Fred and Linda Camp have run Camp’s Christmas Forest in Sweetwater for more than 30 years. Photo credit: Nathan Lambrecht

After falling in love with working outdoors and watching the tobacco grow on his grandfather’s farm in Sweetwater, Fred Camp, now the owner of Camp’s Christmas Forest, enjoyed the agricultural life so much that at age 15 he began working summers and Christmas breaks at Vale Forest, a local Christmas tree farm. In the mid-1980s, his grandfather announced, “Here’s an acre of land. Go ahead and plant yourself some trees.”

But the plot wasn’t fenced. “So, the cows ate the whole first planting,” Camp recalls good-naturedly.

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The next year his grandfather gifted him two fenced-in acres, which Camp planted with white, Virginia and Scotch pines, and a few Norway spruces. They fared much better. “I caught the bug then, I guess, of growing my own trees,” Camp says.

Photo credit: Nathan Lambrecht

Taking Root

The easy-to-grow white pine is still the most plentiful tree at Camp’s Christmas Forest, which moved to its current location in 1990. Now 14 acres are dotted with Christmas trees, including the Norway spruce, which flourishes in partial shade, and a Douglas fir that does well at this elevation. Cypresses, including Leyland, Murray, Blue Ice, Silver Smoke and Naylor’s Blue, grow here too, as do Eastern red cedar, Virginia and Scotch pine, and Green Giant Arborvitae.

“A Christmas tree farm is pretty all times of year,” Camp says.

During a cold-enough winter, snow drapes them in white. In spring, they serve as a beautiful backdrop for dogwoods. In fall, they starkly contrast with the changing colors of deciduous leaves.

See more: Christmas Tree Care Tips From a Tennessee Tree Farmer

The Camp family grows over 10 types of evergreens on 14 acres. Photo credit: Nathan Lambrecht

Starting the day after Thanksgiving, customers descend on Camp’s Christmas Forest, grabbing saws and fanning out in search of the perfect evergreens. Trees in hand, they head back to one of three baler stations where the green treasures are wrapped and shaken to remove excess needles. Most customers enjoy chopping down their own, but if someone isn’t physically able, farm employees will do it for them.

“There’ll be people swarming everywhere,” Camp says. “A lot of families come out and enjoy a day at the farm. We’re no frills. We don’t have enough parking for any food vendors. We’re not really set up for a hayride. But I think that’s OK with a lot of people. They want to come out, walk around for an hour or so and pick their tree.”

See more: 9 Tennessee Christmas Tree Farms to Visit This Holiday Season

Families like the Daltons can choose and cut their own tree at Camp’s. Photo credit: Nathan Lambrecht

A Family Affair

Camp is quick to point out that the Christmas Forest is a true family enterprise with everyone lending a hand during the Christmas “crunch.” In addition to daughter Christal Hadorn and her husband, Jeff, sons Daniel Johnson and David Camp, and grandchildren Morgan, Madison, Andrew, Maddox and Kornelia, longtime friend Gary Bogus has helped out since he was a sophomore at the high school where Camp taught for 30 years.

“He looks forward every Christmas to coming and helping sell the trees,” Camp says.

Also like family are the repeat buyers who return year after year.

“I’ve had customers for 25 years. We recognize each other, for sure,” Camp says. “I’ve increased my quota every year and still we sell out pretty quick.”