Christmas Tree Harvest

[westcoaster]

Happy Holidays everybody, I hope your approach to Christmas is going well and you are getting some time off from work for a much needed break. My last day until the New Year is tomorrow, so lots of time for being outside, cooking and celebrating with friends and family.

Anyways, growing up we have always had a real Christmas tree, usually taken from the bush somewhere, but the odd time bought from the Scouts or some other organization for fund raising. This year is our, (my wife and I), first married Christmas, first one in our new house, and first one waking up Christmas morning in our own house. So, re-instated the tradition was and this weekend off into the bush we went hunting for our tree.

I have always liked either Douglas Fir or a Balsam Fir of some type for a tree. Fir has a classic Christmas smell and 'Charlie Brown' look, and Balsam has a nice symmetrical shape, very distinct orange like smell and extremely good needle retention. So we were after a Fir or Balsam.

Here are some pictures from the outing:

We found a nice Fir:

Clearing the brush from the trunk, really thick blackberry brambles:

Mid-Chop:

Walking back to the truck through a neat Alder stand:

Bucking off the butt to make it square for the stand. Quite a wet day:

Tools of the day:

Final product. Its a bit sparse, as we don't have much for Christmas stuff yet, but its a start:

So what do you guy's like for a tree, (if you have one), real or fake, nature grown or farm?

 

[mtnfolk mike]

great stuff...:thumbup: thanks for sharing...

as much as i would/prefer to cut one down in the woods, this being Ca. it's not that easy.. we have been cutting ours down from a local tree farm here in the mountains for many years..

 

[Jeremy Barnard]

Why not just take the saw and cut it down in the first place?

 

[westcoaster]

Why not just take the saw and cut it down in the first place?

I though someone would ask this. I quess it's an excuse to use all the tools, and there is something old school about 'felling' with an axe that harkens back to the hand logging days.

Cheers

 

[Doc13]

Thanks for sharing dude...I would've taken the axe too:thumbup:

Merry Christmas

 

[NothingCoherent]

Cool thread! I harvest my own Christmas Trees as well. I don't think it's legal... but honestly, this far in the country, who's going to care?

This year it just so happened that my girlfriends grandmother wanted a real Christmas tree. This is my first Christmas with their family, so I wanted to leave a good impression.

Yes, your granddaughter is dating that guy.

I too used an axe to chop the tree down. Let's be honest, you would too.

It's about 7 feet wide at the base, and 12 or so feet tall. Go big or go home, guys!

I had to cut like 4 feet off the top so it would fit inside the house. Hah. Looks kinda goofy.

I think Grandma likes it!

 

[Joezilla]

Our friends are Christmas tree growers, so we got to harvest with them

At the wreath making operation

 

[GregS]

Very nice westcoaster, I need to get out do the same thing next year.:thumbup:

 

[tknife]

Ours was on a truck from Oregon and was only cut down the day before. I did use my Sawvivor to square up the bottom though Great pics everybody!

 

[unit]

I too used an axe to chop the tree down. Let's be honest, you would too.

Honestly....I probably would have used a chopper

I resemble your point though. I recently cleared a section of my property with a pseudo bush craft knife (the garden tractor/brush hog would have been faster, but not nearly as much fun).

Great thread!

 

[Shoki]

I bought mine from the local nursery but I found out afterward that you can buy a Christmas tree harvesting permit for 5 dollars. I would have just gone out and chopped one down but I really respect the fish and game guys up here and wouldn't want to look like an arse if I got caught.
You better believe that next year I'll be out, permit in hand, with an axe, saw, and at least 5 knives, getting my tree!

 

[westcoaster]

I don't think it's legal... but honestly, this far in the country, who's going to care?

Ya as far as legality goes, its pretty mixed bag. Obviously if you pay for it, aka Christmas Tree Farm or permit, then you are good to go. If on Private land, I believe you need direct permission from the land owner for harvest to be legal. Crown land is a different story. In BC if you pay taxes, Crown land is 'yours' too, the people of BC 'own' the Crown land. This allows a lot of the outdoor recreation that takes place. However, you don't necessarily own the trees on that land. But like you say, out in the bush no one cares and every ones does it so its never a big deal.

 

[GoNadz]

As nice as real trees are, I don't have the patience or room for them, living in a 1br apt. My lady and I just have one of those smaller, pre-lit artificial jammies. Easy up, and easy to take down at the end of the holiday season. Gets stored in her father's garage the rest of the year. When we have a house, I'm sure it'll be a different story, but right now, it's easiest.

-Nadz

 

[Diesel_Dog]

Ya as far as legality goes, its pretty mixed bag. Obviously if you pay for it, aka Christmas Tree Farm or permit, then you are good to go. If on Private land, I believe you need direct permission from the land owner for harvest to be legal. Crown land is a different story. In BC if you pay taxes, Crown land is 'yours' too, the people of BC 'own' the Crown land. This allows a lot of the outdoor recreation that takes place. However, you don't necessarily own the trees on that land. But like you say, out in the bush no one cares and every ones does it so its never a big deal.

If your on crown land in BC you need a Free Use Permit to harvest a christmas tree. They are free and pretty easy to get. Your local Forst District Office (or Natural Resource office now) or BC FrontCounter office should be able to hook you up. Your Forest District may even have one that you can print from the web. Google it to find out.

When selecting a tree to harvest, please try to stay out of plantations. Forest Companies often have a lot of money tied up in every tree they plant (think paying the tree planters, brushers, spacers, ect).Often times the trees in cutblocks are not 'full' enough anyways.

I've always had a real tree and have quite a few memories of going out into the woods with my dad to find the perfect tree.

 

[FwdHO]

Westcoaster, what axe have you got there? Looks like a beauty!

 

[westcoaster]

Diesel_Dog - thanks for the clarification on the Free Use Permit, I knew there was a permit like this for Crown Land, its name was escaping me.

FwdHO - that is an Iltis Oxhead. Really great axe, a bit pricey but worth every penny.

 

[Moosez45]

I am one of the unfortunates that uses a fake tree

The last 2 years, we used a real tree, and since I use a wood burning stove to heat with, my last 2 trees, didn't hold up so well. By Christmas day, the presenst were covered in needles and my tree looked like this,

So we bought a fake tree, and I don't have to worry about it goin up in a huge blaze of Christmas cheer, and burning my house down. Merry Christmas kids, we get sleep in a debris hut tonight!!! My wife didn't think the joke was funny. I kept it watered, and I always keep plenty of fire exstinguishers around, since I have a fire buring in my house pretty much constantly for 2 months, but peace of mind and $100 got me a tree that is easy to decorate, easy to put up and take down, and won't burn my house down.

Oh well, its the Christmas Spirit anyway, that makes a tree beautifiul, and my kids got to pick a few out before, so, fake tree it is.

Moose

 

[HeathHall]

Here in Oklahoma, we have always cut down a cedar tree to use for Christmas. Always fun and smells nice.

Andrew