Growing Christmas trees involves a lot of work, but for Gary Hite and family, it's worth it to provide quality trees to help bring joy to local homes during the Christmas season.
Scioto Prairie Farms in Marion offers quality Christmas trees, available for consumers to select, cut, and take home to brighten the holiday celebrations. Trees sales are available by appointment only on select dates throughout the holiday season. Appointments can be made through their website at SciotoPrairieFarms.com. Spots are limited and can fill quickly, so don't delay!
It typically takes 7 to 10 years to grow a full-size Christmas tree. "We don't just plant a tree, wait 9 years and go cut it down. Each year there is a significant amount of nurturing and care for the tree," says Gary Hite, who owns and operates the farm alongside his wife Terri, and daughter Shawna Jones.
The family must make sure trees are properly irrigated and the tops and side branches are nicely sheared. Additionally things like deer, weeds, insects, and tree diseases pose constant threats.
"In 2012, a number of tree transplants died due to saturated soail which led to phytophthora. This resulted in a smaller number of available trees in recent years, but the farm is now mostly over that slump," says Hite.
In 2020, the farm consisted of about 4 acres of trees. At that time, Gary's daughter Shawna became involved with the operation as well as made plans to expand the number of tree offered.
Currently, the family has more than 7 acres of trees in various stages of growth, offering several species and sizes of fir, pine, and spruce trees. Trees that are for sale are marked with a tag listing with the species, height, and price to help visitors find the perfect fit for their home.
"The absolute best part of raising Christmas trees is the sales season when we meet new and returning families. The relationships are special, we have some customers that have purchased a tree from us every year we've offered them."
The sales season starts the Friday following Thanksgiving and continues on weekends through mid-December (check their website for official dates).
In the sales barn, complimentary treats include hot chocolate, popcorn, and candy canes. Terri reads the story of Christmas. "It's always interesting to see the parents listening along with the children," says Hite. "We work hard to share the message of Christ in Christmas."
When asked about his experiences as a member of Mid-Ohio Energy, Gary recalls a particular outage that ocurred a mere two days before the blizzard of 1978!
"The transformer on the pole next to the house had blown. It had been raining all day and it would be difficult to access the area without the possibility of getting stuck or leaving deep ruts in the yard," says Hite.
Upon assessing the situation, the co-op's crew determined it would be best to climb the pole and make repairs without the aid of a bucket truck. The crew worked the next hour or two in the wind and rain to replace the transformer. "Sure enough, we had service restored around 3 a.m.. It was service way above and beyond what was expected."
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