Thursday, November 30, 2006

Tiiiiiimber!

Have saw, will chop (yes that's really me!). But where does a Fairmount princess find herself a fresh tree for the holidays? Well, some things just must be done outside city limits. Luckily, having grown up in the beautiful countryside of Chadds Ford, I am familiar with where to go - far far into the woods to find the perfect tree to bring back to my urban nest.

Ok, so my mom actually discovered the place, but I will assume transitive credit. Schmidt's Christmas Tree Farm in Landenberg, Chester County, is where we found our firs. Landenberg is probably about an hour's drive from the city, beyond the Ford and Kennett Square. Actually it is quite close to Newark, DE but one would never know it by the rolling hills, brooding bovines and quaint 1-horse towns along the way.

Schmidt's Farm is everything a Christmas Tree farm should be. You are transported by tractor-pulled wagon from the main shop over the hills and through the woods to the trees, chauffeured by Mr. Schmidt himself. Once you've surveyed every Fraser, Douglas, and Blue Spruce and found The One, you saw it down and have it shaken and baled by friendly, young, strapping lads. The trees travel back down the hill separately from you, at which time you feel a pang of anxiety that there is a possibility that yours could get mixed up with someone else's. But fear not, the system is failsafe.

Back at the main shop you can sip free hot cocoa and cider whilst perusing hand-made ornaments and chatting it up with the two resident reindeer, aptly named Fraser and Douglas. They don't fly, but they do make you feel just a little bit closer to Santa.

Schmidt's Christmas Tree Farm, 1741 Flint Hill Road Landenberg, PA
610-274-8560




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