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About Family Tree Farm
Family Tree Farm consists of approximately 125 acres. 40 acres are planted in Douglas Firs, Fraser Firs, Blue Spruce, White Pine and Concolor Firs.
It takes approximately seven to ten years for our transplants to grow 7’ - 9’ tall, suitable for use as Christmas trees. Transplants are generally planted in the early spring. They are sprayed with herbicide, and fungicide twice a year to keep them healthy. The primary disease that can effect the tree is Rhabdocline needle cast. When infection is severe, the trees appear scorched.
Each year the trees are trimmed to maintain their traditional Christmas tree shape. The Firs can be trimmed anytime, however the pines need to be trimmed before the end of July. Mowing between the rows is done several times a year. Irrigation is used to help the Fraser Firs grow, because they are not native to this area. They are originally from the hills of the Carolinas where it is cool and damp.
Having recently teamed up with Strathmeyer Forests, our plan is to increase the size of the Christmas tree farm to 60+ acres.
Farm History
What is now known as Family Tree Farm has been in Karen Doyle's family for five generations. Adam Strayer was the first deed holder in 1810. The farm came to be owned by Karen's grandparents Howard and Estie Flinchbaugh. Howard and Estie started dairy farming in the early 1930s (hence the name Dairy Road). They made butter and sold milk to customers all over the York area.
Eventually, Karen's father Howard (Hops) and her mother Lorraine took over dairy operations until the late 1970s. Hops then crop farmed until the late 1980s, when he retired.
Hops' retirement from farming started the family on the Christmas tree farm path. Like many men of retirement age, he needed to stay busy, so Rick Doyle, Karen Doyle's husband, suggested they plant a tree farm. Rick's family, the Doyles from Whitehall, Maryland, had been very successful with their operation for many years. Hops kept the trees in tip-top condition until his death in 1998.
The farm has since been passed on to the current generation of owners Rick and Karen Doyle, who have expanded Family Tree Farm to its current size, and, in partnership with the Strathmeyer family, will continue its growth and success into the future.
Our name - Family Tree Farm - blends the family history of being good stewards of the land with our vision of the future. We have many customers who made choosing their tree from our farm a family tradition since we began in 1995. We are thrilled to see a second generation continuing the tradition by coming to our farm to start their Christmas season.
We would like to thank our past customers for their support and for sharing their Christmas with us.
Family Tree Farm
4874 Dairy Road, Red Lion, PA 17356
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