FILE PHOTO - Considering the abundance of evergreen trees in British Columbia, some people may be stumped as to how there could be a shortage of Christmas trees in the Okanagan. But trees across the province took a beating from last summer’s heat dome, and there seems to be an exodus of tree farmers in the Okanagan.

Image Credit: FACEBOOK / Woodward Christmas Trees

Considering the abundance of evergreen trees in British Columbia, some people may be stumped as to how there could be a shortage of Christmas trees in the Okanagan.

But trees across the province took a beating from last summer’s heat dome, and there seems to be an exodus of tree farmers in the Okanagan.

“We stopped planting a few years ago,” said Jack Lank, owner of Shades of Green in Penticton.

Since the specialty trees require six to eight years of growth before they’re ready to be sold, farmers need to plan their retirement well in advance.

Lank and his wife began planting Christmas trees in 2006 and made their first sales in 2013. After reaching a certain age three years ago, they decided to stop planting new seedlings. They have only around 20 trees left for sale.

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Beyond his own farm, Lank doubts there will be enough locally-grown trees to meet the overall demand this season.

“I can’t say what’s causing it all other than the fact that very few growers are still open,” he said.

A few more will trees will mature at Shades of Green over in the next few years and that will be the end of the Lank’s business.

In Summerland, Prairie Valley Christmas Trees is also wrapping up operations and is no longer open to the public.

Owner Jolene Palmer is in charge of membership at Thompson-Okanagan Christmas Tree Association. She said many of the 30 members farms in the region had their trees damaged by last summer’s extreme temperatures.

Too much heat resulted in some trees losing needles and turning brown on the south side.

“That makes a tree unsellable,” she said.

Farmer Mel Kozun from Prairie Valley Christmas Trees is seen watering his crops years before they will be ready to havest.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED

Palmer said she was at one farm near Cultus Lake where thousands of trees were damaged by the heat.

“He’s not going to recover from that,” she said. “When half your tree is dead you have to pull it out and start again.”

Aside from this year’s heat dome, B.C. has great growing conditions, Palmer said, adding that there is a strong demand for you-cut Christmas trees.

“But we really need more Christmas trees farmers in the Okanagan. In the province actually.”

Palmer suspects many investors would prefer to turn Okanagan farmland into vineyards which have the potential to be more profitable.

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Those who are in the Christmas tree growing game are often retirees who see it as a hobby to supplement their income, she said. It’s one way to keep the land productive and earn farm status for the property.

“The best part of being a Christmas tree farmer are those three weeks of craziness,” Palmer said. “In December, when everyone comes down the driveway and you’re able to send them home with a nice fresh tree that’s going to last (longer than parking lot Christmas tree) and they’re going to take that experience home with them.”

Holiday Timber in Kelowna sold out its inventory after just one day and is now closed for the remainder of 2021. Co-owner Dalyce Campbell said her farm has also stopped planting Christmas trees, and she expects next winter to be her last year.

“It’s sad to see (so many tree farms closing down),” she said. “It’s good for farm status but it’s a hard business.”

It’s a similar situation at Grumpy’s Tree Farm in Kelowna, where owner Richard Lamberton sold out in one weekend. He said his stock went faster than normal this year, however he had much less inventory to work with because of losses due the long, hot and dry year.

“It’s the way it is, can’t do nothing about it,” he said.

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In Vernon, the voicemail at Coldstream Creek Farm says they’re sold out and closed for the remainder of the Christmas tree season.

Turner Family Tree Farm in Oyama announced on Nov. 21 via Facebook that they are closed for the season but will be open again November 2022.

In Kamloops at Woodward Christmas Tree Farm there’s a different narrative, where two brothers in their 30s have taken over the business their parents started in 1988. The first trees weren’t sold until 1995 however.

“We have lots and will have lots for the next generation,” Adam Woodward said. “We did see some effects from the heat dome here, it burnt some of our trees, but we’re supplementing from some other local farmers.”

Along with cutting down a lush tree and shouting “timber” before the fall, Woodward said families love taking hayrides and sitting by the fire while sipping on cider, mulled wine or hot chocolate.

Cutting trees out of the woods is always an option for residents of B.C. A permit must be downloaded in order to harvest them legally off of Crown land, though it is free. Anyone living in the Okanagan can cut down up to three trees, whereas those in Kamloops are only allowed a maximum of one tree.

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