Thanks to Earth’s propensity for circling the sun, days are getting shorter. And with shorter days come few opportunities.
And thanks to reduced levels of melatonin many of us grow lethargic and want to sit on the couch all day.
An alternative?
Well, whether you celebrate Christmas or not, Christmas tree farms can be a good place to start.
With a secure area to roam about and an array of activities to partake in, tree farms can be fun places to beat the seasonal affective blues.
Grab a thermos of hot cider and go find some wreathes to decorate or a Christmas tree to bring home to your apartment. Going on a search for the perfect tree can be exactly what it takes to get you into the holiday spirit or just get you out of the city.
Not to mention, when you’re out in the grove, saw in hand, you’ll get to meet some pretty interesting people. Whether it’s the folks who own the place or the other evergreen pilgrims, there are a lot of impromptu conversations to be had when you’re looking to kill an adolescent conifer. What can I say? It’s a moment of unity.
Tree farms are also a uniquely Maine experience.
With the pulp and paper industry taking a hit on a weekly basis, it’s nice to help out those who make their livings in the woods.
Plus, what are the alternatives.
Tree lots are often in the least natural places (i.e. paved lots near Rite Aids) and are the easy-bake oven answer to meeting your holiday greenery needs. Couring through a tree farm is the truly sensual experience. The smell of spruce and fir, the taste of the cider and the feel of winter’s encroachment on fall coalesce into a good time had by all.
Unlike walking through the mall armed with a debit card, riding on the back of a Kubota tractor searching for something to cut, gives you to time to reflect, at least momentarily, on what the holidays are all about.
For those who aren’t necessarily giddy about the hundreds of inches of snow on the horizon or the prospect of shoveling out your car, getting outside to enjoy the last reasonably days of fall is a relief. Not to mention, you’ll be helping someone out at the same time.