Traude Holmes, a grandmother of three, came all the way from North Vancouver to help her family pick and cut a Christmas tree at an Aldergrove u-pick Christmas tree farm on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 29.
鈥淚鈥檝e never done this before,鈥� the saw-wielding Holmes confessed, smiling as her son and daughter-in law carried the tree out for wrapping.
co-owner Diana Cobaschi helped the Holmes family push their purchase through a tree bailer to compress the branches and wrap the tree in mesh for easier transportation.
Luka Vaantstra, 5, from Murrayville, used a wagon to pull sister Everly, 1, while Mom Karen and dad Stephen toted their large-sized tree.
鈥淲e may need to raise the ceiling in the living room,鈥� Stephen joked.
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Tannenbaum owners Diana and husband Ben said the Christmas tree season appeared to be off to an early start, with higher-than-usual sales numbers.
Diana reported selling 68 trees on Saturday, Nov. 28, their first day, and 52 on Sunday, the most opening weekend purchases they鈥檝e seen in the five years the family has been operating the farm.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 see this many sales until the first week of December,鈥� Diana estimated.
Ben thought the spike in activity was because people are 鈥渂ored鈥� being stuck at home during the pandemic.
鈥淭hey want to get their decorations up sooner,鈥� he theorized.
Diana said they had people 鈥渃alling us in the middle of November,鈥� about getting trees.
And no, they don鈥檛 take reservations.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 mark off a tree and tell 300 people they can鈥檛 cut it,鈥� Diana laughed.
Daughter Alice Cobaschi, 8 was helping customers, dressed up as a Christmas elf, while younger brother Caleb, 6, assisted.
鈥淚 can show you where the big trees are,鈥� an enthusiastic Alice told one visitor.
This year, because of the need to maintain social distancing, the family is wearing masks when buyers are present, reminding visitors to maintain social distancing, and they have regretfully announced they won鈥檛 be serving complementary refreshments or providing a campfire as in previous years. Tannenbaum Tree Farm at 5398 252 St. is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Christmas.
READ MORE: 鈥楨veryone wants a tree and they want it now鈥�: Christmas tree sales on pace for record
Canadians planning to buy a live Christmas tree this season should start shopping now and expect to pay more, the Canadian Christmas Tree Growers Association says.
Farmers anticipate 2020 will be a record sales year. Association head Larry Downey says it鈥檚 simple supply and demand: a shortage of trees coupled with a greater appetite from people hoping to liven up their living spaces amid widespread stay-at-home orders.
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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