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For almost two weeks, The Johnsons, a local family, have opened their family farm to the public for the holiday season.

Margie Johnson and her husband Steve, has always wanted a family business dedicated to tree farming and said after her husband retired from International Paper within the city several years ago, he spent six additional years of his time learning about trees and how to make them grow ​​through the Christmas Tree Association conferences and “Growers” workshops.

Which led to the couple mutually deciding this year, to open their first-ever Christmas Tree Farm, days after thanksgiving called Johnson’s Christmas Tree Farm, that’s located on 3750 County Road 306.

“We bought a little building,” said Margie. “Where we have gifts, baked goods and we also do gift wrapping where I personally make bows and wreaths and we also have a nice little gift shop too, including our main attraction of it all, selling trees.”

Margie said the farm started off its opening day on Friday, Nov.29 with 50 Fraser Fir trees, ranging from seven to eight foot in size and also eight to nine foot as well, for customers who were interested in buying the most wanted Christmas tree design of the holiday season.

“A Fraser Fir is a tree that is probably the most loved Christmas Tree Variety,” Margie said. “But, we can’t grow them in the South. So the closest we can get them is from up north in North Carolina.”

Margie said the process of finding the trees, getting them freighted down to Alabama and bundled is quite lengthy but to ease out the process, they have partnered with another southern Christmas Tree Association member that could help them out.

“We are blessed,” Margie said. “We are so blessed and overwhelmed with all the people that have come out and supported us. The families come and they go, “God this is great. I’ve never had a real tree before and we are going to have a real tree from now on, now that we know y’all are close by.”

Margie said everybody seems to be appreciative to have a local tree farm in the area  where they can cut their own trees and make their own memories.

Days of operation this week for the Johnson Christmas Tree Farm are Thursday, Dec. 12, Friday, Dec. 13 and Saturday Dec. 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and this Sunday, Dec. 15 from 1 to 4:30 p.m.

“We invite everyone to come walk around, take pictures because we have a gift shop available, and we offer free hot cocoa and hot mulled cider so you can sip and walk around the farm or sip and shop in our little shop. We have jellies and jams, local made pottery from Sage Pottery including candles from Lions Candles who is another local maker. We also have consignment items such as wooden reindeer and wooden snowmen including potpourri for your home among many other things, “Margie said.

The farm also has tasty treats as well to celebrate the Christmas holiday season and  Margie said next year, they plan to have areas within the farm where there will be festive and seasonal wood cut outs dedicated to the  season for families to take more pictures including a fire pit area for those gathering during the holiday season as well.

For more information, contact Steve Johnson at 334-349-5890.