Quarter Pine Tree Farm

06/17/2026

Preserved farmland is not an absolute shield against transmission lines in Pennsylvania.

Our farmers are constantly under threat of losing land through eminent domain to site high‑voltage transmission lines that connect our energy‑negligent neighbors to Pennsylvania‑based power generation.

Our farmers, especially those with preserved farmland, should not be under constant threat from utilities and transmission line companies.

*️⃣ https://www.palegis.us/senate/co-sponsorship/memo?memoID=48844

Senator Gene Yaw Senator Lisa M. Boscola

06/16/2026

Shearing TIME for White PINE

06/16/2026

I’m truly honored to have played a small part in supporting the mission of the Christmas Spirit Foundation.

The real credit belongs to the volunteers, growers, donors, and supporters who make this work possible and help bring joy to military families each year through Trees for Troops.

For anyone attending the Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Association Summer Meeting, we have a great session on the agenda to learn more about the incredible impact of Trees for Troops and the Christmas Spirit Foundation and ways to become involved.

In 2025, Trees for Troops® delivered donated trees to 94 military bases, spreading holiday cheer far and wide.

Some people leave their mark on a mission long after the moment itself has passed. 💚✨

That is certainly true of Beth Ann Bossio of Quarter Pine Tree Farm, whose heart, creativity, and behind-the-scenes dedication helped lift Trees for Troops® in such a meaningful way.

Beth Ann was recognized with the 2025 Christmas SPIRIT Award, and this photo is a good reminder of why. The work that supports this mission is not always loud or visible, but it matters deeply, and people like Beth Ann help carry it forward with talent, generosity, and genuine Christmas Spirit.

Today felt like a good day to celebrate that again. 🎄

06/14/2026

Sometimes you forget about the amazing places to visit right in your own backyard. Just 15 minutes from our farm is Laurel Caverns, which recently became Pennsylvania’s 125th state park. Laurel Caverns is among the largest calcareous sandstone caves in the world.

We have a friend visiting from Nova Scotia, and this was on her list of places to see while she was here. So yesterday, we took the tour, and of course, somehow Christmas trees ended up being part of the adventure.

Inside the cave is the Christmas Tree Grotto, a remarkable natural formation illuminated by colored lights that highlight its unique geological textures and create the appearance of a giant Christmas tree.

06/12/2026

Did you know that there is a group from around the world that meets every two years with the goal of enhancing collaborative research and the delivery of research-based information surrounding the sustainable production of conifers used by consumers to celebrate the Christmas holiday?

We’re heading home today after attending the 17th IUFRO International Christmas Tree Research & Extension Conference.

This was our third time attending this conference, and North Carolina did a wonderful job hosting this year. There were excellent presentations, tours, valuable discussions, and some exciting research shared from around the world.

My personal favorite presentation was by Will Kohlway, “Improving Christmas Tree and Greenery Sustainability to Enhance Market Competitiveness.” As many of you know, I am expanding our greenery plantings, so this topic was especially interesting and relevant to the work we are doing on the farm.

I asked Jim which was his favorite. He said: “All of them.”

A special thank you to Sam Cartner for organizing a dinner at Gideon Ridge, a place I had been hoping to experience for quite some time.

We always leave this conference with a renewed appreciation for the research, collaboration, and people who help move our industry forward.

06/08/2026

As we wait for the Pennsylvania PUC to announce public input hearing dates and locations for the MARL project, I encourage constituents to begin reaching out to elected officials and local governing bodies that did not intervene in Application of NextEra Energy Transmission MidAtlantic, Inc., (Docket No. A-2026-3060856)

Ask them to plan to attend and speak at the hearings on behalf of the communities they represent.

These hearings are an important opportunity for concerns about property rights, rural communities, farms, landscapes, and rising electric costs to be part of the record.

A strong showing from local elected leaders matters. Respectfully encourage your township supervisors, GREENE county commissioners, state representatives, and senators to make their voices heard once the hearings are scheduled.

Have an email for an elected official? Please share in comment section below.

06/03/2026

A glimpse at how long it really takes for baby transplants to grow into future family Christmas trees. 🌲

Photos from 2020 • 2023 • 2025 • 2026

Every time I am working near this block of trees, I’m instantly taken back to spring 2020, a whole lot of uncertainty, and a crew that still showed up ready to plant.

Back then, these little transplants barely looked like Christmas trees. Now they’re finally starting to show off a little personality.

It’s funny how a block of trees can become a timeline of life. So much has changed since we planted these babies into the ground.

06/02/2026

Over the last year, we’ve watched the proposed MARL transmission line threaten the landscapes, farms, homes and rural communities that make our areas special all while ratepayers could be left paying the price for power needs tied to data center growth in Virginia.

What started as concern for our own farm quickly became a mission to help bring awareness, transparency, and information to others across our communities.

Public Comment Hearings begin this week in WV.
Each public comment session is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m

-June 4, Potomac State College, Church-McKee Arts Center,121 B Street, Keyser;

-June 5, Hampshire County Courthouse Courtroom, 2nd Floor, 19 East Main St., Romney;

-June 10, Monongalia County Center, 270 Mylan Park Lane, Morgantown;

-June 11, Kingwood Civic Center, 311 Tunnelton St., Kingwood.

You may not be a directly impacted landowner, but you are ratepayers, many of you will have to look at these transmission lines if the project is approved, and many of you will feel the impacts this project could bring to our communities.

So who decides if this project moves forward in WV? Ultimately, that decision rests with the Public Service Commission of West Virginia and its three commissioners.

The hearings concern the company’s application on January 30 to construct a new 107.5-mile-long MidAtlantic Resiliency Link (MARL) line from Pennsylvania through West Virginia to Virginia. The 58.9-mile Mountain State section would cross Monongalia, Preston, Mineral and Hampshire counties.