Fields of Christmas trees in Whitefish named after reindeer

Celebrating national Christmas Tree Day Dec. 7 is National Christmas Tree Day and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture wants people to support farmers who grow Christmas trees.

Dec. 7 is National Christmas Tree Day and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture is encouraging people to support local farmers who grow Christmas trees.

CTV News stopped by a tree farm in Whitefish to learn more about the growing process and the work behind it.

Retired couple Bernie and Craig Thompson started CR trees in 2016 on Grassy Lake Road in Whitefish.

This is their second year being open for families to get a live Christmas tree. All of their fields are named after reindeer and this year, harvesting is being done in Dasher.

"I think what I love about it now is that we opened last year and that is a culmination of the last eight years is seeing the children running through the field, running through Dasher finding the perfect tree for them," said owner Bernie Thompson.

The tree farmers said they use green growing practices like composting and help the trees thrive through careful water management.

"All my cuttings off the field and everything else goes back in the ground," said Craig Thompson.

"I mulch everything, you know, we don’t use herbicides, pesticides or anything else -- we just water the trees (and) take care of them the way Mother Nature intended."

The Thompsons said every seedling is grown with love, which are four years old when they are planted on the farm.

"You have already dug your hole and you gently put the seedling in and you make sure the roots are completely covered with soil," Bernie said.

"And then you start the watering process and the caring."

The Thompsons encourage people to compost their Christmas trees when the holidays are over to complete the circle of life.