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Right side of the barn before cleaning and painting began.
The tree farm was originally owned and operated by Mike Peters and Sheila McKinnon. They lived at this location since 1989 and in the Lake Stevens community since 1975.
The farmhouse and barn were built around 1900 by the Meyers family. They bought the land from the Steubers, the original homesteaders. The Meyers sold the property to the Coopers in the 1950s. Mike and Sheila bought it from the Coopers in 1989.
The farm house was the first in this area to have electric power. Much of the old wiring is still in place (but not in use!) in the barn.
Through the years, the land has been used as a dairy, a strawberry farm, a beef cattle ranch and now a Christmas tree farm.
The farmhouse and barn were built around 1900 by the Meyers family. They bought the land from the Steubers, the original homesteaders. The Meyers sold the property to the Coopers in the 1950s. Mike and Sheila bought it from the Coopers in 1989.
The farm house was the first in this area to have electric power. Much of the old wiring is still in place (but not in use!) in the barn.
Through the years, the land has been used as a dairy, a strawberry farm, a beef cattle ranch and now a Christmas tree farm.
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Same view after painting and decorating
Mke started planting Christmas trees in 2003 and has been adding more trees each year. They first opened for sales in 2007, selling a grand total of 76 trees in 3 weeks that year! With 10,000 trees growing in the field, this was not an auspicious beginning! Sales have definitely gotten better since then.
The trees take 5-10 years to reach 7-8' cutting size. In January or February, the bare-root seedlings are picked up and planted to replace trees that were sold or died the previous year. Throughout the year, tree farmers keep busy mowing the grass, killing the blackberries, spraying for pests and shaping the trees. Growing trees is a year-round activity!
In 2023, Mike and Sheila decided it was time to 'retire' and sold the farm to George and Dixie King. Please join us in welcoming George and Dixie to a busy but rewarding 'retirement hobby'.
The trees take 5-10 years to reach 7-8' cutting size. In January or February, the bare-root seedlings are picked up and planted to replace trees that were sold or died the previous year. Throughout the year, tree farmers keep busy mowing the grass, killing the blackberries, spraying for pests and shaping the trees. Growing trees is a year-round activity!
In 2023, Mike and Sheila decided it was time to 'retire' and sold the farm to George and Dixie King. Please join us in welcoming George and Dixie to a busy but rewarding 'retirement hobby'.
