CARLTON, MN, (Northland's Newscenter) ---For those who choose to celebrate the holidays with a tree, safety and upkeep of that tree is not usually on the minds of many.
For those who didn't set up their holiday decorations after Thanksgiving, the first weekend in December is a time many put up their holiday tree.
The Chub Lake Tree farm in Carlton is the place to be for those who decide to go the real tree route.
"Today has been overwhelming, it's been a lot of fun, we've had people go out and think they couldn't find anything, but they go out again and they find another tree," said owner, Bev Whorton.
For some families, finding that perfect tree is not only a family event, but a serious process.
"I've got two kids that went over to check out on some other trees because they weren't completely happy with this tree," said Dave Bisel. "We are going to use cell phone technology, and if they find one that they like, we'll run over and look at that one."
There are 7,000 trees in Chub Lake Tree Farm, of those, 450 are tagged for sale and waiting for families to find the perfect tree, cut it down and bring it home.
"My son Ben usually cuts the tree down, he likes to do that," Bisel said. "The kids get on the side [of the tree,] he climbs under there, and starts cutting and we have the girls or someone hold the tree as it starts to fall."
With the addition of a tree in the home, the risk of fire and other household accidents increases.
According to All State Insurance, 2,000 people are injured nationwide around the holidays because of house fires and other accidents during the holiday season. Those accidents total more than $500 million in damages.
"The key to using a live Christmas tree is to keep it in water and keep it wet, said Eric Simonson, assistant fire chief of the city of Duluth. "If it gets dried out, it becomes extremely combustible, and will burn really hot, really fast and really quick."
Experts say the key to avoiding holiday disasters, is to keep the tree properly watered.
To make sure the tree is well nourished, be sure to cut the bottom half inch of the tree off, and place the tree in something that will hold and least 2 inches of water.
"You should be able to go up to a pine needle and bend it in half with your fingers, and if it breaks it's too dry," Simonson said.
If you aren't able to go pick out your tree and transport it home, the Chub Lake Tree Farm will select, cut, and deliver a tree to your door.
You can get more information at: www.chublaketreefarm.com
Written and posted to the web:
Jennifer Walch
jwalch@northlandsnewscenter.com
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