Growing up, we never had a real tree in the house for Christmas – it was always one of those fake plastic ones, and while they look better now they looked awful in the 70’s and 80’s (apologies to plastic Christmas tree manufacturers everywhere, but your product really was crap).  But Natalie and I have always enjoyed having a real tree for Christmas, so each year we go out to a local vendor who’s set up shop in some parking lot … we agonize over “is this one too crooked”, “is that one too tall” … and then we toss a tree on top of the car and head back to decorate.  Last year, the tree was too big for the nylon rope so we ended up holding the tree in place by hand as we drove back home … hello, Griswald.  This year, though, we wanted to cut our own tree.  But we hadn’t done it in years, and didn’t quite know where to go.

Enter Joe’s Trees.  Coworkers had said great things about this place out in Craig County, and they weren’t wrong.  If you’re looking for a place to chop your own tree this year, head out 460-West to Joe’s Trees.  They have an impressive venture going on there – think Sinkland Farms before they needed police directing traffic – and it’s well worth the visit.  Walking up, you can choose to cut your own tree – hacksaws are provided, along with a well-marked map (and price list) of the property’s inventory.  Thousands of trees in at least a dozen varieties, and all sizes … just choose your tree and leave it tagged beside any of the well-traveled paths that criss-cross the property, and the staff will pick it up, shake it down, and bale it for you in no time flat.  No heavy lifting!  And if cutting one down isn’t your thing, they have a ready stockpile of baled trees, as well.

And if you’ve already gotten your tree this year, head out to Joe’s Trees anyhow.  They have lots of things going on, all year round.

Play ball.  And Merry Christmas.