For more than sixteen years, the week after Thanksgiving has traditionally seen my family and I piling down into the basement to search for the box that houses our fake Christmas tree for 90 percent of the year. I know that the school of thought is divided between the connivence of a faux tree versus the authenticity of a real tree. We haven’t ever have anything against purchasing a real tree, it just has never been a family tradition of ours. But as the kids got older, they started begging us to get a real tree. We only had to think about it for a split second before the idea of traipsing through the snow to choose the perfect tree–combined with the smell of the fresh, fragrant boughs–was something we knew we wanted to experience this year.
I started chatting with Allison from the Hoffbauer Tree Farm about setting up a visit. I loved both her warmth and the fact that purchasing a tree from the Hoffbauer Farm meant we would be supporting a family-owned business that practices sustainable farming and provides locally-grown trees for the community. We were SOLD! The Hoffbauer’s invited us to their farm to search for our perfect tree.
Allison and Jesse Hoffbauer know trees. The business has been in their family for the last twenty years and I had the pleasure of getting to know the couple a bit while we walked around their farm for a inside look at their tree operation. Customer service is something the couple takes pride in, and truly, they are a full service tree lot. With chainsaw in hand, the couple walked from row to row with us, explaining the difference between the trees, pointing out specific characteristics, and waiting with patience for my crew to spot the tree we would ultimately call our own for the holiday season.
When you visit the Duluth Farmers Market in Duluth’s East Hillside neighborhood, you will find an abundance of fresh cut trees to chose from. There, the Hoffbauer’s will help you with your selection, give your tree one last shake to rid it of excess needles, rewrap the tree for its journey to your home, and safely secure it to your vehicle. I was so glad I didn’t have to worry about all of the logistics; I got to free up that mental space and spend more of it on thoughts of decorating! It’s this sort of excellent customer service that keeps customers coming back to the Hoffbauer’s year after year. The family puts a lot of energy into cultivating long-lasting relationships with customers who want to carry on the family tradition of trimming a real Christmas tree–or like us, start a new one!
Guys, I don’t ever remember having a tree that looked this beautiful and smelled this amazing. I wish there was such a thing as a smell-o-vision!
In addition to their beautiful locally-grown Christmas trees, Hoffbauer also carries wreaths, greenery for your indoor and outdoor decor needs, Farmer Doug’s maple syrup, and gifts. Check them out at the Farmers Market weekdays from 11-7 or Weekends from 9-6. You can also find them on Facebook or Instagram!