Coppiced Christmas Trees
At Windy Acorn Farm, our U-cut Christmas trees grow within a living woodland — not in perfect rows, but more like a forest itself. Our trees are part of a coppiced system, an ancient, sustainable way of managing trees by cutting them back to encourage new growth from the same roots.
Balsam Fir
The Balsam fir is among the most fragrant of all species. The Balsam fir has relatively short, dark green needles and excellent form, making it a good choice for displaying ornaments.
While Balsam Firs (Abies balsamea) aren’t traditional coppice trees, they show a similar resilience as deciduous trees. When a tree is harvested, its root system remains intact, sending up new growth that becomes the next tree. Each stump becomes a quiet partner in regeneration — growing, resting, and returning again. This method keeps our tree stands thriving year after year, sustaining both the soil and the spirit of the forest.
Unlike most Christmas tree farms, we don’t rely on fertilizer or insecticides, nor do we remove the roots after harvest. Instead, we steward a living ecosystem — a blend of native plants, birds, and insects all sharing space with the balsams. Our trees were first planted decades ago by the Ahrens family, who once tended this land. Their legacy continues to grow, and we feel lucky to keep nurturing what they began.
When you wander through our coppiced stands, you’ll find trees that are naturally shaped — a bit more open, as is traditional in Scandinavia, allowing the ornaments and candlelight to shine from all sides. Finding your tree here is less about choosing the “perfect” one and more about the experience of discovery — stepping quietly through the forest until one tree calls to you.
Coppicing is a long story written in generations of growth. The first harvest starts the cycle:
We cut the tree two or three whorls from the ground and allow new shoots to emerge.
After a year or two, we select one strong “leader” branch to become the next tree, guiding it upward while the old root system continues to feed it.
Over time, the same stump can produce tree after tree — a single root system yielding beauty for decades.
So when the holiday season comes, and you head out to find your tree, consider visiting a coppiced tree farm. You’ll be part of a tradition that honors both the forest and the families who depend on it — and you’ll take home a tree that will rise again long after the lights and ornaments are packed away. Something you can keep feeling good about!
