What: Farrell Farms has an assortment of Noble, Nordmann and grand firs. It offers cutting assistance, saws, hot chocolate and cider, candy canes, restrooms and a fire pit.
Where: 3000 S.E. 362nd Ave., Washougal. About two miles past the intersection of 39th and J streets. Watch for the signs.
When: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday and then the season ends.
Cost: $5 and $6 per foot.
Information: 360-835-0190.
WASHOUGAL — The Tucker family was in no hurry to find the perfect Christmas tree Sunday at Farrell Farms on Mount Norway.
With perhaps 30,000 trees on the farm, there were plenty of beauties.
“We’ve been coming here since ’98,” said Jennifer Tucker, 46, with granddaughter Aubrey, 3, in tow. “They’re really nice. The trees are good, and they have hot chocolate and hot cider. It became a family tradition.”
What: Farrell Farms has an assortment of Noble, Nordmann and grand firs. It offers cutting assistance, saws, hot chocolate and cider, candy canes, restrooms and a fire pit.
Where: 3000 S.E. 362nd Ave., Washougal. About two miles past the intersection of 39th and J streets. Watch for the signs.
When: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday and then the season ends.
Cost: $5 and $6 per foot.
Information: 360-835-0190.
She was referring to the two families who own 156 acres, the Farrells and the Caytons. Glenn Farrell Sr. bought the land in the 1940s, said Scott Farrell.
The Farrells are well known in the area, as the Farrell & Eddy store was a fixture in Camas from 1903 to 1998.
After much debate, the Tuckers decided on a 6-foot Noble fir for their Vancouver home.
“Let’s cut it!” Aubrey shouted.
Bruce Tucker did the honors with a tree saw.
Melanie Fain and Kathie Forney of Washougal said this was their first visit to the farm.
“We’ve never driven up this way,” Forney said. “It’s beautiful.”
Fain said a Noble was their choice.
“We like the way the branches are spaced. It gives us room for ornaments,” Fain said.
The Marcum-Manfredi family of Camas wanted a big tree. They decided on a 12-foot Noble with an impressive trunk.
“It’s a fat one,” Michael Marcum said. “It’s 15 years old. They counted the rings.”
“It’s plenty big,” agreed Elijah Manfredi, 15.
Asked if he felled the big tree, Marcum said, “The chainsaw people cut it.”
The two families who live on Mount Norway and tend to the trees are Scott and Heidi Farrell with children Tristan, 10, and Abby, 9, and Keith, and Wende Cayton and their children, Kayla, 17, and Ashley, 14.
Heidi and Wende hand-trim the trees each summer, and Scott and Keith do the spraying, fertilizing and mowing.
The 25 acres of trees, mostly Nobles, were planted in 1981 by the late Glenn “Buz” Farrell. The first trees were sold in 1990.
Scott said because all Farrells and Caytons work during Christmas season, it becomes “family time.” He said he looks forward to many repeat customers.
It is a business, and Scott said, “We shoot for 1,000 trees (sold)” each season.
If you need a big tree, you can count on this farm.
“We sold an 18-footer this year,” Heidi Farrell said.
