Arnold Lim/News Gazette staff

article 2015 Goldstream Gazette

Wintercreek Farm

“I planted them as seedlings five years ago, starting with Douglas fir (and they) have just taken off and are ready for cutting this year,” she says. “(They) may even be a little too big … they’ve all grown naturally. The 74-year-old farmer, who has raised crops and livestock for decades, said she just got bored and needed something to keep her occupied.“I’m learning as I go along … (it’s) sort of a new thing for me,” she said. “It’s just something I wanted to do. I decided I would (farm) trees before I got too old to do it.” With more than a thousand of them on her lot, from firs of the concolor (white), Douglas, Fraser, grand and noble varieties to pine trees at various stages of development, Palfrey tends to them every day and even admits having mixed emotions about letting go of the crop she has cared for over the past five years. “My husband said I would never sell them because I am always talking to them – I spend a lot of time out there,” she said, laughing. “I just like trees around here; they are nice and don’t talk back.” Palfrey, who lives on the farm with her husband, said despite having arthritis and finding it challenging to be out there some days, she still can’t get enough of the smell and has no plans to stop anytime soon. “Families (enjoy cutting) them down; it is like an adventure for a child,” she said. “If you are cutting it down, taking it home, setting it up and breathing in the scent, it is beautiful.”

When Christmas is over and you are looking for something to do with your tree you can donate it to the WILD ARC at 1020 Malloch Road Victoria, B.C. V9C 4G9 (250) 478-9453 (WILD). They use the trees for the rehabilitating animals to climb and eat, so please make sure no tinsel etc. is left on the tree. Please check out their website for other ways to help.

 2017 

Unfortunately due to a blight we had to remove over 100 of our Fraser Firs this year. A lot of hard work was put in to saving them, but it was all to no avail. We have replanted with regular Christmas Fir seedlings, but it will be a few years before they are ready for sale. We do have some smaller firs available. We also have some nice Concolor Firs, Spruce and lots of Pines, which are looking quite nice this year.If you want a really large tree, we have some huge pines, perfect for those expansive spaces.