Birch Island Farm

05/04/2026

It’s cone-picking time! 🌲

One of the easiest ways to get your steps in is walking the rows and picking cones. Why do we do it? (I know, you didn’t ask—but I’ll tell you anyway 😉) Removing the cones helps channel the tree’s energy into growing denser, fuller branches instead of producing seeds.

And can we talk about the colors? That fresh, bright green new growth against those deep aubergine cones—just beautiful.

This is one of my favorite times on the farm. The earth is waking up, and the fields are full of life—baby geese, ducks, bunnies… and maybe, if I’m lucky, a fawn or two tucked between the trees.

And speaking of trees… they are looking GOOD this year. Tall, full, and promising a beautiful season ahead.

Only 236 days until Christmas—but who’s counting… besides Santa and the Christmas tree farmers? 🎄

03/23/2026

Planting day! Hard to believe this is our 9th year doing this. Perfect sunshine for planting and now a gentle rain for growing. These fir babies, if all grows well will be Christmas ready by 2033 🌲.

02/14/2026

It’s our anniversary! This was posted on my page 2/13/2017. Boy oh boy time flew by. We have learned so much. Start a Christmas tree farm they said, it will be fun they said……They were right! We ❤️ being part of your holiday memories and having you be a part of ours!

A few of you already know but officially as of today Rick and I are starting a new chapter. We are Christmas tree farmers. Because all family traditions take time to build, it will also take us a while. We were looking for something we could do to better utilize our land, something environmentally friendly, and a happy reward. We did consider starting a circus but based on the downfall of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, decided that it was more risky than Rick on a trapeze. I however was looking forward to attending clown college. So there it is out there in the universe. It will take us 6-8 years before we see the first Lux tree cut, however we are entertaining the idea of a pumpkin patch as well as some other fun things well before then. So far the first 500 trees are ordered, I'm looking to purchase another 500 this week, with planting to start at the end of March beginning of April. Our application to the Indiana Christmas Tree Growers Association is in the mail (a truly GREAT bunch of people) and a website is in the works, thank you Adam Tindall! We are very excited and will take and appreciate any advice or suggestions you can offer. We are looking forward to making memories with our family, your family and the best community in the state of Indiana! Merry Christmas 🎄🎅🏻!

02/01/2026

January on a Christmas tree farm is still super busy. We are ordering, doing inventory, cleaning and tying up the 2025 season.

The best part of January is by far the ICTGA winter meeting. Two days of hanging out with the coolest Christmas tree folks from Indiana and Illinois. We tried to include a little something for everyone this year. A few things we learned about from featured speakers.

We learned how Indiana Grown can help us promote our tree farms and ideas on other Indiana grown products we could feature and stock in our gift shops.

Ruth Anne from Tuttle Farm shared with us hiring and Human Resources tips and tricks.

Rex and Rachael from Piney Acres Farm were our showcase farm. They have quite an impressive operation. We are marking our calendar early to attend one of their train light show displays this year with the grandkids!

Alan Binger from Hidden Pines Christmas Tree Farm drove over from Ohio to share with us how to create a business plan. We will be working on that with the kids. If you want the keys to the kingdom you have to know how to run the thing.

The morning of day two brought some fun boy toys with drones from Albertson Drone Service LLC. These are not your order on Amazon variety. I am amazed at what these can do!

For those of us interested in wreaths, grave blankets and all things gift shop and greenery we had some terrific tutorials from Andrea from Piney Acres, Cara Reed from Millbrook Tree Farm, Marcia Sickle from Sickels Tree Farm and Cathy Stahl at Cinnamon Tree Farm in Illinois. I learned that I am not the only one with a “ribbon purchasing problem”. I don’t personally feel I have hit the too much threshold. There are others who might not see it that way 😂.

Andy from Nicholson Consulting shared sage advice on how to work and communicate with family members. We will definitely put that in practice around here

The Real Christmas Tree Board provided us updates on research and resources.

All in all a great two days! Now it’s back to the task of packing up the gift shop, getting the tax stuff together and planning for planting in March and April, that is hard to fathom in the subzero world we are experiencing 🥶.

Stay warm!

12/30/2025

The last "ber" month of the year isn't quite over, and I'm already dreaming ahead to the "bers" of 2026. I just brought home an SUV full of these beauties, and they'll be making their debut in the Birch Island Farm gift shop when we reopen in September.

Making, buying, ordering, and curating is truly a yearlong labor of love. I haven't even finished packing up the Christmas chaos, and I'm already building my ornament order list-90% of it will be finalized next month.

As you tuck your ornaments in for the season, tell me... any requests for new ones next year?🎄✨

12/26/2025

Merry Christmas from our family to yours. Thank you for trusting us to be part of your holiday traditions and family memories. We cherish that honor and are so thankful to have you as part of our extended Birch Island Farm family.

12/24/2025

Merry Christmas, priecīgus Ziemassvētkus 🌲🎄🎄

12/22/2025

✨That's a Wrap on the Season! ✨

As we close the Pine Mine for another Christmas tree season, our hearts are so full.

Thank you to every family who visited Birch Island Farm-whether you came to cut your perfect tree, pick out a wreath, sip cocoa, meet Santa, shop the gift barn, or simply make memories. Your support of our family farm means more to us than we can ever express.

To our incredible workers, the Michigan crew, the Indiana crew and our Shelbyville Boy Scouts troop 203 and their wonderful parents—we couldn't do this without you. And to our community, neighbors, and fellow growers, thank you for cheering us on all season long.

From our family to yours, thank you for making Birch Island Farm part of your holiday traditions. We wish you a Christmas filled with warmth, joy, and just the right amount of sparkle ✨

We can't wait to see you again next season.
— The Lux Family 🌲❤️

12/19/2025

12/19/2025

🎄 Final Days of Christmas at Birch Island Farm! 🎄

The countdown is on! Stop by for the last days of our Christmas season and grab some amazing holiday treats and deals.

🍰 Limited Supply of Yule Logs Available!
Our Yule logs are frozen and ready for your holiday dessert table.
• Yellow cake
• Chocolate ganache filling
Simply take it out 1–2 hours before serving to warm up, and enjoy a rich, decadent holiday dessert ✨

🎁 Holiday Sales Happening Now:
• Lanham Farm products – 25% OFF (perfect stocking stuffers!)
• Seasonal candy – 30% OFF
• Premade wreaths & greens – 30% OFF (special orders excluded)
• Holiday socks – 50% OFF

⏰ Store Hours:
• Today: Open until 5 PM
• Tomorrow: 10 AM – 5 PM

Honk as you pass the house. Winston and Maggie will bark at “Mr. Nobody” but aren’t consistent with letting me know when real folks arrive 🐶🐾

🎄 Still need a Christmas tree?
You’re not late… unless you wait until December 26!
Please let us know about what time you’ll be arriving, as the Pine Mine is not fully staffed. If you’d like your tree drilled, shaken, or baled, we want to be sure the head elf in charge is available to help.

We can’t wait to see you for these final festive days at Birch Island Farm❤️🎄

12/18/2025

Due to unforeseen circumstances the gift shop will open today at 1:00pm not 10:00am.