When I say "quaint", I really mean that it's kind of old-fashioned, and it really is not little by any means. The farm is called "Elizabeth Farms", located in Brickerville, Pennsylvania, which is in Lancaster County just north of the historic town of Lititz. Elizabeth Farms is considered Lancaster County's largest tree farm. You can check out their website at: http://elizabethfarms.com/. Let me just say that seeking our tree at Elizabeth Farms has become one of my favorite holiday traditions.
When you arrive, you gather your tree tag and, depending on what type of tree you're seeking, you either ride in a tractor-pulled wagon or a horse-drawn wagon to a field of Christmas trees where you select and then cut down your very own tree. We usually purchase a Douglas fir, so we've always had the pleasure of riding in a horse-drawn wagon out to the fields. This year we were carted along a wooded path, past a small pond and across a tiny flowing creek. If you are not the tree-cutting type, Elizabeth Farms also has pre-cut trees ready to go. No need to cut, and you still get to enjoy the ambiance of the farm!
This year we trudged up and down, searching for the perfect tree. Our 14 year-old son, ZJ, had the honor of cutting down the tree (although for pictures everyone took a turn!). After your tree is cut, you drag it to a tractor path where it is then tagged and taken back to the wagons.
Once your tree is loaded, you re-board the wagon with your tree and are taken back to the main barn where the tree is measured (our 2010 tree was 9 1/2 feet tall! it probably weighed about 200 lbs too!) and wrapped. While we were waiting, we went into the gift shop to get warm, enjoying complimentary hot cocoa, complete with peppermint stirring stick (a/k/a candy canes!). This year in addition to normal Christmas offerings such as ornaments and garlands, there was also Wilbur chocolate, which is made right in Lititz! It's great to support local businesses!!!
A bonus the last two years, Santa has a little workshop at the farm, and your littles can divulge their Christmas wishes. You can opt to purchase a photo (and it's less crowded than at the mall). This year as a gift for me, all six kiddies kindly posed for a picture together. I was happy about that, as my oldest is 15 and might be more reluctant in the future. There was also music playing to add to the festive cheer, and one of the department stores set up quite a nice display, with moving figures shown celebrating the season. The employees are friendly and helpful. Overall, the whole day had an "old-fashioned family fun" kind of feel, which can be very appealing during the whole hectic pace of the holiday season.
If you're getting a live tree to trim for Christmas, I highly recommend Elizabeth Farms -- it might become your family tradition also!
Disclaimer: This is not a paid advertisement and I am not employed by this company. This is my personal opinion and others may have different experiences, but I like to promote the places that offer great service or are pleasant. If you find anything objectionable about my opinion, you are welcome to send a private e-mail for my consideration. Thanks!
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