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THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, DECEMBER 5,2001 PAGE 7 Local tree farms DURHAM - It's not only environmentally, environmentally, friendly but cutting down your own tree at one of the Region's harvest-your- own Christmas tree farms can become a special family memory. Murcott's Rolling Meadows Tree Farm is located near Hwy. 7 at 662 Townline Townline Rd. and Ashburn Road West in Ash- burn (west of Brooklin). Turn north for 8 km on Ashburn Road to Towline Road. The farm features white pine and spruce and is open weekends in December. To visit on weekdays, call 905-655-8939 for hours of operation. In Courtice, the Prestonvale Tree Farm is found east of Townline Road, on Prestonvale Road. Signs mark the way to the farm located 4.5 km from Hwy. 401 and where award-winning Scots pine, white spruce, Fraser fir, Douglas fir and balsam fir are grown. Recently, Royal Agricultural Winter Fair judges awarded three firsts of six categories to the local farm earning it the rank of 'reserve' (runner-up) (runner-up) champion of evergreens. Open seven days a week in December from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., saws are provided and refreshments refreshments are available. For more information, information, email the tree farm at: trees ©speedline.ca. The Sobczak Christmas Tree Farm is located in Whitby. For those who want the convenience of simply picking up a pre-cut tree, go to the Victoria Street East lot, just past Dufferin Street. But if you'd like to cut down your own spruce or pine, ' go south on Brock Street, past Victoria , Street to Watson Street. Turn left on Galt Street and watch for the large sign. Call 905-666-2127 for hours of operation. Although new owners are taking over the Henderson Tree Farm in Newcastle this year, the venerable tree plantation still offers a variety of Scots pine, white pine 1 and spruce. Exit Hwy. 401 at Mill Street, Newcastle and go 1 km south to Metcalfe 1 Street. It's just 2 km east to the farm. Open weekends but please call 905-987- 4867 for hours of operation, especially on weekdays. The Spademan Tree Farm in Utica can be found at 545 Durham Road 21. From Hwy. 401, take Brock Street North through Whitby to Regional Road 21 (west of Port Perry) to Utica. From Picker- ; ing, take Brock Road north to Coppins ; Corners, and then go east on Durham ! Road 21. Fields of organically grown j Scots pine, spruce and balsam fir offer a 1 variety of choice. Christmas tree hunters ! are offered complimentaiy refreshments, j an open fire and wagon rides. Free shaking, shaking, boring and baling are also available and the farm is open daily throughout the , season. The Taylor Christmas Tree Farm is north of Hwy. 7 on Brock Road in Good- ; wood. At Durham Road 21, turn left and follow the signs to 140 acres of spruce, ; Scots pine and fresh pre-cut Fraser and i balsam fir trees. Open Friday, Saturday j and Sunday from Dec. 2, the farm fea- i tures horse and wagon rides, tractor ; rides, tree baling, bonfires, wreaths;'tree \ disposal bags and refreshments. On j weekends, Santa Claus visits with candy canes for the kids. Two locations make up Watson Tree Farms, one in Blackstock and the other in Whitby. For the Blackstock location, take the Waverly Road exit off Hwy. 401 at Bowmanville, go 18 km north on Durham Road 57 to Concession 10 (Burketon ; Corner). Watch for the signs. In Whitby, j take the Thickson Road exit off Hwy. 401 j and drive 8 km north to Conlin Road, turn east for 1.5 km. Scots and white pine i await along with both white and blue spruce. Already cut varieties include balsam balsam fir. Saws are available and the tree i farm has set up a Christmas market. Pine j cones, boughs and candy canes are free. | Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oh, Christmas trees Local Christmas tree farms have whatever you like BY JANE MCDONALD Staff Writer DURHAM - Everyone has stories about Christmas triumphs and disasters. disasters. For sonic it's the year when somebody threw out the toys hidden away from curious eyes and unwisely stored in garbage bags. Then there was the Dec. 25 when the power went out and everyone stewed in his or her own •juices while the turkey did not. Challenges Challenges abound at this time of year but as far as the search for the perfect tree is concerned, life just got a little easier. easier. Durham Region boasts some of the best Christmas tree farms in Ontario. Bushy pines, balsam firs and stately spruce trees promise the real feel and fragrance of Christmastime. And because because they are a genuine crop, they do not deplete our forests. Considered to be one of the most environmentally friendly crops to grow, the association of Christmas Tree Farmers of Ontario says just one acre of Christmas trees produces enough oxygen to support 18 people. "You've got to be interested," says Larry Sobczak, owner and operator of a Christmas tree plantation in Whitby, as well as another at Carleton Place near Ottawa. "There's no fortune to be made but it looks pretty and it's satisfying satisfying watching them grow." At 66, Mr. Sobczak, whose name graces the large signs leading to his Watson and Galt streets acreage as well as at the pre-cut tree lot he runs on Victoria Street (just east of Brock Street South), should know. He says he's been farming since childhood and worked with his family over the years raising cattle, vegetables, plums, pears and raspberries. He remembers the war years when piles of carrots, parsnips, potatoes and tomatoes would be shipped off to the Campbell Soup Company or other processing destinations. destinations. But for the last 15 years, he has planted anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 evergreens annually. It takes about 10 years for most trees to reach the maturity necessary to become a yuletide focal point. "Usually, people like about a 7-foot tree, because ceiling heights are usually usually about 8 .feet," he says. "We get the odd order for taller trees if people have a cathedral ceiling." The three acres he tends in Whitby are resplendent in 10,000 carefully tended Scots pine, white spruce and Colorado blue spruce trees. At $22 per tree for any size, he provides an axe for those who want to choose their own tree and cut it down themselves. He also has twine on hand should his customers want to tie their choice onto the roof of their vehicle. The blue spruce is more expensive at $35 per tree. Larry Sobczak is one of several Christmas tree farmers farmers in Durham Region, where residents can find some JANE MCDONALD/ Statesman photo of the best tree farms in Ontario. The search for the perfect tree can be a fun-filled family outing. The prices are earned. A wellshaped wellshaped tree doesn't just grow that way by itself. Years of close attention to irrigation, irrigation, nutrition, pruning and control of insect pests and disease are required to ensure a good-looking Christmas tree. In the blazing mid-summer sun - the middle of June to about July 1 - the Scots pine must be pruned and sheared while spruce trees can be shaped during during dormancy. Some of the trees are so beautiful, Mr. Sobczak has an arrangement arrangement with a landscaper who digs them out of the plantation for customers who don't want to wait all the years necessary for a seedling to grow straight and tall. Of course these trees are sold at a much higher price than the ones cut down for the holidays. The variety of type and size promise a good selection this year and even though some parts of the province suffered a drought this summer, summer, Mr. Sobczak says his conifers did just fine. "My trees here grow in a clay layer base with a layer of top soil," he says proudly. "The clay layer retains the moisture." Mr. Sobczak adds that most people know how to take care of their freshly cut purchases although he advises them to leave the tree outside in cool temperatures until it's time to take it indoors to decorate it. As for his own family's preference, he says they used to put up a Scots pine but in recent years have chosen white spruce. "We like the white spruce because, of its scent," he says. Dr. John Balenko 0623-7412 ^Hl»'^ Dr. Karl Vermeulen 0623-7100 GENERAL FAMILY DENTISTRY EMERGENCY CARE AVAILABLE Q Sedation 0 Children's Dentistry --\ Q Peridontist Q Orthodontics LaserDfrUistry^) 60 LIBERTY ST. 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