Living a Hallmark Movie

Have you ever wanted to be in a Hallmark movie? Well, Christmas on the farm as a child was like living a real life Hallmark movie... without the big city girl falling in love with the small town guy stuff. OK so maybe not fully a Hallmark movie.... but let me explain.

In 1983 (before my brother or I were born) my dad decided to plant over 1,500 pine trees on the farm. He didn't want to actually farm the land but wanted to also make use of the farm land so, Christmas Trees it would be! My parents were also raising a few feeder cows that year which we continued to do each year for many years after.

1,500 tree seedings were order and shipped to the farm, sitting in basement and were waiting to be planted. The fence for the cows needed a quick repair before the weekend they would plant all the trees so my dad was out working on the fence. He was using a circular saw that had a broken guard (Note: Never use power tools that aren't in proper condition like this circular saw was) to cut around one of the fence boards and it caught, kicked down and cut his right leg from right above his knee all the way up his thigh.

It took him down but after a quick examination he saw that it wasn't really bleeding and he also knew he needed to get to a hospital to get it stitched up. He got up and walked to the house to get my mom and have her take him in. This is only one of the crazy accidents my dad has had during his lifetime but he said that as they were stitching him up at the medical center he could literally feel that they were putting his body back together.

Now remember, there are still 1,500 tree seedlings that are in the basement of the farm house that need to be planted and these guys can't wait on my dad to heal from this injury.

My dad (Ken Anderson) was a planner.... maybe that is where I get it from. He had the rows planned and laid out with, the exact distance between each tree meticulously measured and marked by string so everyone knew precisely where to plant the trees. This was important so they could still mow and maintain the land without disturbing the trees as they grew. He also hand crafted two tools that would be used to plant the trees. If you know my dad, it is really not surprising that he devised something of his own out of the things that he had on hand to get the job done. Each was a pole that had a metal plate attached that you could use your foot to push it into the ground and unearth enough space for the tree to be planted and the ground around to be restored. The perfect place for a young tree to thrive.

Since he couldn't actually do the planting himself due to his injured, stitched up leg that he had to keep elevated and stay off of, he enlisted the help of my mom, Uncle Bill and a few friends to get the job done. Planting 1,500 trees. My dad didn't just sit in the house and watch from a window to see the progress that was being made, he instead drove around in the golf cart, leg propped, to supervise and make sure it was all going to plan. Every year for about the next 4 years, my mom and dad planted between 500-1000 additional trees on the farm.

It took about 7 years for some of the trees to grow to a size that they could be used as Christmas Trees and once that happened, the Christmas Tree Farm was open for business! On Thanksgiving weekend the big handmade sign shaped like a Christmas tree went out "Christmas Trees for sale. $10".

This was the most magical time of year for me as a kid. My family's farm was open to our community, family and friends to search through the trees careful planted to find the one that would bring the Christmas magic to their own home. Our dog, Hunter, also loved this time of year. Every time someone came to the farm to pick out their tree, we would ask if its ok for Hunter to join. She just loved going out into the trees with the families to help them search for their perfect tree.

You could cut your own tree or we would help you cut your tree down. You could also dig out your own tree if you wanted to but not many chose this route. We had twin on hand to help tie the tree to your car or truck. Nothing fancy like they do today. But still, it was pure magic. A rush of excitement came over me every time someone pulled into our driveway. I loved being part of so many families holiday traditions and sharing the joy of the season with others. It really was the most wonderful time of year. Selling Christmas Trees to families filled all of our hearts with love and warmth. We had families who would come every single year to get their Christmas tree and they would share how happy and excited they always are to come to our farm and pick their tree. And each kid who came, wouldn't leave without a candy cane in hand whether they bought a tree or not.

Pure. Magic.

This is what I think of when I think about Hallmark Christmas movies. Pure magic. A small town Christmas Tree farm that brings love and joy to the community. Who knows.... maybe someone big city women did find her small town, flannel wearing farmer out there searching for their tree. I do know that to me, I feel like I grew up in a Hallmark movie where Christmas is a magical season that brings joy, love and prosperity to others.

(Picture: This picture is a painting of an image used as "December" in the Westfield Insurance calendar.)