Times Advocate, 1992-12-16, Page 5• w
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Times -Advocate, December 16, 1992
•
Page 5
Voung's Green Forest Farm offers a family experience
By Ray Lewis
T -A Staff
DENFIELD - If you didn't know
better, you'd
swear he
was Santa
in disguise.
Of course,
we all know
the jolly old
elf lives at
the North
i Pole, so
who is this man in Denfield filling
so many with Christmas spirit.
Dressed simply in coveralls and a
baseball -style cap, Bob Young
tends to a crew of 70 pre-schoolers
visiting his farm. The morning be-
gins with a wagon ride for the
youngsters, before they are taken to
select and cut a Christmas tree for
their classroom.
Young's Green Forest Farm is lo-
cated on Concession 12, between
Denfield and Ilderton. For the
three weeks prior to Christmas, u is
easily the busiest place in the area
as children of all ages come to en-
joy the experience of cutting their
own trees for Christmas.
But Young's 100 -acre, farm is
more than just a business., it's more
of a park where people are begin-
ning to visit year-round to enjoy
the serene beauty.
"We're trying to offer an entire
experience," smiles Young, a re-
tired social worker and researcher
of 22 years. "Once people come to
visit, they usually return every year
as customers."
Born and raised on a farm,
Young had always wanted to oper-
ate one. On 100 acres, there aren't
many ways to make a living, so he
came up with the idea of operating
a Christmas tree farm.
But through it he wanted to en-
courage a total family experience,
from the time the customers left
home until they returned.
"You don't want choosing a tree
to be a chore," said Young. "You
want easy -to -follow directions, and
when the customers arrive, you
want them to walk and work only
as much as they want. You don't
want them frustrated because it
ruins the day."
After Young decided to go
ahead with the idea, he began to
visit other farms, going through the
routine of getting a tree himself to
see what aspects frustrated him
most, and then eleviated these frus-
trations at his place.
Accessibility, directions, walking
distance and friendly service were
thought to be imperative. Young
started planting Scotch pine and
spruce in 1982 and officially
opened in 1989. For both easy ac-
cess and beauty, he modelled much
of the farm after a provincial park,
and those who have travelled to
MacGregor Point will notice strik-
ing similarities.
But Young didn't stop there. He
continued by adding a lot of extras.
He began to serve cider and hot
chocolate free of charge, and has
since added fire pits, barbecues and
kindling for customers bringing
Members of Whitehills
Day Nursery in Hyde
Park travelled to
Young's Green Forest
Farm Friday to cut a
tree for their
classroom.
Peter's Point
Continued from page 4
The kids aren't strong enough to
say: "No, thanks". Maybe we
should hang cardboard signs
around their necks saying "Please,
don't give me any candy cane."
What's in this stuff anyway, apart
from sugar and artificial colouring?
Probably aii kinds of other harmful
substance.,. 1 can't understand how
parent~ who take the greatest care
an supplying their children with a
nourishing, batanLed diet who
screen out all other junk food, will
stand idly by and smile while their
offspring arc sucking or biting
these disgusting, cheap. unwhole-
some sticks.
Would any of my older readers
remember (that is anybody my age,
for example) whether they had a
steady diet of candy canes when
they were young? I'm also wonder-
ing whether any other parents are
upset about this phenomenon. Or is
it only me? Do I have this "thing"
about candy canes?
Last year I tried to stem the tide
by offering my kids a quarter for
every candy cane they turned in.
This worked for a short while, but
after they had collected about twen-
ty do•:ars each, they broke down
and made up for what they had
missed earlier in the season.
When i become benevolent dicta-
tor, I will slap a hefty tax on candy
canes. About a dollar a piece should
do it, don't you think? That'll reduce
the free handouts. And if that won't
work, I'll order total prohibition. Or
allow candy canes to be sold only in
state -operated monopoly outlets.
And I'II have them put warning
stickers on every candy cane: "The
Minister of C ildren's Welfare Ad-
vises that Candy Canes Constitute a
Major Health Hazard."
The War
Amputations
of Canada...
Safety Is
No Accident
CHAMP
PLAYSAFE
PProgram
marshmallows and hotdogs.
Instead of showing up just to find
a tree, families now make a few
hours of it, barbecuing and singing
carols amidst the forest.
"The older folks are still the most
romantic though," smiled Young.
"They park among the trees, go for
a walk and cut a small one to take
home."
Then two years ago, as a favour,
Young conducted a tour for some
young children. He gave them a
wagon ride, they cut a tree and then
continued over to the fire for choc-
olate and cider.
Word quickly spread.
Last year, four groups made the
trek to Young's, but this year well
over 6(X) kids have visited the farm
over the past two weeks.
"It's been really busy with tours
and customers," agreed Young.
Sales arc fine as well and that's
pertinent for a tree farmer who has
to make a yearly living in three
short weeks. About 90 percent arc
sold on weekends, for about seven
hours Saturday and Sunday after
church. While Young maintains
the farm through the week, loving-
ly, the entire family chips in to help
on the weekends.
Young hopes to sell about 3,000
trees this year, but although he
seems to have done alt he can to
prepare, Mother Nature can always
be a factor.
"All you need is a little bad
weather or some rain and you're in
trouble," confirmed Young.
Young's cut -your -own trees are
priced at 517, but also available arc
Tips: Have an idea of what
you want and where it is going
before you shop. It saves time
and frustration, and you don't
want to buy an eight -foot tree
when you have a seven -foot ceil-
ing.
Bring a saw, preferably a boo
saw, although Young does have a
few for loan.
Once home, leave the tree out-
doors until you're ready for it, but
take care to protect it from the
elements.
Make a fresh cut in the trunk
before attaching it to the stand,
and once inside, be sure to check
the water level often to help the
tree thrive through the holidays.
We Are Upen
At our New Location
Our Services Include:
• Investments
• R.R.S.P.
• R.R.I.F.
Mortgages:
• Residential
• Agricultural
• Personal Loans
• Term Deposits
• Daily Interest
• Commercial
Come and see why over 11,000 customers from the counties of Huron, Perth.
Lambton and Middlesex deal at the Clinton Community Credit Union
CLINTON COMMUNITY
CREDIT UNION
11.8 Main St. North,
Exeter
235-0640
48 Ontario Street,
Clinton 482-3467
OPEN: MON. to THURS. COO •.m: 6:00 p.m. FRI. 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
already -cut spruce trees and living aduhs will surely enjoy and remem-
trees. ber.
It's an inexpensive outing, but Alas, a place where you can still
more im r.rtant, one children and find the .frit of Christmas.
Bob Young prepares hot chocolate for the many children
visiting his farm.
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