By Tim Kowols       

The last eight to ten years of care comes down to the next seven weeks as people begin their search for the perfect Christmas tree. Tammy Aissen and her family have run Aissen Tree Farm in Pilsen since 1998, planting thousands of seedlings annually in the hope they will stand in a home to make Christmas memories seven to eight years later. It is a tradition Aissen's parents have been a part of for 60 years at their own tree farm in Wisconsin Rapids. Picking pinecones, trimming branches, checking the soil, and controlling the weeds are some of the tasks that get handed down during the months leading up to the Christmas season, making tree farming a year-round job. Aissen says overcutting is every tree farmer's biggest concern.

The tree farm will mark the start of its season with its open house on Saturday and Sunday, but Aissen recommends early cutters to keep the tree in a cool place until it gets a little closer to Christmas.

 

Photo courtesy of the Aissen Family