Stalking the Wild Christmas Tree (Cut Your Own)

A story of how a Cut Your Own Christmas Tree tradition started… ended… then began again!  With some tips!

The holidays are special.  And one of the things that creates the warmth of the season is tradition. 

How Our Cut Your Own Christmas Tree Tradition Began

It might never have become a tradition.  Cut your own Christmas tree, that is.

When my husband and I were first married, we decided to cut our own tree.  What better way to start our new life together!

With nothing available near town, we took the afternoon off and drove about an hour outside the city to the most enormous tree farm I could imagine.  Cold and snow added to the ambiance as we set out over the many (many) hills in search of the very best tree.

Hours later, our toes were numb and fingers white.  We hadn’t expected two hours of hunting in addition to two hours of travel, but we had a big beautiful tree. We dragged it back down over many (many) hills and slid it into our hatchback.  And the hatch wouldn’t close.

The attendant was undaunted, “Happens all the time.  We keep lots of rope.”  Soon the hatch was tied down and we set out on the hour trek home.  All the way back the wind whistled through the car.  The heater didn’t have a chance.  Our fingers turned even paler.

And a tradition ended before it began.

Until the year of the big party.

A Tradition Revisited

Yes, one year, hosting the extended family party (approx 55 people), I decided we needed a great tree. 

And coming up short (literally) in the usual spots, we ventured to a newly discovered cut your own Christmas tree farm.  The result: great tree, reasonable price, and buying from a local small business.  New tradition–hooray!

Here is how it went that year…

Better than a Marquee

Trees Everywhere

Does It Measure Up?

Cutting the Tree

Does It Fit?

Hooray for Minivans!

Pandemic Tree Hunting

When the pandemic made everything harder, we ventured out again, this time onto some vacant property we hoped to build on some day.  There in a clearing was a lovely white pine, not as full as a farmed tree, but tall and fresh. 

It was even starting to get overcrowded, so a good choice to cut.  And so we brought it home where it didn’t look so big.

Until we put it up and it was stunning.  I guess that’s making lemonade!

Tips and FAQs

We don’t cut our own tree every year, but our most beautiful trees seem to be found this way. 

Today we live on a couple acres in a rural area and are planning to learn to prune to create bushier, Christmas shaped trees for ourselves. I’ll update as we learn!

If you’d like to cut (with permission) in a wild area, familiarize yourself with the species that are good for cutting.  One year we cut a random tree that was lovely.  But in the end, it prematurely dropped it’s needles all over our living room floor.  Our favorite Christmas tree is the White Pine which grows native in Wisconsin.

If you’re looking at cut your own farms, call ahead.  Especially if, like many people, you have a favorite species.  Most farms have saws, twine, and other supplies you’ll need, but it doesn’t hurt to ask about this too.

The US Forest Service issues permits for cutting your own Christmas tree in some national forests.  Learn more on Recreation.gov. Some states including Wisconsin have similar offerings.

Wild trees will not have been pruned like Christmas trees but if you look in more open areas you are more likely to find a fuller tree. Here you will be on your own for supplies so come prepared!  

And don’t forget to save extra branches for fun decorating projects!

Finally, dress warm!

And above all, have fun!

Updated from the original published Dec 3, 2011.

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