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AN EARLY CHRISTMAS GIFT Following the
devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Christmas Tree growers prove that
the Spirit of Christmas is alive and well.
Like many Christmas Tree farms in the area, Shady Pond Tree Farm,
Pearl River, La., sustained significant damage from Hurricane
Katrina. As the eye of the hurricane passed over the farm, situated
25 miles north of North Orleans, wind and rain combined to batter
farm buildings and blow over Christmas Trees. "It was some of the
most unbelievable wind damage I had ever seen," said Clarke Gernon,
Sr., owner of Shady Pond Tree Farm.
[click here for video]
Gernon, who estimates that he has been through 30 hurricanes in
his life, recognized that Katrina was different, and after making
preparations on his farm, he evacuated for the first time ever to
Baton Rouge. While thankful that most of his main buildings made it
through the storm with minimal damage, he knew that it would be a
long and grueling road to restore his trees. And time was of the
essence, as he had only a matter of weeks to straighten trees in
preparation for this holiday buying season. Like many other
businesses in the damaged Gulf region, Shady Pond Tree Farm faced
difficulties in finding employees to help.
So Gernon called on a little help from his friends - his fellow
Christmas Tree growers. Cline Church of Cline Church Nursery in
Fleetwood, N.C., and Harry Yates of Yates Christmas Tree Farm in
Boone, N.C., were more than willing to lend a hand. Both Church and
Yates have served with Gernon for a number of years on the board of
directors for the National Christmas Tree Association.
Charlie Grogan, President of the National Christmas Tree
Association (NCTA), said Christmas spirit of this kind is common in
the Christmas Tree industry. "Farmers helping farmers...I'm not
surprised at all," Grogan said.
Yates and Church rounded up 11 of their own workers and left at 3
a.m. on Oct. 14 to make the 14-hour drive to Pearl River, La. Over a
three-day period, the crews worked to straighten the trees on Shady
Pond Tree Farm's 45 acres. The work was not easy - requiring the
crew to stand each tree upright, pack loose soil around the roots
with sledgehammers and drive long stakes into the ground to support
the trees.
"I felt like we had to do something," said Cline Church, owner of
Cline Church Nursery. "Families in the New Orleans area should be
able to have a traditional Christmas Tree and all the experiences
and memories that come with each one. It feels good to help make
that happen."
The crew actually finished a day earlier than planned due to
their steady work on the farm. Gernon says it would have taken him a
month to accomplish on his own what they were all able to complete
in such a short time.
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| Shady Pond Tree Farm is
nearly ready for the holiday selling season, thanks to the
hard work and generosity of fellow Christmas Tree growers. |
"Tree farmers are resilient, and we have a passion for what we
do," said Gernon. "We're doing all we can to clean up our farms and
get the trees ready so people can still come out and have their
family tradition of picking out their tree for Christmas. With help
like this, we will be open for business this holiday season."
"I know these trees well," Gernon says. "And they assure me with
near absolute certainty that the spring of 2006 will be beautiful at
Shady Pond as it always is - different, but still beautiful."
The Christmas SPIRIT Foundation is accepting donations to assist
Christmas Tree growers affected by the devastation of this year's
busy hurricane season. NCTA will match the initial $5,000 in
donations, and grants will be distributed to growers in need through
the Southern Christmas Tree Association. To learn more about the
Foundation and its other projects, visit
www.christmasspiritfoundation.org.
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