‘Labour of love’: Ontario Christmas tree farmers gather for education day in Listowel

This weekend, growers from across the province gathered in Listowel for their annual field and education day.

Christmas tree farmers from across Ontario gathered in Listowel, Ont. Saturday for their annual field and education day

The event, hosted by Outback Tree Farm, brought together growers for networking, workshops and hands-on demonstrations.

Organized by the Christmas Tree Farmers of Ontario (CTFO), the day is designed to highlight new technologies, research and best practices in the industry.

The non-profit association, funded by Ontario growers, supports both producers and consumers by promoting locally grown trees and encouraging sustainable practices.

Shirley Brennan, CTFO’s executive director, said Ontario has the most Christmas tree farms in Canada, with most offering cut-your-own experiences that focus on family traditions.

“Christmas tree farming is a labour of love because it’s a ten year process,” Brennan explained. “Everybody comes from a different dynamic. It could be because it’s a generational thing. It could be because, hey, I’m nearing retirement and I want something to do.”

She said the industry does not receive federal or provincial funding, but partnerships with research groups and agritourism associations have been key in supporting growers.

“Some of the things like working with the Christmas Tree Lab based out of the University of Waterloo, we’re very fortunate,” Brennan said. “They are an amazing resource for us...working with and having other associations like Agritourism Ontario that come out and talk to us...our partnership with the RFA, those things are so important to us; it’s not direct funding, but the resources are there.”

Tim Diebel, owner of Outback Tree Farm, said his operation started planting trees in 2000 and began offering cut-your-own sales a decade later.

“The purpose of it is to share information with other growers and connect with people to see what they’re doing on their farms and what’s working and what isn’t,” Diebel said. “Also, it’s, a good way to educate new growers on what to look out for and pest management, fertilizing their trees and such...no matter if you’ve been coming one year or 20 years, there’s always something new to see and learn.”

He added that the day also helps growers learn the importance of site planning, soil management and irrigation — especially as changing weather patterns make water access more critical.

“I think demand is fairly high in this area,” Diebel said. “With the drought, we’re very fortunate that we’ve invested in an irrigation system for the majority of our trees. Trees that aren’t on irrigation, we have to water them with a tractor and a water tank. If your trees aren’t getting enough irrigation water, it’s going to definitely stunt their growth for the rest of the year.”

The CTFO said gatherings like this are a chance for farmers to share knowledge while adapting to a changing agricultural landscape.

The organization added that buying a real Christmas tree also helps preserve local ecosystems and supports family-run farms across the province.