Bi4-Lancast«r Farming, Saturday, December 23,1989
Vacation Spot Turned Into
Profitable Business For
Reti
BY LINDA WILLIAMS
Bedford Co. Correspondent
CLEARVILLE (Bedford Co.)
In 1956, Myrtle and Dan Hal
deman began vacationing annual
ly in the Clearville area.
“Because we lived in Washing
ton, D.C., we were looking for a
summer place that later could be
used for retirement,” Myrtle
explained, “And a place where my
husband could plant Christmas
trees.”
The first trees were harvested in
1969. At that tinje, the Haldemans
were spending summer vacations
and weekends at the farm that they
say, “We fell in love with at Erst
sight"
“Living conditions were primi
tive,” Myrtle recalls. “But we
didn’t mind because we enjoyed
the country so much.”
In 1980, Myrtle and Dan began
working on their modem, lodge
like home and decided to add a
bed and breakfast to their Christ
mas tree farm business.
“We got the idea while touring
Ireland,” Myrtle recalls. “So far,
we are doing well. We are only
eight miles from Route 40-48 and
that’s bringing us a lot of
business.”
Conifer Ridge Farm has about
30 acres planted in Christmas
trees. “We are constantly trying to
improve our standards,” Myrtle
says. “That’s what competition
does and there is lots of that out
there.”
Christmas tree farming has
been on the increase in Bedford
County for a number of years,
according to Dick Dale, Bedford
County Extension Agent
“You can usually find at least
one variety that will grow on most
any of the county farms,” Dale
continues. “Most find out rather
quickly that Christmas trees are
hard work. Some get weeded out
when the truth is realized.
One of the biggest problems the
growers have to contend with is
deer,” Dale says. “There is no
effective way of keeping them
away from the small trees. Free
fencing is available to those who
are already making at least a major
part of their living from tree grow
ing. For those trying to start out,
it’s tough.”
_ . „ js tree through the baler.
Grown in Bedford County, the tree will be enjoyed by a fam
ily In the Baltimore area.
Dan jman , all of the dead needles off a
Christmas tree before placing It for sale In the Christmas
tree shop he and his wife, Myrtle, own near ClearviHe.
Bedford County presently has
five major tree growers and 40 or
more who are working at it part
time. The major growers whole
sale mainly to Washington D.C.,
Frederick, Philadelphia, and Dela
ware. The drought of 1988 was
hard on all tree farmers and the
over plentiful rains of 1989 made
it difficult to get to the small trees
for weeding.
‘There’s always problems,”
admits Bedford County tree grow
er Myrtle Haldeman of Conifer
Ridge Farm near Clearville.
“There are diseases, mice, deer,
dry weather, wet weather, but
somehow, we’ve managed to
survive.”
The Haldemans grow Scotch
pine, white pine, Douglas fir,
spruce, and Norwegian blue
spruce trees. Their main market
area is Baltimore, but they have
many customers from Bedford
and Cumberland.
As an addition to the tree busi
ness, Myrtle and Dan opened a
Christmas shop in the bam where
they display their trees. The shop
features handcrafted Christmas
items, many are made from pine
and Myrtle creates some of them
herself.
The shop also offers hot mulled
cider to browsers.
Another calling card for the
Haldemans’ trees has been an
offer to tag in October. “We
advertise in the Baltimore-
Frederick areas.” Myrtle explains.
“We encourage families to come
and spend the day, bring a picnic
lunch and enjoy the fall foliage
while they pick out their Christ
mas tree. Then, we tag the trees
and deliver them in December.”
Dan Haldeman says they enjoy
giving customers a little extra.
“For instance, we have a machine
to shake all of the dead needles off
the trees before they are sold,” he
says. “Homemakers love us for
that.”
Myrtle recently retired from
public teaching and Dan also will
retire in a few months. His career
has been with the U.S. Customs
Department
"When we do, we plan to spend
even more time here,” Myrtle says
as she gazes out on the picturesque
scene this Clearville varm allows.
“The people who come here for
our bed and breakfast love the
tranquility.” She adds, “We knew
they would, because we are from
the city ourselves and know pretty
much what they are looking for.”
The cabin which housed Dan
»and Myrtle during the early years
of their Christinas tree farming
venture also is available for those
families who don’t mind roughing
it a little. “It has electricity, but no
running water,” she explains.
“Young families seem to enjoy it
during the summer.”
Looking around Conifer Ridge,
one quickly gets the impression
that retirement isn’t goint to slow
life down for the Haldemans.
Dependable Service:
PENNSYLVANIA
Annvilla, PA
BHM Farm
Equipment, Inc.
RDI, Rte. 934
717-867-2211
Beavartown, PA
BAR Farm
Equipment, Inc
RD 1. Box 217 A
717-658-7024
Belleville, PA
Ivan J. Zook
Farm Equipment
Belleville, Pa.
717-935-2948
Canton, PA
Hess Farm Equipment
717-673-5143
Carlisle, PA
R&W Equipment Co.
35 East Willow Street
717-243-2686
Chambersburg, PA
Clugston
Implement, Inc.
R.D. 1
717-263-4103
Concordvllle, PA
Wenner Ford Tractor,
Inc.
FU. 202 South
215-399-9615
Davldsburg, PA
George N. Gross, Inc.
R.D. 2. Dover. PA
717-292-1673
Elizabethtown, PA
Messick Farm
Equipment, Inc.
Rt. 283 - Rheem's Exit
717-367-1319
Gettysburg, PA
Yingling Implements,
Inc.
3291 Taneytown Rd.
717-359-4848
Greencastle, PA
Meyers
Implement's Inc.
400 N. Antrim Way
P.O. Box 97
717-597-2176
Halifax, PA
Sweigard Bros.
R.D. 3, Box 13
717-696-3414
Hamburg, PA
Shartlesville
Farm Service
R.D. 1, Box 1392
215-488-1025
Honey Brook, PA
Dependable Motor Co.
East Main Street
215-273-3131
215-273-3737
Honey Grove, PA
Hughaavllla, PA
Farnsworth Farm
Supplies, Inc.
103 Cemetery Street
717-584-2106
Lancaster, PA
Lancaster Ford
Tractor, Inc.
1655 Rohrerstown Rd.
717-569-7063
Loysvllle, PA
Paul Shovers, Inc.
Loysvllle, PA
717-789-3117
New Holland, PA
A.B.C. Groff, Inc.
110 South Railroad
717-354-4191
Olay, PA
C.J. Wonsidler Bros.
R.D 2
215-987-6257
Pitman, PA
Schreffler Equipment
Pitman, PA
717-648-1120
Quakertown, PA
C.J. Wonsidler Bros.
R.D. 1
215-536-1935
Ringtown, PA
Ringtown Farm
Equipment
Ringtown, PA
717-889-3184
Tamaqua, PA
Charles S. Snyder, Inc.
R.D. 3
717-386-5945
Weal Grove, PA
S.G. Lewis & Son, Inc.
R.D. 2, Box 66
215-869-2214
MARYLAND
Churchvtlla, MD
Walter G. Coale, Inc.
2849-53
Churchville Rd.
301-838-6470
Frederick, MD
Ceresville
Ford New Holland, Inc.
Rt. 26 East
301-662-4197
Outside MD,
800-331-9122
Hagerstown, MD
Antietam Ford Tractor
301-791-1200
NEW JERSEY
Bridgeton, N.J.
Leslie G. Fogg, Inc.
Canton & Stow Creek
Landing Rd.
609-451-2727
609-935-5145
Washington, NJ
Frank Rymon & Sons
201-689-1464
Woodstown, NJ