Holiday spirit stirs as workers craft handmade décor, prepare to greet visitors
SPRING GROVE — Kim Osburn’s face lit up as she poked another white pine sprig into the whirling metal twine-spinning machine before her, happy to demonstrate for a visitor the fine art of weaving a rope of fresh evergreen garland.
All around on tables throughout a space in a former dairy barn sat lengthy boughs and smaller sprigs of white pine and Fraser Fir, the scent of which filled the room as other workers crafted handmade wreaths or snipped the cuts of greens that would adorn them.
“They’re beautiful,” said Osburn, a Wauconda resident who was among the many hard at work at Richardson Christmas Tree Farm a week before its opening this Friday, Nov. 29. “This is Christmas.”
Over in the gift barn, crews were hanging a multitude of wreaths ranging from 12 to 60 inches in diameter, while Jean Richardson Valsa crafted one of the hundreds of premium bows adorning wreaths, door swags and more.
“It’s like a Hallmark movie in here,” she said. “It gives you all the warm-and-fuzzies.”
The Christmas Tree Farm, at 9407 Richardson Road, Spring Grove, will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily from Friday, Nov. 29, through Sunday, Dec. 22. It features 75 acres of cut-your-own Christmas tree fields. Additionally, the hay mow of the farm’s 1890-circa dairy barn is filled to the brim with pre-cut Canaan and Fraser firs, some towering as tall as 13 feet.
Co-owner George Richardson said this is the first time in about four years that the farm will be open a full four weekends. For the last few years, drought limited tree supply. And, though logistics proved challenging due to Hurricane Helene, the farm did receive its order of hundreds of pre-cuts from North Carolina this year. Other pre-cuts were en route from North Countree Christmas Inc., a tree farm in Wausaukee, Wisconsin, he added.
“We have a great supply of trees this year,” he said. Trees range in price from $95 plus tax for all cut-your-owns, which stand up to about 9 feet tall, and up to $300 for the tallest of the pre-cuts.
Of course, visitors will find far more than trees at Richardson Farm. As of Friday, construction crews were busy erecting an enclosed gift barn annex where craft beer and hot adult beverages will be sold. The Richardson’s popular, fresh apple cider and frosted donuts will be available at three different windows in the gift barn, plus homemade fudge, hot cocoa, other treats, and ornaments and holiday décor of all types.
Also Friday (Nov. 22), Sue Dubs of Richmond stopped in for a custom-made pickup. Though the reason for her visit was somber — she was there for a pair of handsomely hand-crafted evergreen grave blankets — Dubs smiled broadly at the beehive of activity all around.
“Look at all the busy elves,” she said, adding that the farm was an exceptionally charming place to shop for any holiday décor need. “I want to support local business, and they do such a beautiful job.”
Those feeling charitable are reminded that the Richardson Christmas Tree Farm is one of 11 official Trees for Troops locations nationwide. While stopping by to select a tree of their own, families are welcome to donate a tree to be delivered to a military base this holiday season. More information about Trees for Troops is available at treesfortroops.org.
Wendy Richardson, George’s wife, is chairman of the nationwide Christmas Spirit Foundation, of which Trees for Troops is a chief initiative.
Like the Richardson Adventure Farm, the Richardson Christmas Tree Farm is co-owned by George and Wendy Richardson, George’s brother Robert, Robert’s wife, Carol, George’s son, Ryan, and Ryan’s wife, Kristen.
For more information about the tree farm, visit Richardsonfarm.com and click on the Richardson Christmas Tree Farm button.