Known for their large Noble firs, up to 15 ft, the Wisemans offer a special stand for those extra large trees. The family typically sells 3,000 to 4,000 trees each year, about 10 percent of the trees on their farm in a typical year.
“When we cut one, we plant one in its place the next February or March,” Bruce explained. The saplings are then ready to sell in six to eight years.
Bruce credits research from Oregon State and Washington State universities in his decision to add Nordmann Firs to his farm. These trees resist disease and hold their needles well after cutting.
Tree Wisemans sells wholesale to vendors throughout the western U.S., mostly in California, and as far away as Texas. During the flooding weather Nov. 19 this year, Bruce and his crew were loading trucks full of about 800 trees, headed for sales lots.
The farm also donates trees to fundraising groups, having sent 200 trees to Joint Base Lewis-McChord as part of the Fed-Ex Troops for Trees effort.
“Right now our ‘u-cut’ operations make up about 40 percent of our total sales,” Bruce noted. “We’d like to see that grow to at least 50 percent, or more.”
“The ‘u-cut’ is what we really love,” Nicki added.
“The top selling time for us is Thanksgiving weekend, and the two weekends following,” Bruce said, accounting for 60 percent of annual sales. “Last year the weather was nice, people came outside and sales were good.”
Bruce and Nicki started the farm on five of their current 60 acres in 1980, their part of 130 acres which had been Bruce’s father’s cattle farm since 1963.
“We’ve spent 32 years growing trees and kids,” he said.
Bruce relies a great deal on the help of seasonal laborers: A trimming crew in early fall, a planting crew in March, then help to cut, shake and bale during the holidays.
“I do pretty much everything else the rest of the year,” he said.
In addition to keeping business strong on his own farm, Bruce is the newly elected president of the Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Association, which promotes good growing practices and environmental stewardship among growers.
“On our website, and on a sign at the farm, you can read about the many environmental disadvantages of artificial trees,” Bruce said.
TreeWisemans.com also includes information for the public on tree care, and driving directions to the Ridgefield farm.
