The biggest difference between a live Christmas tree and an artificial one is the natural smell, says 30-year Metchosin resident Marie Palfrey.

The long-time local farmer, who now sells Christmas trees from her six-acre farm on William Head Road, said her first crop, will bring that smell to homes on the West Shore.

B次元官网网址淚 planted them as seedlings five years ago, starting with Douglas fir (and they) have just taken off and are ready for cutting this year,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址�(They) may even be a little too big B次元官网网址� theyB次元官网网址檝e all grown naturally.B次元官网网址�

Palfrey has always put up a live, local tree for Christmas. To keep her farm status, she decided to start growing them over two acres of her farm after giving up raising Angus beef.

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.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 learning as I go along B次元官网网址� (itB次元官网网址檚) sort of a new thing for me,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just something I wanted to do. I decided I would (farm) trees before I got too old to do it.B次元官网网址�

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.

B次元官网网址淢y husband said I would never sell them because I am always talking to them B次元官网网址� I spend a lot of time out there,B次元官网网址� she said, laughing. B次元官网网址淚 just like trees around here; they are nice and donB次元官网网址檛 talk back.B次元官网网址�

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 canB次元官网网址檛 get enough of the smell and has no plans to stop anytime soon.

B次元官网网址淔amilies (enjoy cutting) them down; it is like an adventure for a kid,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚f you are cutting it down, taking it home, setting it up and breathing in the scent, it is beautiful.B次元官网网址�

For more information on PalfreyB次元官网网址檚 Metchosin trees, contact her at 250-478-5470.

alim@goldstreamgazette.com