Homestead Pine Tree Farm

On a unique season for their christmas tree farm business.

Every year the farm opens the day (after thanksgiving to sell christmas trees.

But recently the farm has been sitting empty... with no customers.

(nat( "you put down the lever" that (nat( "and it clamps it" is the sound of shirley gamble, the co-owner of homestead pine tree farm, making her special homemade christmas wreaths.... (nat( "and i believe strongly in mixed greens.

I'm not the type of person to make them out of one variety."

The family owned christmas tree farm is located in tippecanoe county.

Nat (press down it( right outside of stockwell.

"keep on going in t hat circle" during this time of year her farm is usually filled with people picking out their christmas trees.

But this year was different..... "we put in a lot of business in those short few times.

That's basically all we were open was 7 days."

7 days.... that's how long homestead pine tree farm was open this season.

"that was it, it wiped us out" the family was pleasantly surprised with how many customers came to shop this year.

Not only for christmas trees, but also shopping inside this store filled with christmas decor.

Gamble believes the challenging year covid-19 created for many people, was part of the reason for their increase of customers.

"a lot of times the kids have been out of school for at least a week or two because of e-learning.

They were so ready to get outside and enjoy some fun together" the family sold over 300 trees, which gamble says is a lot of them since they're a small farm.

"unfortunately to have the quality, and the selection, and also the height for them, we had to close early."

While the trees are no longer able to be sold nat (we want it to look as natural as possible, but add color to it( gamble is continuing to make wreaths while reminiscing on a (good, but quick, 20-20 season with her family.

"i think any time you can have your whole family together, and we're all working hard but we're all working together and we're all working towards the same goal of making this some place someone wants to come to" nat (door closes( "you could say osed for the season" the first christmas trees were planted on farm in 19-88.

Shirley hopes the christmas tree farm will continue to stay in the gamble family for years down the road.