Welcome to the Farm
When you arrive you can expect to be greeted by our family, given a hand-saw and directions, and take a hayride out to the Christmas tree field. Once you pick out the perfect tree, unleash your inner lumberjack as you fell it. The hayride will be circling the field, and will pick you and your tree up when you’re ready.
Once you’re back at the barn, we’ll shake and blow off your tree to keep as much of the forest out of your living room as possible. Then we’ll bale it in netting to make it easier to transport. We’ll have some twine for you to help secure it to your vehicle.
Our trees
We raise our own Virginia pines, which take five to six seasons to grow. Besides making an excellent nesting site for woodpeckers, Virginia pines respond well to pruning, have strong branches to support ornaments, and are well-suited to our region’s soil and climate.
In addition, you can choose one of our pre-cut Fraser firs, which are known for their soft needles and blue-green color. Because Frasers need to be grown at altitude, we bring them in from a family farm in the Blue Mountains of North Carolina.
Other activities
Back at the barn, there is space for kids to run around and play, yard games, and outdoor seating. You can enjoy our handmade signature holiday drinks, cookies and snacks while sitting around the fire.
Fresh, hand-made wreaths are also available for purchase. They are made right on the farm with fresh pine, cedar and fir boughs.
If this is your first time buying a tree, we also have sturdy, made-in-the USA tree stands if you need one. You won’t need any special additives or anything else to keep your tree fresh: just water!
Open two days only this season, join us for our first Christmas on the farm!
Saturday November 22nd, 9am-5pm
Sunday November 23rd, 2pm-5pm
(or until sold out)
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We will provide you with a sharp, safe, and speedy bowsaw for you to use at no cost. This is everything you need to unleash the lumberjack inside you. (And, our insurance provider actually only allows guests to use handsaws.)
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Not at all!
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We welcome all pets and service animals, as long as they remain on a leash. And of course we hope you will pick up after them as needed.
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Yes, we shake, blow off and bale each tree in netting, for no charge.
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Yes, we provide twine. Rope or ratchet straps from home are also great options.
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If you buy your tree more than 24 hours before you plan to set it up, store the tree outdoors in a shaded area out of the wind until you are ready to bring it into the house.
When you bring the tree into the house for decorating, make another fresh cut across the trunk, removing a ½”-1” disk of trunk.
Once you place it in a stand, fill the stand with water and make sure it remains topped off. The tree will drink the most water in the first 24-48 hours, needing up to 2 gallons a day.
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Always make a fresh cut if possible. After time, generally 3 to 6 hours, the cut stump gets air in the plant tissue, which lessens a tree’s water absorption capacity. A fresh cut will reopen the pores that take up water.
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No- once the water level falls below the exposed surface on a tapered trunk, drying will begin. An angle or “V” cut will require more water depth to cover the cut surface. It also makes the tree less stable and more difficult to hold upright in a stand.
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Nope - actually the science indicates that plain tap water is best. Some commercial additives and home concoctions can actually be detrimental to a tree’s moisture retention and increase needle loss. Ensuring there is water in your tree stand is all you need to do to maintain a fresh tree for weeks.
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Although extremely rare, a number of different insects and spiders have been found in Christmas trees after setup. We blow out and shake our trees before baling them for you in order to keep these outdoor critters away from your living room. In the rare instance you notice some tiny uninvited guests, start with vacuuming the area before considering a treatment of insecticide- this usually takes care of it!
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Bryan and Hannah Winchell own and operate the farm, where they live with their three girls. Both of their parents, as well as many of their siblings help operate the farm throughout the year.
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We are located between Big Sandy and Gladewater - right on highway 80. That’s easy access to Longview, Tyler, Hallsville, Lindale, Kilgore, Henderson, and the surrounding communities.
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Our cut-your-own Virginia Pines are $9-10 per foot. We also bring in pre-cut Fraser Firs from the Blue Mountains, which sell for $16-18 per foot. A 7ft tree is the most common size for homes with a standard height ceiling.
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Our trees take 5-6 years to mature to a field full of 6-9 footers. Most homes require a 7-foot tall tree.
Frequently Asked Questions
Location
4210 US-80, Big Sandy Texas, 75755
Our driveway is right off Highway 80,
between Gladewater and Big Sandy.
Contact
Phone: 903.309.0635
Email: team@solsticetreefarm.com