#TwitterChristmasBakeOff

That is right! I am announcing a Twitter Christmas Bake Off for all our Twitter followers.

Our Facebook Fans have a weekly opportunity to win a free Table-top Christmas tree or Christmas wreath by posting on the Dutchman Fan Page, but our Twitter followers had nothing... until now!
This idea was not all mine. Kathy H. (@truckinwife) helped me come up with it. I tweeted how I had just made pumpkin bread and olive oil bread. Kathy responded and then we came up with the idea for a Twitter Bake Off. Following Jessa Irene's blog and tweets (@HolidayHaven) also helped this idea come to life.
So, enough of my babble. Let's get down to the rules on how you could win a free Fraser Fir Table-top Christmas Tree or a Fraser Fir Christmas wreath:

1. You have to be following @DutchmnTreeFrms on Twitter


2. You must suggest a great Christmas baking recipe that you have tried


3. Drawings will be November 16, 23 and 30 and December 7 and 14


4. You must use the hashtag #TwitterChristmasBakeOff

The drawings will be on Wednesday. If you win you will receive a congratulatory e-mail from me (socialmedia@dutchmantreefarms.com). I will need you to send my your choice of tree or wreath and a shipping address (No PO Boxes... and has to be within the continental USA).
Good Luck!
Buy a fresh Christmas Tree online at http://www.atreeforchristmas.com. Shipping is Free!

Best Choose & Cut in the Great Lake State

Every year we offer a Choose and Cut which means choosing your own tree out of our field and cutting it yourself. This is a GREAT way to start new family traditions in your family.

We open November 19th and go through December 17th: Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10 A.M till dusk. While looking for the Christmas tree of your dreams you can also enjoy:

• Thousands of Trees to choose from!
• Free zip-line
• Free hot chocolate and cookies
• Free petting zoo
• A family picture
• Free bailing on Saturday’s
• $3 pony rides available on Nov. 25th & 26th and Dec. 3rd.

Come join us for the fun and make it an all day family event.
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Any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us at (231) 839-7074.

Buy a fresh Christmas Tree online at http://www.atreeforchristmas.com. Shipping is Free!

Christmas Traditions

Christmas traditions are an important part of our holiday spirit. When it comes to decorating the house and tree, my wife fancies the elegant and refined Victorian Christmas decór. Ribbons, garlands and elaborate decorations awaken the spirit of Christmas within all who enter our home. Each year everyone gets to pick out a new Christmas ornament for the tree (provided by Dutchman Tree Farms, of course). This helps the children associate special Christmas memories to each ornament they picked over the years. Baking is a big part of every Christmas. Leading up to Christmas, my wife, with kids in tow, is fond of frequenting cookie swaps. Some of our favorite baked delights include: Mexican wedding cakes, ginger snaps, Christmas cut-out sugar cookies with sprinkles (the kids won't eat them if they don't have sprinkles), Pfeffernuesse, and a plethora of Italian dessert breads. As a family, we attend a Christmas eve service. After the service, but right before their heads hit the pillows, the kids open one gift. Whether we want to or not, we start our Christmas morning early! The footsteps and loud voices of excited children remind us it is time to get up. Before breakfast, the lad and lasses check to make sure they didn't get coal in their stockings. After a delicious Christmas breakfast everyone sits down to open all the gifts under the tree. The rest of the day is spent enjoying the blessings we have in our family and friends. With the children in bed, and a joyous day now over, my wife and I watch "A Christmas Carol" with George C. Scott and enjoy a few more cookies and some hot chocolate (possibly with a shot of Bailey's). What about your family traditions? Leave a comment and post some of your favorite cookie/dessert recipes! Buy a fresh Christmas Tree online at http://www.atreeforchristmas.com. Shipping is Free!

A Real Christmas Tree in a Box

Only 75 Days til Christmas! If you are like me, you are already starting to stress about this year's Christmas list. At Dutchman Tree Farms, one of the largest Christmas Tree farms in the nation, we are going out of our way to make this year's Christmas tree hassle free for you.

Last year we launched A Tree for Christmas. It is a web-site from which you can order Christmas wreaths and seven different types of Christmas trees. It makes Christmas tree buying very easy. During check out you get to pick the day your tree(s) and or Christmas wreath(s) are shipped to you directly from our farm. Shipping is on us and you have our farm quality guarantee that the tree will arrive as beautiful as when it left the farm.

Since you are reading and hopefully sharing this blog, I am giving you an opportunity to receive 10% off your entire order at check out by using the promo code HASSLEFREE. You can also join our Facebook Page and by posting on our wall enter to win our weekly raffle. We are giving away a free table top Christmas tree on every Friday until December 16, As you can see we are going out on a limb to make sure your Christmas is less stressful this year.

Buy a fresh Christmas Tree online at http://www.atreeforchristmas.com. Shipping is Free!

A Sad Farewell

Theresa Ladd

"Theresa was such a pleasure to work with. Her calm and loyal demeanor will be something I will always remember. Of course, the most treasured thing is a friendship and that will never end!"

Ruth Winkel

This is just one of the many sentiments expressed as Theresa Ladd, after 19 1/2 years of loyal service, said her good-byes to Dutchman Christmas Tree Farms. It was a moment of sadness for all of us to see her go.

I only knew her for a a very brief period of time and most of our communication was via e-mail so I may not be the best person to express all she did for the Christmas tree farm. I can tell you what I do know. Her work was marked by a genuine caring for those around her and an exemplar professionalism.

This Christmas will be different than the last 19 on the farm. A member of the Dutchman Tree Farm family will not be here. We are thankful for all your years of service and ask God to bless your future wherever it may take you.

Buy a fresh Christmas Tree online at http://www.atreeforchristmas.com. Shipping is Free!

Dirty Christmas Secret Exposed

Just recently, I had to leave work immediately after a phone call to fly across the country to visit my dad whose life was hanging on a fraying thread. He had been admitted to the ICU with double pneumonia and a critical heart issue. The cause, smoking. Ever since I can remember my dad had a cigarette in his mouth. The only time he didn't light up was at church. It took many years for his smoking to catch up with him, but little by little, cigarette by cigarette, his health deteriorated. He remained in the ICU sedated for weeks while doctors constantly checked on his precarious condition. I spent two weeks next to his lifeless form hoping and praying his time would not be then. Fortunately it wasn't. After many months of learning how to walk again and other intense rehab he was on the mend. Like everyone else he was aware of the risks of smoking. Like many smokers he thought, "It won't happen to me". If he had really wanted to avoid this near death experience he could have put forth the effort to stop. I do not hate smokers, but I believe my experience can help smokers understand the potential havoc this addiction can cause on loved ones. I could have lost him. Even though he has his issues, as we all do, he is my dad and losing him would have been devastating. So what does this have to do with Christmas? The answer is quite simple. Most people know over 1.3 million people world-wide are smokers and an average of 443,000 Americans die of smoking each year. But what many people do not know is 3.5 million people in the United States have lead poisoning. Lead poisoning affects the central nervous system and red blood cells. Some statistics show that lead poisoning leads to mental retardation during pregnancy, reduced mental development as a child progresses and a reduction in the child IQ. Other symptoms include nausea, abdominal pain and chronic headaches. Studies have show that exposure to high amounts of lead is the predominant cause of anemia. Why isn't there an aggressive campaign to combat lead poisoning as there is to stop smoking? Mathematically, the consequences of lead poisoning are more rampant than those of smoking. PVC contains lead. California is considering a ban of the use of PVC in packaging because studies have shown PVC leeches (leaks) lead. So the question I leave you, is why would you expose yourself and those you love to lead at Christmas by having a PVC (a.k.a. Artificial) Christmas Tree? My dad got lucky. Are you going to take a chance and risk your health and possibly your life? I am sure when smoking was becoming popular the celebrities of the time were in cigarette ads. If you visit some of these artificial Christmas tree web-sites you will see some celebrities of our time. Do yourself a favor and think for yourself. Don't put yourself or those you love in danger because some celebrities face was on an ad.

Treetopia

Buy a fresh Christmas Tree online at http://www.atreeforchristmas.com. Shipping is Free!

Facebook Fan of the Month

Starting this month, September, I will be choosing a Fan of the Month on our Facebook Page. Yes, you do have to be a fan in order to win.

The Fan of the month will be elected by the content he or she posts to the Dutchman Tree Farms Fan Page during the month. I love pictures, videos, witty comments, Christmas brain teasers or anything Christmas related. The more the merrier and the chances of you winning increases. Tell your friends.

At the end of this month the winner will be awarded a Dutchman Tree Farms fan ball cap. If you don't win have no fear! You won't be 'boiled in your own pudding and buried with a stick of holly through your heart' (Name that quote). You will have another chance to win the following month. At the beginning of next month I will let you know what the prize will be.

Buy a fresh Christmas Tree online at http://www.atreeforchristmas.com. Shipping is Free!