Friday, December 18, 2009
Last Day of 2009 Season
Our last day of the 2009 season will be Sunday Dec. 20. On that day the reindeer will be heading north and our family will be celebrating together. We will be closing at 4 p.m. Thank you all for a wonderful year and have a Merry Christmas.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
New types of trees available this year at Kaleidoscope Farms
MT. CORY, OH -- This year, Kaleidoscope Farms is offering a couple of new types of Christmas trees for long-time customers to consider -- the Austrian Pine and the Norway Spruce.
“Austrian pines are found growing in many yards and parks, but they do not usually look like Christmas trees,” said Dave Reese, owner of Kaleidoscope Farms in Mt. Cory. “We have spent a lot of time hand-shearing the Austrian pines – along with all of our trees – so they have that ideal, conical shape our customers are looking for. The shearing also gives the trees more density.”
The Austrian pines have longer, stiff needles (similar to a Scotch pine) and have branches with a little more space between them like a fir tree. This makes more room for ornaments and the stout branches of the Austrian pine make it the best type of tree for holding numerous, heavy ornaments.
“We have a nice new block of them for customers to check out this year. I think a lot of our customers will like the Austrian pines because of their benefits and unique look,” Reese said. “And because they grow comparatively quickly, we can sell our Austrian pines at a lower price than the firs or Scotch pine.”
The Norway Spruce trees have short, sharp spruce needle and a graceful form that many find appealing in a Christmas tree.
“Norway Spruces are not what most people think of as Christmas trees, but they do offer a little different look that many people really like,” Reese said. “They are also fragrant and have plenty of branches for holding ornaments. I am excited to see how customers respond this year to the Norway Spruce.”
Along with these two newcomers, customers will be able to choose from a large new block of Canaan fir, a perennial favorite on the farm.
“The Canaan fair are more popular every year and this year’s crop looks like the highest quality we’ve ever had,” Reese said. “We try to offer our customers something a little different each year. It will be interesting to see how they react to the new fir trees and the Austrian pines.”
For more information about Kaleidoscope Farms, call Reese at 419-722-1154 kaleidoscopefarms.blogspot.com.
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“Austrian pines are found growing in many yards and parks, but they do not usually look like Christmas trees,” said Dave Reese, owner of Kaleidoscope Farms in Mt. Cory. “We have spent a lot of time hand-shearing the Austrian pines – along with all of our trees – so they have that ideal, conical shape our customers are looking for. The shearing also gives the trees more density.”
The Austrian pines have longer, stiff needles (similar to a Scotch pine) and have branches with a little more space between them like a fir tree. This makes more room for ornaments and the stout branches of the Austrian pine make it the best type of tree for holding numerous, heavy ornaments.
“We have a nice new block of them for customers to check out this year. I think a lot of our customers will like the Austrian pines because of their benefits and unique look,” Reese said. “And because they grow comparatively quickly, we can sell our Austrian pines at a lower price than the firs or Scotch pine.”
The Norway Spruce trees have short, sharp spruce needle and a graceful form that many find appealing in a Christmas tree.
“Norway Spruces are not what most people think of as Christmas trees, but they do offer a little different look that many people really like,” Reese said. “They are also fragrant and have plenty of branches for holding ornaments. I am excited to see how customers respond this year to the Norway Spruce.”
Along with these two newcomers, customers will be able to choose from a large new block of Canaan fir, a perennial favorite on the farm.
“The Canaan fair are more popular every year and this year’s crop looks like the highest quality we’ve ever had,” Reese said. “We try to offer our customers something a little different each year. It will be interesting to see how they react to the new fir trees and the Austrian pines.”
For more information about Kaleidoscope Farms, call Reese at 419-722-1154 kaleidoscopefarms.blogspot.com.
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Thursday, November 19, 2009
Fresh Country Air by Matt Reese
Everyone knows that we are far too dependent on foreign oil in this country. Of course, one of the first things we think about with regard to our oil is the amount of driving we do, but we often do not think about all the oil that goes into the many other plastics and petroleum-derived products we use every day. From those little plastic windows in envelops to the toys we buy for our children, petroleum is almost everywhere around us.
The fact that Ohio’s consumers want to stop using so much petroleum was made clear in a summer consumer attitude survey conducted by the Ohio Soybean Council. The survey found that 88 percent of Ohioans would prefer to purchase bio-based products instead of traditional chemical or petroleum-based products.
The survey randomly sampled 600 registered voters providing a good statistical representation of Ohio consumers. And, despite the rough economy, nearly 60% of those surveyed said they would be willing to pay up to 10 percent more for the bioproduct over the price of the petroleum-based competitor.
With the holiday shopping season here, there are a myriad of bio-based products out there for great, domestically produced, petroleum-free stocking-stuffers of every kind. To find out more about holiday bioproducts, you can go to www.soynewuses.org, www.biopreferred.gov and www.soyclean.biz, or simply visit a nearby Christmas tree farm. Real Christmas trees are probably the oldest holiday bioproduct around — beautiful, fragrant, and 100 percent petroleum free.
At a time when Americans are placing more emphasis on environmental stewardship than ever before, a growing number of people are discovering the numerous environmental benefits of choosing a real Christmas tree.
“Some people still don’t understand that real Christmas trees are far more environmentally friendly than the artificial alternative,” said Dave Reese, owner of Kaleidoscope Farms in Mt. Cory and president of the Ohio Christmas Tree Association. “At the time they are harvested, most real Christmas trees have been producing oxygen, sheltering wildlife, conserving soil, improving water quality and absorbing carbon dioxide for seven or more years.”
Christmas tree farms around the state are planting hundreds of thousands of trees every year, and with those trees come a host of environmental benefits. The vast majority of Christmas trees purchased in this country come from a farm where growers plant one to three seedlings for each tree harvested. Close to half a billion trees are currently growing on U.S. tree farms.
Then, after the season, Christmas trees are recycled for use as mulch, fish and wildlife habitat and for controlling stream bank erosion. In sharp contrast, plastic, petroleum-based artificial Christmas trees never biodegrade, and after their useful life will likely go to a landfill.
Along with being a much more environmentally friendly option, real Christmas trees offer customers a chance to visit a farm and see those benefits on display.
“Have you ever seen where an artificial Christmas tree comes from? Chances are they don’t give many tours at those Chinese factories,” Reese said. “Tree farms are great places to visit for their natural beauty and the chance to spend some time outdoors in the country.”
As consumer interest in bio-based products continues to grow, there will undoubtedly be more new-fangled bioproducts wrapped up beneath the Christmas tree this year than ever before. People will be cleaning for holiday gatherings using soy-based cleaners, gifts will be shipped in bio-based packaging materials and, when it gets cold, people will de-ice their windshields with a bioproduct.
There are a lot of people spending a lot of money to find new ways to utilize bioproducts to make all kinds of new products. Many of these efforts are taking place in Ohio and, in the process creating jobs and bolstering the state’s economy. These types of products are fantastic and rightfully deserve the consideration of consumers. But, with enviro-concious consumers tripping over themselves to find the latest bio-fiber shirt or earth-friendly coffee pot for a gift under the tree this Christmas, let’s not forget about the holiday bioproduct that has been around since the 7th Century. Real Christmas trees, after all, are naturally superior.
For more information, or to find a Christmas tree farm near you, visit ohiochristmastree.com.
Matt Reese writes for Ohio’s Country Journal and lives in Baltimore, Ohio. For questions or comments, please contact him at mkcreese@yahoo.com. For more columns, visit freshcountryair.blogspot.com.
The fact that Ohio’s consumers want to stop using so much petroleum was made clear in a summer consumer attitude survey conducted by the Ohio Soybean Council. The survey found that 88 percent of Ohioans would prefer to purchase bio-based products instead of traditional chemical or petroleum-based products.
The survey randomly sampled 600 registered voters providing a good statistical representation of Ohio consumers. And, despite the rough economy, nearly 60% of those surveyed said they would be willing to pay up to 10 percent more for the bioproduct over the price of the petroleum-based competitor.
With the holiday shopping season here, there are a myriad of bio-based products out there for great, domestically produced, petroleum-free stocking-stuffers of every kind. To find out more about holiday bioproducts, you can go to www.soynewuses.org, www.biopreferred.gov and www.soyclean.biz, or simply visit a nearby Christmas tree farm. Real Christmas trees are probably the oldest holiday bioproduct around — beautiful, fragrant, and 100 percent petroleum free.
At a time when Americans are placing more emphasis on environmental stewardship than ever before, a growing number of people are discovering the numerous environmental benefits of choosing a real Christmas tree.
“Some people still don’t understand that real Christmas trees are far more environmentally friendly than the artificial alternative,” said Dave Reese, owner of Kaleidoscope Farms in Mt. Cory and president of the Ohio Christmas Tree Association. “At the time they are harvested, most real Christmas trees have been producing oxygen, sheltering wildlife, conserving soil, improving water quality and absorbing carbon dioxide for seven or more years.”
Christmas tree farms around the state are planting hundreds of thousands of trees every year, and with those trees come a host of environmental benefits. The vast majority of Christmas trees purchased in this country come from a farm where growers plant one to three seedlings for each tree harvested. Close to half a billion trees are currently growing on U.S. tree farms.
Then, after the season, Christmas trees are recycled for use as mulch, fish and wildlife habitat and for controlling stream bank erosion. In sharp contrast, plastic, petroleum-based artificial Christmas trees never biodegrade, and after their useful life will likely go to a landfill.
Along with being a much more environmentally friendly option, real Christmas trees offer customers a chance to visit a farm and see those benefits on display.
“Have you ever seen where an artificial Christmas tree comes from? Chances are they don’t give many tours at those Chinese factories,” Reese said. “Tree farms are great places to visit for their natural beauty and the chance to spend some time outdoors in the country.”
As consumer interest in bio-based products continues to grow, there will undoubtedly be more new-fangled bioproducts wrapped up beneath the Christmas tree this year than ever before. People will be cleaning for holiday gatherings using soy-based cleaners, gifts will be shipped in bio-based packaging materials and, when it gets cold, people will de-ice their windshields with a bioproduct.
There are a lot of people spending a lot of money to find new ways to utilize bioproducts to make all kinds of new products. Many of these efforts are taking place in Ohio and, in the process creating jobs and bolstering the state’s economy. These types of products are fantastic and rightfully deserve the consideration of consumers. But, with enviro-concious consumers tripping over themselves to find the latest bio-fiber shirt or earth-friendly coffee pot for a gift under the tree this Christmas, let’s not forget about the holiday bioproduct that has been around since the 7th Century. Real Christmas trees, after all, are naturally superior.
For more information, or to find a Christmas tree farm near you, visit ohiochristmastree.com.
Matt Reese writes for Ohio’s Country Journal and lives in Baltimore, Ohio. For questions or comments, please contact him at mkcreese@yahoo.com. For more columns, visit freshcountryair.blogspot.com.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Real Christmas trees are naturally superior
In a time when Americans are placing more emphasis on environmental stewardship than ever before, a growing number of people are discovering the numerous environmental benefits of choosing a real Christmas tree that is naturally superior to the alternative.
“Some people still don’t understand that real Christmas trees are far more environmentally friendly than the artificial alternative,” said Dave Reese, owner of Kaleidoscope Farms in Mt. Cory and president of the Ohio Christmas Tree Association. “At the time they are harvested, most real Christmas trees have been producing oxygen, sheltering wildlife, conserving soil, improving water quality and absorbing carbon dioxide for more than seven or eight years.”
Christmas tree farms around the state are planting thousands of trees every year, and with those trees come a host of environmental benefits. The vast majority of Christmas trees purchased in this country come from a farm where growers plant one to three seedlings for each tree harvested. Close to half a billion trees are currently growing on U.S. tree farms.
Then, after the season, Christmas trees can be recycled for use as mulch, fish and wildlife habitat and for controlling stream bank erosion. In sharp contrast, plastic, petroleum-based artificial Christmas trees never biodegrade, and after their useful life likely go to a landfill.
Along with being a much more environmentally friendly option, real Christmas trees offer customers a chance to visit a farm and see those benefits at work.
“Have you ever seen where an artificial Christmas tree comes from? Chances are they don’t give many tours at those Chinese factories,” Reese said. “Tree farms are great places to visit for their natural beauty and the chance to spend some time outdoors in the country.”
Whether it is a chance to spot some wildlife, take a deep breath of fresh oxygen from the trees, or simply spend some time on a farm with family, a real Christmas tree is clearly the naturally superior and enjoyable choice this holiday season.
“Some people still don’t understand that real Christmas trees are far more environmentally friendly than the artificial alternative,” said Dave Reese, owner of Kaleidoscope Farms in Mt. Cory and president of the Ohio Christmas Tree Association. “At the time they are harvested, most real Christmas trees have been producing oxygen, sheltering wildlife, conserving soil, improving water quality and absorbing carbon dioxide for more than seven or eight years.”
Christmas tree farms around the state are planting thousands of trees every year, and with those trees come a host of environmental benefits. The vast majority of Christmas trees purchased in this country come from a farm where growers plant one to three seedlings for each tree harvested. Close to half a billion trees are currently growing on U.S. tree farms.
Then, after the season, Christmas trees can be recycled for use as mulch, fish and wildlife habitat and for controlling stream bank erosion. In sharp contrast, plastic, petroleum-based artificial Christmas trees never biodegrade, and after their useful life likely go to a landfill.
Along with being a much more environmentally friendly option, real Christmas trees offer customers a chance to visit a farm and see those benefits at work.
“Have you ever seen where an artificial Christmas tree comes from? Chances are they don’t give many tours at those Chinese factories,” Reese said. “Tree farms are great places to visit for their natural beauty and the chance to spend some time outdoors in the country.”
Whether it is a chance to spot some wildlife, take a deep breath of fresh oxygen from the trees, or simply spend some time on a farm with family, a real Christmas tree is clearly the naturally superior and enjoyable choice this holiday season.
Kaleidoscope Farms once again a part of Operation Evergreen
On Sunday, Nov. 8 at 2:00 Kaleidoscope Farms once again held a ceremony for the selection of the trees that will be shipped to troops stationed overseas.
“Each year we like to work with our local veterans who come to the farm to pick out some trees to help bring a little bit of Christmas to our troops serving overseas,” said Dave Reese, owner of Kaleidoscope Farms near Mt. Cory. “We want to do just a little something for those who do so much for all of us.”
Operation Evergreen was developed by Ohio Christmas Tree Association members in 1995 to bring Christmas cheer to military units serving overseas. This year Kaleidoscope Farms will be sending four of the more than 300 Ohio Christmas trees to troops.
In addition to the trees, schools and community organizations make a mountain of ornaments to decorate for Christmas that make the trip overseas.
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