where to get a christmas tree? (Roanoke, Floyd: home, school, live)

[headnsouth]

This is our first Christmas in Roanoke. We've always been able to walk to a local tree lot, have some hot apple cider and listen to Christmas music on tinny overhead speakers while we pick out our tree, and pull it home behind us in a garden cart. The urban version of cut-your-own-in-the-forest.

So even though we'll have to take the car, where's a good place to recreate that experience? I don't want to bring my tree home from the grocery store!

(Bonus points if it supports a local nonprofit.)

Thanks guys! <|:-)

[seanpecor]

I've got an even better idea. I blogged about it back in 2006:

Sean’s Horse Farm and Family Blog » Blog Archive » Hunting & Gathering

No self respecting Vermonter transplant would allow anyone else to cut their own tree or drag it up the hill so we did it ourselves and the farm worker pretended to help. We left the baling to the pros, though. They had cider, and all sorts of gifts as well.

From http://pickyourownchristmastree.org/VAxmaswest.php:
"Clark's Hilltop Nursery - Hayrides, cider, and concessions. We cut, bale, and load your tree. You just pick and pay.

2867 Webb’s Mill Road, Floyd, VA 24091.
Phone: 540-763-tree (8733). Fax: 540-763-8734.
Email: hilltop@swva.net.

Directions: From I-81, take Route 8 south to the Floyd exit. Go approximately 15 miles to the nursery on the left. From Route 221, go to the stoplight in Floyd and take Route 8 north. Nursery is 5 and a half miles on the right. Open: 9 am to 5 pm, Thursday-Sunday from Thanksgiving through Christmas.
Christmas tree varieties:
Cut Fraser fir and white pine. Balled-and-burlapped Norway spruce, blue spruce, white pine, and white spruce. Wreaths, roping, candles, ornaments, gift baskets, and bows."

[Diamond Dave]

The trees sold at Tanglewood Mall are from a small farm in Floyd County owned by a man named John Paul Houston, who owns the Sweet Providence Farm and Store and raises 6 kids in a small country farmhouse. John Paul is very conservation-minded and grows the trees with minimal pesticide and herbicide use. His store, right on 221 in Check (take Brambleton Ave. south and keep going...and going!) is a must-stop. Be sure to get a homemade apple pie and some barbecued ribs. He also sells local produce, eggs, milk, and meat.

Sweet Providence Farm Market & Bakery

[headnsouth]

Originally Posted by Diamond Dave

The trees sold at Tanglewood Mall are from a small farm in Floyd County owned by a man named John Paul Houston, who owns the Sweet Providence Farm and Store and raises 6 kids in a small country farmhouse. John Paul is very conservation-minded and grows the trees with minimal pesticide and herbicide use. His store, right on 221 in Check (take Brambleton Ave. south and keep going...and going!) is a must-stop. Be sure to get a homemade apple pie and some barbecued ribs. He also sells local produce, eggs, milk, and meat.

Sweet Providence Farm Market & Bakery

Thanks guys. Dave, once again you've nailed it! We got a perfect little tree last night at Tanglewood, where their ~11-year-old was quite the charming helpful salesman. (They have 7 kids now according to the website!) Then we went over to BN to do some Christmas browsing. I've been really missing the snow up north, but we're feeling pretty festive here now =)

[Diamond Dave]

Originally Posted by headnsouth

Thanks guys. Dave, once again you've nailed it! We got a perfect little tree last night at Tanglewood, where their ~11-year-old was quite the charming helpful salesman. (They have 7 kids now according to the website!) Then we went over to BN to do some Christmas browsing. I've been really missing the snow up north, but we're feeling pretty festive here now =)

Great! Thanks. John Paul's kids are EERILY mature. I guess that's what happens when you grow up without TV and have lot of fresh air and chores.

[seanpecor]

Originally Posted by Diamond Dave

Great! Thanks. John Paul's kids are EERILY mature. I guess that's what happens when you grow up without TV and have lot of fresh air and chores.

I think we're one of only two or three North Cross School families that live on a farm. A 6 year girl needs to do just 2 pull-ups to make the 85th percentile and earn the presidential physical fitness award. Our 6 year old 1st grade daughter Chloe did 7 pull-ups, which is good enough to qualify a 13 year old boy for the award. She apparently blew the P.E. teacher's mind. How many kids these days do chores, play outdoors, or climb trees? Not enough apparently.

I remember almost putting a friend of mine into cardiac arrest when I let my 4 year old son drive him on a Gator tour of the family farm in Vermont

Sean