25 years on the same tree corner

John Van't Hof is camped out in the Woodside Mall parking lot from now until Dec. 22. Literally.

The Lunenburg County Christmas tree farmer has set up his trailer and is at the lot 24/7. And he has been in that same location for the past 25 years.

In 1983, Van't Hof was all set to sell his trees in Westphal, but at the last minute he found out it was booked, so he opened his lot in Woodside.

"This location has worked out."

On the busy weekends, he has six to seven friends and family members working the lot with him and says business has remained steady over the last quarter century.

"I see a lot of the same faces every year, but some new ones, too."

Van't Hof's wife, Donna, comes up on weekends and the couple have gotten to know the neighbouring establishments well.

"We started out making our own meals onsite, but that proved difficult without any running water," Donna said with a laugh. "So we visit the nearby restaurants regularly. They've been very good to us."

Between this lot and another in Liverpool, Van't Hof says he sells between 700 and 800 trees a year, which he grows on his land in New Germany.

With three grown children, Van't Hof gave a piece of land to each of his kids a few years ago. His daughter and son in law run a tree lot in Beaver Bank.

"The kids are finished school now and working. They're looking after their own land," said Van't Hof. "My sons are cutting the trees now and deliver them to the lots every few days."

When asked if he has seen a decline in tree sales over the years, he said he hasn't really noticed a change, people are still buying real trees. (Not everyone is succumbing to the convenience of an artificial holiday fixture.)

"Customers want quality and they want fresh," said Van't Hof, noting that he doesn't cut any of his trees until after Dec. 1.

His family usually cuts their own Christmas tree early in the season to watch how it holds up.

"You never know," he said. "It depends on how dry it is."

He recommends a fresh cut, either at the lot or when you get home, and not to let the tree stand run out of water.

One of Van't Hof's six-to-eight-foot trees cost about $25.

lmckay@hfxnews.ca