It’s as fresh as a tree can be
A tree you cut yourself was growing an hour ago. Trees sold on city lots are often cut weeks before they’re sold, then trucked in from farms hundreds of miles away. A fresher tree drinks better, keeps its needles longer and smells stronger all season.
You pick exactly the tree you want
Walking the rows, you can see every tree from all sides, check that the trunk is straight, and find the right height and width for your room. Many farms grow varieties you’ll rarely find on a lot, like Sierra redwood or Monterey pine.
It becomes a tradition
For a lot of families, the tree trip is the start of the holidays: a drive up into the mountains, a walk in the cold air, arguing happily over which tree is best, and hot cocoa after. Kids remember the year they helped saw the trunk.
It keeps local farms going
The tree farms in the Santa Cruz Mountains are mostly small, family-run operations, some going back generations. Buying from them keeps open, green land in the mountains and keeps these farms around for the next generation of tree hunters.
It’s easier than you think
Most farms lend saws, and many will shake, net and help load your tree. All you need is a free afternoon and a way to get the tree home. Start with the best time to visit, then pick a farm.