"That allows guests to be able to explore the fields, select their own tree, and cut it down with the saw given to them at the entrance. "Yeah used to be I think in the early days, they would just come out and cut a tree and go. Nowadays, it seems like they want to stay here longer," said Paul Illingworth, the former owner of the farm."
""They want the experience of walking around in the forest. That's as important to them as actually getting the tree." According to the latest survey from the American Christmas Tree Association, more than 80% of households that planned to buy Christmas trees this year were going to get an artificial one."
"While most families buy artificial trees these days, there are still some places in the state where you can not only get a living tree, but even cut it down yourself."
California families maintain Christmas tree traditions with both artificial and living trees available. Some locations permit visitors to cut down their own trees, offering an immersive, choose-and-cut experience. The Castro Valley Christmas Tree Farm spans more than 12 acres in the East Bay Hills and emphasizes exploring fields and sawing trees on-site. Visitors increasingly value the forest walk as part of the purchase. Survey data show over 80% of households planning to buy trees intend to choose artificial ones. Bay Area tree farms are dwindling due to aging owners, climate change effects, and higher labor costs.
Read at Kqed
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