When it comes to trees, keep it real

SCHUYLER - A short stroll through Candy Cane Lane leads directly to Santa Claus Street.

Once on that path, you can't miss Santa's Forest and the more than three acres of Christmas trees on Fred and Paula Wigington's land.

The Schuyler couple owns Santa's Forest, a Christmas tree farm that welcomes visitors to choose and cut their own trees for the holidays.

The Wigingtons began their business about 20 years ago.

Sitting in the sun room of their underground home, Paula explained that she and Fred have always had an interest in the environment, which is why they started the business. Recognized by several state wildlife and tree organizations for their environmental work, the Wigingtons also belong to the Nebraska Christmas Tree Growers Board. They are among a group of about 40 Christmas tree growers in the state.

“We started it because we are naturalists-, conservationists-type of people. We've always taken the kids to Lincoln to conservation type programs. That's how we started,” Paula said, speaking of their now three grown children.

The Wigingtons live on more than 27 acres of land that was owned by Fred's parents and currently have six varieties of 400-500 Scotch Pine trees planted there.

This is the busiest time of the year for them. Typically, Paula said, they open up on Thanksgiving day and sell between 50-100 trees between now and Christmas.

Both Paula and Fred said the draw of cutting your own Christmas tree centers on family. Many parents bring their children out to the farm and all together, they choose what tree they want to have at their home for the holiday.

“It's more of a family thing. It brings back Christmas tradition. That's what people have told us,” Paula said.

Fred said there also are benefits to choosing a real Christmas tree over the artificial variety. From the environmental side, he said one acre of trees supplies enough oxygen for 18 people per year. Real trees also are biodegradable, so when you are finished with them they can be recycled, made into mulch or used in other ways. Artificial trees are often made of plastic and might not ever breakdown or decompose in a landfill.

Fresh-cut trees also have benefits over trees available in lots, Paula said. Often the fresh-cut lasts longer because those sold in lots might have been cut down weeks ago.

Caring for their trees is virtually a year-long job. Fred said they tend to them 10 months out of the year, whether it is planting, trimming or mowing around them. Usually, new trees are planted every two to three years. It takes about eight years for a tree to grow to sale height.

Most customers come from around the Columbus and Schuyler areas to buy their trees at the farm, located one mile north and 3/4 of a mile west of Schuyler off of Highway 15. Holiday wreaths also are sold there.