Read

Growing Up on a Christmas Tree Farm

Creator:
Published:
March 28, 2024
December 17, 2019
Are you team Real Tree or Fake Tree? Watch as a Christmas tree farm worker explains the magic of cutting down your own tree.

Kaitlin's family has been growing and selling Christmas trees for more than 40 years. She loves the Christmas season and the family experience of cutting down your own tree.

Video Transcript

Meet Kaitlin: Christmas-farm Worker

Galien, Michigan

Kaitlin Goodenough: The perfect Christmas tree really depends on your preferences. It varies from family to family. Typically the families will come in looking for a certain height because that's what fits in their house, but it varies. Some people like fat trees, some people like skinny trees.

Kaitlin’s family has been selling Christmas trees for over 40 years.

I've been helping out around the farm probably for about 10 years, so since I was like 11 or 12. It's been a long time. Well, my main role is to run the cash register and personalize ornaments, and I’m kind of an assistant manager to my parents who manage the business. I really enjoy being in the family business. It's fun working with my family. It's always fun seeing the kids come out and so excited to go cut down their Christmas tree. We have customers that have been coming here since the day we opened. It's their family tradition.

Customer 1: We look forward to it every year.

Customer 2: We have a real good time.

Customer 3: We make sure we still bring our parents with us.

Customer 4: Yeah they have to help with the trees.

Customer 2: I don't drag the trees no more, they do.

(Cutting down tree)

Kaitlin: I'm not a fan of the plastic tree. Real trees are fresh and nice, and they smell good. And you can't go chop down a plastic tree so it kind of takes away from the family experience, in my opinion.

(Tree baler running)

Christmas is my favorite holiday, not just because I live on a Christmas tree farm, but it's just always been my favorite time of year because I love giving presents to my family and friends. That's my favorite part of it. Seeing the look on their face when they open it up.

(Hanging ornaments on tree)

To me, it represents family and the time that I get to spend with them. We get to decorate it together and everything. So seeing it up is just, it's really special.

Creators:
Grotto
Published:
March 28, 2024
December 17, 2019
On a related note...
5 Ways to Use Beauty to Thrive During the Pandemic

5 Ways to Use Beauty to Thrive During the Pandemic

Carissa Pluta

How a Puppy Turned My Life Around

How a Puppy Turned My Life Around

Javi Zubizarreta

3 Joyful Things to Feast on During Easter Week

3 Joyful Things to Feast on During Easter Week

Jessica Mannen Kimmet

Helping Refugees and Immigrants Heal Through Theater

Helping Refugees and Immigrants Heal Through Theater

Grotto

How My Elderly Aunt Became One of My Best Friends

How My Elderly Aunt Became One of My Best Friends

Lillian Fallon

Children's Author Teaches Kids How to Draw

Children's Author Teaches Kids How to Draw

Grotto

Finding the Humor in Grief

Finding the Humor in Grief

Molly Cruitt

Serving the Homeless Population from the Feet Up

Serving the Homeless Population from the Feet Up

Grotto

Finding Joy & Healing Through Photography

Finding Joy & Healing Through Photography

Grotto

Using Music to Bring Love to People in Nursing Homes

Using Music to Bring Love to People in Nursing Homes

Grotto

Finding Joy in Daring to Be Different

Finding Joy in Daring to Be Different

Grotto

Revamp Your Morning Brew With These 4 Coffee Recipes

Revamp Your Morning Brew With These 4 Coffee Recipes

Lauren Lawson

Giving Older Women Makeup and Connections

Giving Older Women Makeup and Connections

Grotto

How to Make the Most of New Year’s Day

How to Make the Most of New Year’s Day

Molly Cruitt

Building Community with House Concerts

Building Community with House Concerts

Grotto

Good and Decent S2 | E3: New Beginnings

Good and Decent S2 | E3: New Beginnings

Grotto

Providing a Home Through Dance

Providing a Home Through Dance

Grotto

Watch This Nun's ESPY-Nominated Curveball

Watch This Nun's ESPY-Nominated Curveball

Grotto Shares

Step Into Fall With These Cozy Drink Recipes

Step Into Fall With These Cozy Drink Recipes

Lauren Lawson

Wishing You a Very Merry Christmas

Wishing You a Very Merry Christmas

Grotto

newsletter

We’d love to be pals.

Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll meet you in your inbox each week.