Coming home for Christmas Trees

Much like an elf in Santa’s workshop, Rodney VanDerZee’s busiest months of the year are November and December. He’s not making toys; he’s running VanDerZee Christmas Tree Farm in Trumansburg while also managing a restaurant in Maryland.

“It’s exhausting between Thanksgiving and Christmas, trying to run this business and the restaurant five hours away,” VanDerZee said. “But we get through it, and the rest of the year, we’re making trips once a month usually.”

VanDerZee grew up in Trumansburg and still has a large, extended family in the area. After being a restaurant co-owner in Maryland for almost 30 years, he bought the family property on Stillwell Road in hopes of being able to retire and move back in the next few years. The decision to start a Christmas tree farm on the property had a lot to do with VanDerZee’s late father, Lloyd.

“My dad always wanted a tree farm, and when he was in his working years, he planted quite a few pine trees on the property,” Rodney said. “Unfortunately, he was never able to carry it out. It was something I thought I could do from afar, by making trips to the farm throughout the year. I’m trying to carry out the dream of my dad.”

Rodney and his wife, Terri, planted their first trees in 2009 and have been selling them since 2015. Their green, wooden tree-shaped signs pop up on main roads all over the county each winter.

According to the National Christmas Tree Association, Christmas tree farms like VanDerZee are considered essential businesses, allowing Rodney to continue his usual routine that typically involves a lot of travel.

During peak season, Rodney drives back and forth from Trumansburg to Maryland often. Terri stays at the farm the whole season and maintains things during the week, along with help from the family and seasonal employees.

The rest of the year, they visit the farm monthly to plant, spray and trim the trees and mow the grass. They currently have about 11 acres of trees and plant 1,200 to 1,500 new trees each year to replenish the crop. They also cut and sell trees for wholesale and auction, though this may be their last year doing so.

“My plan was to discontinue the wholesale when I developed a local following of customers that could sustain the farm,” Rodney said. “It’s been incredibly busy this season. I think people are finding that it’s something normal a family can do — go out and cut a Christmas tree and be in the fresh air.”

Two friendly dogs greet customers upon arrival at the farm. Family members and staff wear red hooded sweatshirts with their names embroidered on the fronts and offer assistance throughout the tree procurement process. They supply saws for cutting and sleds for hauling trees and also mechanically shake trees to remove loose needles, trim the trunks and send trees through a baler for easier transport.

In the barn, there are wreaths made by Terri, tree stands and an array of homemade refreshments including hot dogs, chili, hot cocoa and baked goods for sale.

“We are well-known for our crab bisque soup in Maryland, and we actually make it every week and bring it up from our restaurant,” Rodney said. “We’ve gotten a pretty big following in upstate New York who now love our crab soup. People come get their tree and get a taste of it and come back the next weekend just for soup.”

Even Rodney’s 89-year-old mother, Nancy, gets involved in the family business.

“We call her Mrs. Santa this time of year,” Rodney said about his mom. “She bakes cookies for the kids and she comes out to the barn to hand them out. The first year we planted, she found her way to the field to help plant some trees.”

The farm has adapted to COVID-19 this year by offering tree delivery for the first time. For those who don’t feel comfortable or are unable to visit the farm in person, they take tree orders over the phone and deliver to Watkins Glen, T-burg, Interlaken and Ithaca. Customers can pick from four different types of trees: Blue spruce, Fraser fir, Concolor fir and Canaan fir, in heights varying from 4 to 11 feet tall.

Rodney said he hopes to retire from the restaurant industry in the next two years and move back to Trumansburg permanently. But for now, he’ll keep doing the many trips back and forth, all for a few busy weeks of selling trees.

“The growing season is very personal with the trees,” Rodney said. “But the best part is having people come to your farm during the Christmas season and telling you how much of a great experience it was and how they look forward to it every year. I love the smiles it puts on the kids’ faces and seeing them leave with a VanDerZee Christmas tree.”

VanDerZee Christmas Tree Farm is open Monday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m. and weekends 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, find it on Facebook or visit its website at vanderzeechristmastrees.com.