11/26/2024
THANK YOU!
After growing and selling Christmas trees for 42 years, Mountain Star Farms is closing. I have sold the Swiftwater farm and will be retiring after many satisfying years trying to provide the best trees and most enjoyable experiences to my loyal customers. I couldn’t have done it without the help of so many wonderful people – employees and customers alike. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who made it possible.
Farm Crew
I have been blessed to have so many talented and dedicated people with whom I have worked on the farm. And no one has been more important than Ben Hoyt, whose skill, intelligence, integrity and hard work were the secret sauce that made Mountain Star what it is. Ben was by my side virtually all 42 years and I owe him endless gratitude.
Other long-time stalwarts include G.P. “Geep” Houston, a 20-plus year farm veteran who was always there when needed. Rachel Rossi Hoyt, Dave Allsop, Loni Teller, Dan Thornton, Jamie Houston, Jill Poirier and Craig Smith all contributed several years each of dedicated service.
Special thanks to the remarkable Vincent family - “All-Day” Ray Vincent and his twin daughters, Jasmine and Yasmine. Ray is one of the hardest workers and nicest men you’ll meet, and Jasmine and Yasmine became the favorites of all who visited the farm and got to know their charm, beauty, smarts, and positive energy.
The late Chris Hoyt was a wonderful guy whose upbeat spirit and enthusiasm will never be forgotten. Shout-outs also to many others: Dan LaBrecque, Carl, Russell, Sarah, Fendog, Moods, Andy, Crash, Petie, Thad, Mikey, Craig R, Butch L and the rest of the Mountain Farmstrong gang.
Choose & Cut Customers
You are the people who made the farm fun. After a long and grueling harvest season, we were always cheered by the families who came to enjoy the farm and pick out their special tree. We didn’t always know or remember your names, but we were always glad to see your faces when you came each year. Many of you came year after year and we appreciate your loyalty. Leo and Penny Leger were among our first customers as was Peter Palmer who came and brought his merry band of friends – the “Loonies”! We looked forward to your annual tailgate parties with a terrific cast of characters led by Kim and Mike Bouressa. Many of you came a long way to visit us. Mike and Linda Buttice and their daughters came each year from Long Island to get their tree. I thank you all for your loyalty and the holiday cheer you brought us. We will miss you all.
Retail Lot
For 16 years, I sold trees on a retail lot at Fairmount Fruit Farm in Franklin, MA. Thanks to the Koshivas family who owned the farm and let me use their lovely property. Charlie, Betty. and their sons Chuck and John were gracious hosts to me and helped out when things got crazy. My sister Kim let me live in her Medway home for three weeks each Christmas season and cooked and cared for me. My beautiful wife Sara helped every weekend selling wreaths even though she had a full-time job. Ben and Chris Hoyt joined me in Franklin for a number of seasons as well. It wasn’t easy being away from home during the holidays, but these nice folks and the local customers made it worthwhile.
Wholesale Customers
Most of the trees we sold went to our wholesale customers who then sold them at service clubs, nurseries, farms and retail lots. Bob and Nancy Towle from Black Forest Nursery were among our first customers. They have passed away, but their daughter Suzanne Maze carries on the tradition at their Boscowen nursery. Dale Nicoll from Hamden, CT was also one of the first to get his trees from us. We sold locally to the Lisbon, NH Lions Club for over 30 years. Other service clubs we worked with included the Townsend, MA Lions and the Redstone, NH Fire Department. Our Town Landscaping, Hancock, NH; the Flint Farm, Mansfield, MA; and the Wright Family Farm, Warwick, NY were also valued customers for many years.
Many thanks to the truckers who helped us load and transport the trees to their various destinations. Dave Lackie was our go-to guy for many years and working with him was great. We also worked with his father Les Lackie and his uncle Fred Lackie. Tristan Vaughn helped us for a few years and Matt Gilman used his log loader with precision to load our trees. Ray Thayer was always there to handle our smaller loads and kept us smiling with his stories.
So, with great gratitude from me to all of you:
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD LIFE!
Mike Garvan
