The air was brisk – sharp, even – but we knew what we were in for. We had come prepared for our annual Christmas Tree Capital of Connecticut visit to Maple Row Farm. We’ve occasionally supported other farms some holidays, but more often than not, we go to Maple Row. Each visit, we take a hayride, pick up a saw, and venture out into the rows of spruces and firs. This year, we added a tailgate with friends into the mix.
The wind carried the foam football my son brought as we played catch, with occasional breaks for hot chocolate and snacks. Christmas music played on a speaker, and almost everybody had a beverage to stay warm – some a little stronger than others. Nobody needs little Cindy Lou Who getting ahold of a Baileys-spiked hot chocolate, so we were extra careful to avoid any mishaps.
Nearby, a truck sported a Jolly Roger flag that featured a Santa hat and the words “Yo Ho Ho Ho.” The lot was packed with families and friends enjoying each other’s company and celebrating the start of the holiday season. The air smelled of evergreen spruces and firs with an occasional aroma drifting from the many warming fires set up around the farm’s 200 acres.
Eventually, we ventured up the hill to the central entrance to the farm. The area was bustling with people around the fire pit and others waiting in line for refreshments from the concession stand. We headed past the wreaths and only had to wait for two tractors before climbing aboard.
We rode up the hill, enjoying the views and every bump along the way. Some canine companions on the ride seemed to be enjoying it just as much. The dog next to me settled softly into the hay as the ride went on. When we reached the Hereford warming shed, it was time to hunt for our 2025 tree.
The kids led the way through the rows. A lot of thought went into determining what was big enough and full enough to get the job done. The selection this year was excellent, and there were plenty of mature trees from which to choose. We found a grouping of three particularly appealing trees and spent some time investigating them more closely. We settled on the third in the bunch, and I dropped to my knees to saw the trunk and fell the tree.
The tree was a beauty, just like its nearest neighbor, which another family selected shortly after we started cutting. The kids pointed out that by cutting the tree down, we were killing it. They wanted to know how their tree-hugger dad was okay with that. I explained that this wouldn’t necessarily be the end of the tree’s life, as we would continue to care for it as a member of our family through Christmas and beyond. Afterward, the tree will either be used to rehabilitate trout habitat in the Mill River or as a shelter for creatures in our meadow.
As we cut, we gave thanks to the tree for the gift it was giving us with its life. After it fell, I cut the base to even it out, saving the slice of tree for later use as a craft. We have bases from past trees, and it’s fun to compare sizes and ages over the years. We’ll let the wood dry out and then do some crafting to denote the year we harvested it. This year’s tree stood at Maple Row for around fifteen years before we decided to bring it home.
As I write this, the tree sits in front of me, decorated with ornaments of all shapes and sizes and plenty of festive lights. Every night, I talk to the tree as I refill the base with the water that prolongs its life in our home. For the holidays, the tree is a part of our family. While the ecosystem services it used to provide are a thing of the past, its current service is a gift to us.
Easton is the Christmas Tree Capital of Connecticut, and the reputation is well deserved. Our annual visit to the farm has already become a tradition for the kids, and one we look forward to continuing for years to come.
The Cultural Easton 