(Three Oaks, MI) - Wearing masks and being socially distanced haven’t dampened the Christmas spirit at a tree farm near Three Oaks, judging by the usual heavy turnout and smiles on faces.
Craig Goodenough, one of the operators of Pinecrest Tree Farm at 4403 Spring Creek Road, said he’s already sold more trees than last year with another week to go before sales begin tapering off drastically for the season. “We’re busier than ever. I guess everybody wants to come out and get a tree or get out and do anything,” he said.
Signs are posted informing people approaching on foot that masks are mandatory.
Wagons pulled by horses and tractors were still taking people out into the fields to cut their own tree. Partitions were placed in the wagons this year to keep families separated from other groups. Additional windows also were created in the gift shop for people to pay for their trees outside to help limit crowd sizes inside the building where hot chocolate is provided at no cost. Customers and cashiers in the gift shop are separated by plexiglass.
Dan and Melissa Gearhart from Buchanan brought their daughter, Illa, 3, and her five month old sister, Summer. They reported having just as much fun as in previous years despite having to wear masks. “It doesn’t bother us. We’re used to it now,” Mrs. Gearhart said.
Ryan Dempsey and his partner, Kate, both of New Buffalo, showed up with their four-year old son, Finn. It was their first trip to the farm since moving here recently from Chicago where they bought pre-cut trees from stores. Dempsey said he and his family used to cut down their own tree while he was growing up in the mountains of north Georgia. “I grew up in the country so this is feels more like home,” Dempsey said.
Bob Primm of Three Oaks and his family almost every year head out to Pinecrest to cut their own tree. They also reported enjoying themselves just as much despite the COVID-19 restrictions. “We just love coming here,” he said. His daughter, Abby, brought her two-year old twins, Calvin and Violet, and her newborn, Scarlett. Abby said seeing the faces of children light up while cutting a tree is what she likes most about the experience and the mask actually came in handy with temperatures in the upper 30’s. "My face is warmer so I’m ok with it,” she said.
The farm remains in the same family after Richard and Brita Soper planted their first trees in the secluded rolling terrain in 1968. Mr. Soper was manager of a grain elevator in Walkerton when he planted his first 500 trees in the secluded rolling terrain in 1968. Up 70,000 trees on more than 40 acres grow there now.
Goodenough said 6,000 to 10,000 new trees are planted annually to make sure there’s enough to go around each season for people come from as far away as Chicago, Kalamazoo and South Bend.
Business there has really boomed since 2016 but he’s not exactly sure why. “It’s just getting bigger every year,” Goodenough said.