Friday, Nov. 28, 2008

Christmas Crop

By RHONDA AGHAMALIAN

For the News-Mirror

The seeds that grew into the current Christmas tree crop at Sunset Hill Tree Farm were actually planted shortly after World War II.

"My dad, who had just gotten out of the military, was having a conversation with some buddies about what they were going to do," said Duane Patrick, who owns the farm with his wife, Kathy.

"He told them 'I’m going to raise Christmas trees,’ sort of meaning it as a joke. It was an unusual concept back at that time."

Patrick said that his father wistfully mentioned the idea to him many years later, after reading about a Christmas tree farm in Progressive Farmer, a country living periodical.

"That planted the seed of an idea in my head," Patrick said.

Sunset Hill offers visitors the opportunity to select a favorite tree from one of the farm’s Christmas tree crops, then cut it down themselves, using tools provided Patrick. The farm’s crop includes Virginia pine, Afghan pine, loblolly pine, and Leyland cypress. Selections range from short, chubby trees to tall and willowy specimens. According to Patrick, the business sells between 200 and 300 trees each year.

Patrick said the enterprise is environmentally friendly.

"The trees are just like any crop grown for the purpose of harvesting, like corn," he said. "For every tree we cut down, we plant another one in its place."

Sunset Hill Farm is located several turns off of Interstate 35 in Alvarado. The atmosphere is peaceful, fragrant and rustic, despite being less than half an hour from downtown Fort Worth. Visitors can expect to see a few friendly cats scampering about, chasing falling leaves or each other. The ever-present gentle cluck of chickens provides a pastoral soundtrack.

"You can’t beat it," said Greg Gray of Burleson. "They are really great people and the prices are reasonable. My family loved having a moment of peace in the country, smelling the trees and seeing the wildlife. They’re memories you can’t get anywhere else."

The Patricks recently competed for the first time in a state-wide contest sponsored by the Texas Christmas Tree Growers Association, winning grand championship designations in two divisions.

Besides "cut and choose" Christmas tree harvesting, the Patricks also offer educational farm tours for school and church groups, children’s birthday party packages and craft items sold at a country store.

The Patricks also host an annual holiday event, Olde Tyme Christmas, the centerpiece of which is the Shepherd’s View Hayride. The hayride features outdoor decorations and lighting, hot apple cider for hayride guests, music and live re-enactments of events surrounding the birth of Christ at stops along the hayride route.

Proceeds from Olde Tyme Christmas, which is already sold out this year, benefit overseas mission work connected to local churches.

"We don’t keep a penny of it," Patrick said.

Unfortunately, Patrick’s father passed away before the first crop of trees was planted at Sunset Hill Tree Farm. But Patrick thinks his dad would be pleased with the inadvertent legacy he created.

"If Dad could look down from heaven, I think he’d be proud," he said.