.

SEE PHOTO GALLERIES BELOW.

WHY REAL TREES are BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT:

https://www.newswise.com/articles/researchers-share-benefits-of-real-christmas-trees-tips-for-care

https://www.vice.com/en/article/real-christmas-trees-better-planet-fake-ones/

https://www.nature.org/en-us/magazine/magazine-articles/forest-carbon-101/

2024 WAS A RECORD YEAR!

ADVERTISING. Getting GOOGLE to put us up on the first page was worth the price. We got many new customers. We now realize that we tapped into a new customer base. Wow! We had young people who carried no cash.. We learned. Next year we'll have PayPal, Cash App, Venmo. How many of these services do we have to use? There still are many folks who do not use the internet.

POLLARD CUTTING. People are beginning to understand the Pollard cutting process, and they are cooperating. Who wouldn't prefer to cut a tree standing up, at waist height, instead of kneeling in the snow or wet grass? This pollard cutting venture is a success so far. Next year you'll see many little limbs transitioning into main tree trunks. We haven't worked out all the bugs yet, but we're learning a little every year. We'd rather have a 75% success rate with pollard cuttings than plant 500 tiny seedlings, and have to mow the grass like a golf course every week.

NEW MOWER. For years we've used walk-behind brush mowers, or big garden tractors with belly mowers. They do the job well, but they require an awful lot of time, labor, and machine maintenance. In 2024 we bought a tow-behind brush hog, and its' been great. We pull it with the garden tractor, and it allows us to mow less often, with the same results. It's all light-weight machinery, which minimizes soil compaction.

EXPANSION. The new mower has given us more time, and more ideas. We're going to plant more seedlingS in areas that were hard to maintain.

JEWETTS CHEESE HOUSE

Rare Aged Cheese (up to 28 years) and much more. 10 miles SW. 934 Earlville Road CLOSED Saturdays. OPEN Sundays www.Jewett'sCheeseHouse.com

WATERVILLE STANDARD BAKERY

Superb Croissants, Scones, etc. Very popular in the morning. Opens 8 AM. ( on weekends. Get there early. 7 miles North. 128 E Main (Rte 12) Waterville. www.facebook.com › The-Waterville-Standard-Bakery

KRIEMHILD DAIRY FARMS KUPBOARD

Grass-fed Gourmet butter, many other dairy products, meats, deserts, and much more. Local sources. Self-serve at the Kupboard. 14 miles SW from us. 1093 Route 12B, Hamilton Pronounced "cream-hilled" www.kriemhilddairy.com

HEARTHSTONE BAKERY

Excellent artisanal breads and many other baked goods. Store in Cazenovia. 30 Miles West. Products available in many local stores. https://www.heartstonebakery.com/

HUDDLE FARMS Village Market

Farm-fresh produce, groceries, meats and cheeses, much more. Lunch Cafe. W-F 10-6 Sat. 10-2. Cafe 11-2 7 miles North. 110 E Main St Waterville. www.4cornersfoodcoop.com facebook.com/4 cornersfoodcoop

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