Christmas in the Country

'Tis the Season to Bust the Biggest Christmas Tree Myths

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 20:33:00 GMT

From popular songs like “ Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree ” to ‘ O Christmas Tree ,’ the Christmas tree is the centerpiece of many Christmas celebrations.

Unlike reports of a Christmas tree shortage, the Real Christmas Tree Board , which is the checkoff for Christmas tree farmers, says growers from across the country have been able to meet the increasing demand.

“They’ve reported a Christmas tree shortage for years. And after several years, we’ve never run out of Christmas trees,” says Marsha Gray, executive director, the Real Christmas Tree Board. “Our supply numbers are actually lower than they were 10 or 20 years ago. So that part is true. But we’ve never not met the demand.”

She says there’s no question demand has skyrocketed, largely due to the Covid-19 pandemic. As more Americans decided to take part in several Christmas traditions, more purchased real Christmas trees.

Weather’s Lack of Impact On This Year’s Tree Supply

The demand front is good news. And on the supply side, Gray says even with the whiplash of weather, those challenges don’t cut into the supply for a given year.

“It’s very rare that a weather event in the existing year impacts the trees we’re trying to sell. What it does impact in most cases are the seedlings, the new plantings,” says Gray.

The main Christmas tree production areas in the U.S. are Oregon, Wisconsin, Michigan and North Carolina. While the drought didn’t cut down on the tree supply for 2022, the extreme heat in the Pacific Northwest threw a curveball for growers this year.

“They were hitting like 118 degrees in June,” says Gray. “It didn’t kill trees. What it did is (affect) all that flush new growth on the ends, that’s where you get all the pretty new branches.”

The Grinch? Skyrocketing Freight Costs

Gray says it takes a minimum of eight years to grow a Christmas tree to a harvestable size. Weather can be a battle for future trees, but it’s the cost of trucking and freight that added to the cost of trees this year. Last year, trucking availability was the problem. This year, overall, the average cost of a Christmas tree was up 10 percent.

“Like all areas of agriculture and for all products, when you’re moving things around, it hinges on fuel prices and availability of trucking,” says Gray. “Some growers do price their trees minus the trucking, so it’s like you make your deal and then the trucking is on you. Others build that in. And, boy, you’re taking a bit of a gamble, but they’ve worked the market a long time.”

Good for the Environment?

Even with the price, Gray says more millennials are embracing tradition. And as more younger families opt for a real Christmas tree versus artificial, Gray says they’re also buying a product that benefits the environment, which can sometimes be a misconception with U.S. tree shoppers.

“The trees themselves, because their farms were replanting, it’s a constant cycle of renewing and sustaining that. And consumers, when they’re done with a tree at the end, it is 100% biodegradable; it’s just going to go back to the earth,” says Gray.

Big Export Business

It’s not just an American-grown product that’s more environmentally friendly compared to buying a plastic tree. Gray says Christmas tree farmers also benefit the U.S. economy. Demand is growing not just at home, but also abroad.

“We export Christmas trees to Dubai and Mexico, to the Middle East,” says Gray. “We export to all kinds of interesting places.”

As Christmas tree growers wind down another season, it’s an American grown product that’s helping make Christmas memories year after year.

John Phipps: Why More Americans Don't Actually Roast Chestnuts On an Open Fire

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 20:39:38 GMT

One of the most durable of all standard Christmas songs played nonstop during this time of year is “The Christmas Song”. If that unimaginative title doesn’t ring any silver bells, that’s because it is more recognizable by the first line, “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire”. Even for nostalgia buffs, though, the reference to chestnuts, let alone roasted ones, will trigger few remembrances.

Chestnut trees once dominated Eastern forests comprising as much as half the hardwood in those woodlands. As you can see, they grew to enormous size, and chestnut lumber was a prized material for all kinds of applications, but especially large beams and planks for flooring for brans and general construction.

In 1905 a fungus from Japan was inadvertently introduced to America and it literally took these giants down. Today woodworkers pay exorbitant prices for chestnut lumber reclaimed from old barns and other wooden structures. The wood is a buttery yellow with a straight grain that works well and is adaptable to multiple uses.

(Farm Journal)

A tiny number of groves may survive in Minnesota and other remote northern forests, but essentially these wonderful trees are gone. It is safe to say that few have ever eaten true American chestnuts roasted on an open fire.

There are related species resistant to the blight but the none which match the majestic size and beauty of this native hardwood. Arborists and botanists have struggled to develop blight resistant chestnut trees for decades with little success. Until now.

A genuine version of the American chestnut is at hand, but there is one tiny catch that farmers will understand. These blight-resistant trees are genetically modified. So, despite decades of safe and effective use of GM plants, foresters and government scientists are grappling with yet another GM controversy. Complicating the research is the tree lifespan – it’s not a 90-day corn, after all.

This farmer and woodworker thinks it’s a no-brainer to endure what appear to be minimal risks, but that’s been my futile GM opinion for a long time. But maybe in a century of two, not only will these magnificent trees regain their place in American forests and woodshops, but Christmas revelers could be roasting real American chestnuts over an open fire.

And yes, given the way our Christmas repertoire has endured, I’ll bet they will sing the song with the unknown title.

An 11-Year Old's Idea Sparked An Idea That's Grown Into an Annual Toy Drive Giving Out 13,000 Toys Each Year

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 15:02:30 GMT

The season of giving for Reed Marcum doesn’t just happen during Christmas. For this 19-year, the season of giving is year-round.

“I came up with the idea back in 2016 when I realized that I wanted to help put another toy under someone’s tree that year,” says Marcum, who’s now a Pittsburg County, Oklahoma 4-H Ambassador.

At just 11 years-old, this 4-H member had an idea: Collect toys and give them out to children in his local community.

“He came home one day, he talked to me and his stepfather, and he said, ‘Mom, I want to help some kiddos in my class for Christmas,” remembers Angie Miller, Reed’s mother. “I said, ‘OK, what can we do?’ I told him he could do a little work, and he was like, ‘No, I want to give out toys.”

Reed Marcum at 11-Years-Old

(Angie Miller)

Started Out As a Small Idea
That first year, Reed’s small idea turned into a huge success, giving out around 5,000 toys at his stepfather’s law office. Little did this family know that was just the start of something grand.

“It was something we didn’t expect to do, especially have that much success and community reaction. They really loved it. We did not expect that,” Reed says.

J Michael Miller Toy Drive
What’s called the J Michael Miller Toy Drive has grown each year, even during COVID.

“What happened was COVID hit, and we had told Reed that it just can’t happen that year. And he said, ‘It can happen, Mom,’” Angie says.

And it did. With the help of the community, Reed moved the toy drive to Ragan’s Auto, a decision that helped this drive grow even more.

“He spoke with Mr. Ragan, and he told Reed we can do this. They moved all their cars out by noon that day. We moved in around 1:00, and we would set up all night long, and then we open the doors, they would start driving through,” Angie says.

The annual J. Michael Miller Toy Drive gave out 13,000 toys this year.

(SUNUP)

Within a couple years, they even outgrew that space. Last year, Reed moved his toy drive again, this time, to the McAlester Expo Center.

“We are orchestrating with the local Expo Center here in McAlester for people to come, and it’s just an amazing venue for what we’re doing here. And it’s an amazing process that we have to set up and do,” Reed says.

Biggest Toy Giveaway Yet
On Dec. 7,2024, Reed had his biggest giveaway yet.

“We collected a ton, but we were able to give out around 13,000 this year, that day,” Reed says.

What started as one small idea has brought generosity through toys that touched 13,000 lives this year alone.

“It’s a year-long process,” Angie says. “The entire year we’re looking for toys, collecting them and getting donations from people. But when the day gets near and close, it really starts to ramp up.”

Cars line up 3 to 4 miles long for the annual toy drive.

(Bryan Fuller)

Recipients Come From Surrounding States
Since 2016, this toy drive has given away more than 64,000 toys, an annual event that people wait in line for hours to receive. And as the event grows each year, lines of cars that now stretch three to four miles long, all with kids eager to receive toys that year.

“I was working the line this year, and we did see license plates from Texas and Arkansas. That’s normal,” says Greg Owen, Pittsburg County, Oklahoma 4-H educator. “I would ask the people in the line, ‘What was the experience like?’ And this year, I heard the comment ‘It was literally perfect.’”

Vital Volunteers
But for Reed, this wouldn’t be possible without volunteers, all 100 of them.

“They can help us move the toys from point A to point B when we’re holding them or in help, give the toys, help, walk the line, be dressed up in costumes to help entertain the kids, give out small items that go through the lines. The kids aren’t just sitting there bored,” Reed says.

Loss Turned Into Love
Reed’s toy drive has become a beloved experience attracting thousands of people from miles away. But this kid who has brought so much joy to others has also seen heartache along the way.

“He had the most difficult year of his life his junior year,” Angie says. “We were moving to Ragan’s that year, and on July 28, he lost his grandmother that he was extremely close to.”

Reed’s brother, Sergeant Miles Tarron

(SUNUP)

Not even four months later, Reed suffered another devastating loss, just weeks away from his toy drive in 2021.

“We were notified by soldiers that Reed’s brother had passed in the military,” Angie says. “I talked with Reed and I told him I didn’t think we can do the toy giveaway. And he said, ‘Mom, brother would want us to do the toy giveaway, so we’re going to do the toy giveaway.’”

And he did, with an entire community rallying around Reed as a way to give back to one of their own who had done so much.

“They helped us get it over to Ragan’s. We got it all set up. And then they just helped us all the way through it,” Angie says. “After that, Reed had already created the Hudson Strong Foundation for a little boy that had cancer. And they provided some help with the costs of the storage buildings. Then after his brother passed, Reed created the Sergeant Miles Tarron Foundation, and that supports his toy giveaway, his backpack giveaway and his silent auction. His brother always had a hand in supporting him and sending money. So, now the Sergeant Miles Tarron Foundation and the Hudson Strong Foundation support those storage buildings.”

Reed has nine storage buildings, all bursting with donated toys each year. But this success is also because of one lady Reed deeply admired: his 4-H leader, Miss Donna Curry.

“After he lost his brother, June 28, 2022, he lost Miss Donna Curry, who was like a second mother to him, who got him into 4-H, and she supported this project thoroughly,” Angie says.

Today, Reed doesn’t just give away toys. Miss Donna had another idea two years before she died: to give out pajamas, socks and undergarments to those in need.

“We named it Miss Donna’s Closet. And when they drive through the toy giveaway, they get the pajamas, they get socks, they get undergarments all through the toy line. They get snacks. And so when we lost Miss Donna, Reed promised at that point that he would carry her tradition on.”

Reed is Now Inspiring Others
Reed’s heart of service is always on display, and it’s now inspiring others.

“It’s literally the goal that we try to set for our 4-H members. We hope that they’ll develop a level of mastery in their project work, and for Reed, his project has been civic engagement,” Greg says. “And when they get to that point, we’ll hope we hope that they’ll utilize that to teach and impact others to follow in their footsteps, which is exactly what Reed has done.”

“That’s the best thing with 4-H; they always want you to strive to be the best version of yourself. And that’s something this project really does every year,” Reed says. “It’s not just staying the same or leveling out each year. It’s getting bigger and better than the last.”

True Gift of Giving
Reed’s one idea in 2016 continues to spread joy year-round, as it showcases the true gift of giving.

“Little 11-year-old Reed could never see such a thing happening, especially when I was so young and couldn’t even talk to a group of ten people, let alone do something like this. I never thought it would reach this,” Reed says.

“I always share this. That came from the idea of an 11-year-old child. That shows the impact of the 4-H program. That shows the impact of a student that wants to give, that wants to make a difference and wants to make a positive impact on their community,” Greg says.

Reed Accepts Donations Year-Round
In order to make the annual toy drive possible, Reed accepts donations year-round. If you’d like to contribute to the annual toy drive or Reed’s other service projects, you can donate here .

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From the Famous SNL 'More Cowbell' Skit, to Iconic Bell in "It's a Wonderful Life,' The Magic of Bell-Making

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 15:37:27 GMT

Cici Bevin enjoys working in her family-owned business, which dates back to 1832 when her ancestors began what is Bevin Bells today.

“At one point in East Hampton, [Conn.,] we had over 20 bell manufacturers. Luckily, today we are the last one remaining,” Bevin says.

Of course, the use of bells back when the company began is much different than today.

Today, a cowbell might be a gift or a musical instrument, but back then, it was an essential part of raising livestock.

“There was a tremendous amount of safety use for bells, so sleigh bells were massive for us. We had catalogs, 20 pages long, of different cut styles and configurations of sleigh bells,” Bevin says.

Bells are still used today, though you probably never give much thought to who makes them.

“We make all of the bells for the Salvation Army across the country. Any time you see someone at a kettle ringing a bell asking for money that’s a Bevin Bell,” Bevin says.

Remember the sound that used to end stock trading in New York ? Or signal another round at a Muhammad Ali boxing match ? Those sounds are from Bevin Bells.

Of course there’s the famous bell from “Saturday Night Live,” which was a boost for business.

However, the most famous Bevin Bell is tied to “It’s a Wonderful Life,” a Christmas movie from 1946.

“The bell that rings on the tree when Clarence says, ‘Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings,’ that’s a Bevin Bell. Exactly how that bell ended up in the movie, we’re not entirely sure,” Bevin says.

They’re sure glad the classic Christmas movie featured a bell from their factory. To this day, the movie and the sound of bells ringing signal the Christmas season is here.

The Wonderful Life bells are just one of the many holiday bells made at Bevin Bells. In fact, the company does about 60% of its business in the fourth quarter.

While many people like the jingle of bells around the holidays, one has to wonder if working in a bell factory could get a bit annoying.

“I absolutely love hearing the bells ring and I honestly never get tired of it,” Bevin says. “I have bells in my car all the time because I might be making a delivery, and I jingle everywhere I go, which brings a real smile on my face.”

From sleigh bells to the bell from “It’s a Wonderful Life,” much Christmas cheer begins at Bevin Bells in East Hampton, Conn.