HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-12-22, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2011. way home,” Dan said.The tree becomes the focus of thecelebration for the Willis family
according to Debbie, who said that it
really marks the time when they’re
celebrating Christmas.
“It’s a really special time in our
home,” she said. “It stays up for two
weeks, maybe three at the most, just
until after New Year’s, and it really
signifies Christmas.”For the Murdocks, who weresearching for their perfect tree atMathers’ lot, it was a family tradition
that they were keeping going by
themselves.
“Normally we would have our
grandkids here,” Myles stated. “But
hockey is keeping them away.”
Both Myles, a former councillor
for Goderich, and his wife Cathy
agree that they cherish how the treedelights the senses.“We like the smell and the look ofthe tree,” Cathy said.
Myles stated that it’s fun going to
find it, whether it’s a full family
event or just the two of them.
“It’s fun getting out and getting
your cheeks rosie,” he said. “It
harkens back to all the old Christmas
movies and stories you hear.”
As for why they travel from
Goderich, where there are several
lots to pick already-felled trees from,
they prefer the fresh-cut.
“We could pick something up that
has been cut, but then you don’t
know how long it’s going to last,”
Myles said. “And I’ve known
[Mathers] from my teaching days
and it’s good to catch up.”
As for the lot itself, it now serves
as a spawning ground for more than
200 Christmas trees per year
according to Mathers.
“We started about a dozen years
ago and we just did friends, neigh-
bours and family,” he said. “Then we
started delivering to the local Co-ops
and sold trees that way, but we found
out that people wanted to cut their
own, so we changed to that.
For seven years people have been
making the trip to just north of
Belgrave to find their perfect tree
and business has been pretty steady
according to Mathers, despite the
economic downturn lately. He
believes people keep coming
because they’re getting more than a
tree.
“It’s not expensive to come and
get your tree here and you get more
than just the tree,” he said. “People
want a family adventure, they want
to make their own choice and they
want a fresh tree. They can get that
here.”
Mathers said that the majority of
his customers are repeat customers.
“There a lot of familiar faces, 80 to
90 per cent of the people who come
here have come in previous years,”
he said.
The lot really caters to the
customer, offering people saws and
dragging the trees to their cars if
need be.
“It’s really whatever they want,”
Mathers said.
Twenty-five years ago he started
the lot as a hobby, he planted about
10,000 trees among his properties
and routinely replaces the
approximate 200 trees taken peryear, so the lot isn’t suffering at all.“I had useless fields that couldn’tbe farmed,” he said. “So I began
planting trees in them.”
Mathers trims the trees every year
once they reach five years old tokeep them the right shape andgrowing well, but he’s starting to hithis limit.
“We’re getting close to the
Tree means Christmas for area families
I call this one ‘The Rodeo’
Sydney Wightman, front, and Cheyenne Schiestel, behind,
would have cut a rug if there were one under them as the
duo, joined by several of their classmates, showed off their
dance moves during East Wawanosh Public School’s
Christmas concert on Dec. 19. (Denny Scott photo)
Warm Wishes
at Christmas
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We hope your holiday is harmonious in every way,
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We're overflowing with gratitude
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Best wishes to all our friends and customers
now and in the coming year.
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406 Mill Street (corner of Dinsley & Mill), Blyth
519-523-4793 • www.spaessentialsblyth.com
Kelly Wharton, Carla Pawitch, Julie Luffman, Katie Ansley,
Ruth Feeney, Laura Kelly and Emily Lansink
wish you a relaxing holiday!
To our friends, neighbours, and folks we’ve
yet to meet, we’d like to extend our sincere best
wishes for a holiday that’s as beautiful as you
are, and hope that all your dreams come true
during this magical time of year.
May Your Dreams Be
Merry & Bright
We thank you for your valued patronage,
and hope you’ll visit us again, soon.
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Sat. 8 am - 1 pm
519-523-9555
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