Bud and Betty Collis didn’t set out to run a tree farm. But after a visit to the Kalamalka Research Station, Betty returned home with a trunkful of seedlings and declared, “I guess I’m in the tree business.”
The property became a Christmas tree farm after Betty went to visit her former neighbour — and former Coldstream mayor — Gyula Kiss at the research station that he started.
“We knew nothing about the tree business, but I learned as I went,” said Bud. “It’s taken a long time to get to this point — we’ve been selling for 18 years but growing trees for 23.”
And since 1997, Christmas Ranch Tree Farm has been a tradition for families throughout the North Okanagan who are looking for not only a tree that they cut themselves, but also a taste of Christmas as it used to be.
The couple moved to the Lumby-area property in 1974 from Salmon Arm with their four sons, Brad, Brett, Bruce and Bryan.
“We lived in a tent at first and then we built the house, peeling the logs and cutting the shakes,” said Betty, as Maltipoo Molly snuggles on her lap.
Bud was principal at Lavington and Cherryville elementar schools and vice-principal at J.W. Inglis in Lumby before retiring and turning his hand to the business of Christmas trees.
“We planted our first trees in 1987 and started selling in 1997,” said Bud. “I have always liked trees and when I was younger we used to go and find our own Christmas tree every year.”
At a time of year when many people are complaining about the commercialism of Christmas, a visit to Christmas Ranch is a step back in time, from the moment you turn off Horner Road and head down the driveway towards the family’s log home.
“We wanted to offer a traditional Christmas experience,” said Bud.
That means that in addition to the chance to choose and cut your own Christmas tree, visitors to the ranch can check out the Victorian Elf Cottage and enjoy a leisurely walk along the Reindeer Trail where Bud has placed signs marking places of interest, such as the Bear Tree, which shows the claw marks of a bear along its trunk.
Once you’ve cut down your tree, you can visit with miniature horses Sabre and Scooter and have family photos taken on Santa’s sleigh. Step inside Santa’s cozy workshop and enjoy a complimentary hot chocolate by the warmth of a wood stove, where a Christmas tree and nativity scene add to the spirit of the season. And there are plenty of toys for the kids to enjoy while Mom and Dad relax in the seating area.
“We want to offer something more, otherwise why drive past other tree lots on the way to ours,” said Bud.
In addition to trees, Christmas Ranch is also a great place to stock up on wreaths, evergreen swags and miniature birch reindeer, all hand-crafted on site.
“I make 60 reindeer a year and they are usually gone in two weeks,” said Bud, adding that the swags are also in demand for school fundraisers in addition to being shipped to garden centres in Calgary.
Visitors can choose from a variety of trees, including Fraser and Concolor firs, white and Scotch pines. Saws are provided for the traditional experience of cutting your own tree, along with a sled to haul it back to the yard where it is placed into a shaker — a big hit with the kids — to remove the excess needles and snow. Pre-cut trees are also available.
And many people head out to the farm in advance to pre-select their tree, particularly if they have family coming to town for Christmas and want them to experience the fun of a u-cut tree.
“We get a lot of different ages here, lots of families — we’ve seen kids grow up over the years and bring their own children,” said Bud. “We had a woman who was expecting one year and brought the baby the next. We have a girl of 20 who has been coming here for 10 years. A lot of people start a new tradition. When we started, our grandchildren would play the part of the elves and we employ lots of family to help out.”
In addition to their four sons, Bud and Betty have been blessed with seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. On a recent sunny morning, grandson Shane Brooks and great-grandson Jayden Collis were enjoying a visit, climbing onto the sleigh and enthusiastically pointing out everything that interested them.
“I like having the kids around and the young families. I have seen some kids grow up over the years,” said Bud. “We’ve also had one marriage proposal and a wedding here. This is a happy business, everyone is in a good mood.”
Come Christmas Day, the last tree will have been sold, the gate closed and it will be time for the Collis’ to gather around their own tree in their cozy log home. It’s a chance to enjoy their family and to take a break before the work begins again.
“In the spring, we’ll be busy planting, weeding and shearing trees,” said Betty. “We’re busy at this time of year, but I love the whole Christmas thing, and one of the best compliments I had is a lady who was out here with her mother and she said she had been everywhere but nothing made her feel like Christmas as much as being out here.”
Christmas Ranch Tree Farm is open from dawn to dusk every day right up until Christmas Eve at 172 Horner Rd. in Lumby, just off Whitevale Road. For more information, call 250-547-6028.
