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PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, December 12, 1995 -21 " "Your Local Agricultural Voice" Lions Club works with tree farmer to help blind By Stephen Leahy Farm & Rural Life What do Christmas trees, hot apple cider by a bonfire, guide dogs for the blind and the Lions Club have in common? ...Murcott's Rolling Meadows Tree Farm on Townline Road, Ashburn. Every Friday to Sunday in December, Murcott's Christmas Tree farm throws open its gates and invites the public to choose-and-cut their own tree, and enjoy refreshments by the bonfire, visit the crafts shop, or go for a hayride. Bob Murcott says the farm has well over 30,000 scotch - pine, white spruce and white pines to choose from. These are mostly shaped and trimmed up nicely, but for those who want to wander around and find something out in the bush, Murcott's has an area for that as well. "Everybody wants something different," he says, not- ing that each year one or two families show up looking for cedars. Murcott obligingly takes them well into the back bush to get what they want. The operation doesn't really compete with the chain stores and nurseries who put a pile of trees out in their parking lots and sell them as loss leaders. "We are creating an outing here -- fresh trees and fresh air," he said. Located high atop the Oak Ridges Moraine, the farm is nothing like a parking lot in the city. "Last weekend a couple of students came back from university just to be here with their parents to select and cut their tree," said Mr. Murcott. Many people bring their lunch to eat around the roar- ing bonfire, and the kids bring their sleighs. And some spend the afternoon walking among the trees, enjoying the snow and solitude. Mr. Murcott plants 5,000 or more trees every year to ensure a good supply. He's added some balsam seedlings because many people are asking for them, but they aren't easy to grow. It takes up to 12 years for a tree to reach the height of six to eight feet. Insects can be a problem, but the Murcotts generally don't use pesticides. "Poor weather in the three weeks prior to Christmas can be disaster," he says, noting that rain in the first weekend of December kept many people away. A good Saturday will see as many as 2,000 people on the farm. The Venturers, part of the Scouting organization, are making wreaths out of pine and spruce branches to raise money for their camping expeditions. So what about guide dogs and the Lions Club? Turnto Page 22 - Published by the Port Perry Star December 12, 1995 Bob Murcott of Rolling Meadows Tree Farm made by the , Scugog Venturers to raise money for near Ashburn shows one of the wreaths being their camping expeditions next year. ( Grain Receiving * Drying, Storage Marketing Extended Hours Fast Dumping | Custom Services, ~ ( Merry Christmas Rl Commodities, RECEIVING pecialty Products : : ] Happy New Year NIV SPECIALTY | | from everyone at CUSTOM LINDSAY Box 56, Sal dim, _ "Working With The Farming Community" (insay (1058761200 + 1-800-665-6075