BROWNFIELD, Maine — Growing Christmas trees is not a job for the impatient — or anyone who is afraid of hard physical work.
But come this time of year, after a wait of a mere 10 to 15 years and nurturing, shaping and shearing, the rewards are felt when the carloads of eager families in search of the perfect Christmas conifer arrive in droves at Ward and Nancy Simonton’s 100-acre Chamberlain Farm in the foothills of western Maine.
kAm“|J 72G@C:E6 E:>6 @7 E96 J62Cn xE’D ?@H[ D66:?8 E96 72>:=:6D — >2?J @7 H9@> 4@>6 J62C 27E6C J62C — 5C:G6 FA[ 9625 @FE E@ E96 C@HD @7 EC66D 2?5 7:?5 E96:C EC66[ 2?5 E96? E96J 4@>6 324< 96C6[ E@ @FC H2C>:?8 9@FD6 2?5 46=63C2E6 H:E9 2 4FA @7 9@E 4:56C @C 9@E 4@4@2[” D2:5 (2C5 $:>@?E@?[ ef[ @? 2 C646?E 3C:D< $F?52J 27E6C?@@? 2E E96 72C> E92E 96 2?5 }2?4J AFC492D65 :? `hhc] %96J 42>6 E@ |2:?6 7C@> }2?EF4<6E 2?5 367@C6 E92E DA6?E E96:C 62C=J J62CD H@C<:?8 :? E96 :?DFC2?46 7:6=5 :? s6=2H2C6]k^Am
kAm“|J =62DE 72G@C:E6 E:>6[” 96 4@F?E6C65[ “:D 3F8 D62D@?[ H96? H6 5@ E96 ACF?:?8[ D92A:?8 2?5 D962C:?8 H@C<] }@E D@ >F49 7F?]”k^Am
kAmqFE E2<6? E@86E96C[ E96 ;@JD @FEH6:89 E96 ?682E:G6D @7 E96 27@C6>6?E:@?65 3F88J D62D@?]k^Am
kAmw6 >@HD E96 C@HD @7 EC66D E9C@F89@FE E96 DF>>6C]k^Am
kAm(2E6C :D 2H2JD 2 <6J 6=6>6?E E@ 2?J 28C:4F=EFC2= 6?562G@C[ 2D 5C@F89E 42? 92G6 2 D6G6C6 :>A24E[ 3FE (2C5 D2JD 9:D EC66D 925 2 8@@5 J62C E9:D D62D@?[ 2?5 E92E E96J 92G6 8C@H? 2 7@@E E@ 2 7@@E\2?5\2\92=7 @G6C E9:D J62C]k^Am
kAm“(2E6C :D 6DA64:2==J :>A@CE2?E 5FC:?8 2 EC66’D 7:CDE J62CD :? E96 8C@F?5[ 2D EC66D AFE 2== E96:C 6?6C8J E96 7:CDE 76H J62CD :?E@ E96 C@@ED[ 5@H?H2C5] x7 E96C6 :D ?@ H2E6C[ E96C6 :D ?@ 8C@HE9] x 5@?’E 92G6 2 72C> A@?5 @C :CC:82E:@? DJDE6>] x DFAA@D6 x 4@F=5 92G6 AFE @?6 :? 7@C Sa_[___ — 3FE E92E H@F=5 36 =:<6 C@33:?8 !6E6C E@ A2J !2F=] p8C:4F=EFC6 :D 2=H2JD 2? ‘:77J’ E9:?8 — @E96CH:D6[ E96J H@F=5 42== :E 32?<:?8[” (2C5 BF:AA65]k^Am
kAmw6 8C@HD q2=D2> 7:CD 3642FD6 E96J 2C6 92C5J 6?@F89 E@ H:E9DE2?5 E6>A6C2EFC6D @7 b_ 36=@H] !=FD[ E96J’C6 AC6EEJ[ H:E9 2 ?:46 D46?E]k^Am
kAm%96J 2=D@ D6== HC62E9D] %96J 5@?’E D9:A E96:C EC66D E@ C6E2:=6CD]k^Am
kAm“x7 >J EC66D 5@?’E D6== E9:D J62C[ E96J 8C@H 2?@E96C J62C] x 5@?’E H2DE6 E96> 3J 4FEE:?8 E96> 5@H?] p?5 E96J AC@G:56 2 9@>6 7@C 3:C5D[ DBF:CC6=D 2?5 @E96C H:=5=:76 — 2?5 H96? E96J 2C6 E2<6? 5@H? 2?5 A6@A=6 5:D42C5 E96> :?E@ 2 4@>A@DE A:=6[ E96J AC@G:56 ?FEC:6?ED E96?[ E@@]”k^Am
kAm%96C6 2C6 72DE6C H2JD E@ >2<6 2 3F4<[ 3FE (2C5 6?;@JD E96 4J4=6D @7 E96 D62D@?D — E96 362FEJ @7 E96 D46?6CJ 2?5 D66:?8 H:=5=:76[ @7 36:?8 4@??64E65 E@ ?2EFC6 2?5 |@E96C t2CE9]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 96 2?5 }2?4J E9@F89E H96? E96J >@G65 E@ }2?EF4<6E E92E H@F=5 36 E96:C $92?8C:\{2 — 3FE :?DE625[ :E H2D E@F89 E@ 86E @77 E96 :D=2?5 :? DE@C>J H62E96C :? H:?E6C[ 2?5 :? DF>>6C :E H2D ;FDE E@@ >2?J A6@A=6]k^Am
kAm%96? E96J 7@F?5 E96 72C> :? qC@H?7:6=5]k^Am
kAm“!6@A=6 2D< >6 H96C6 x =:<6 E@ 8@ @? G242E:@? — x E6== E96>[ ‘#:89E 96C6P’ %@ >6[ E9:D :D $92?8C:\{2] xE’D A2C25:D6[” 96 D2:5[ ?@E:?8 E92E 96 2?5 }2?4J 2C6 AC@F5 E@ 42CCJ @? E96 72C>[ ?@E:?8 E92E @?=J E9C66 5:776C6?E 72>:=:6D 92G6 @H?65 E96 72C> :? :ED a__ J62CD @7 6I:DE6?46i E96 r92>36C=2:?D[ 2?@E96C 4@FA=6[ 2?5 ?@H 9:> 2?5 }2?4J]k^Am
kAm“(6 ?@H 92G6 2 4@?D6CG2E:@? 62D6>6?E H:E9 E96 &AA6C $24@ '2==6J {2?5 %CFDE] (6 42? 5@ 2?JE9:?8 H:E9 28C:4F=EFC6[ H9:49 :D H92E 2 EC66 :D — 3FE E9:D =2?5 H:== ?6G6C 36 DF35:G:565[” D2:5 (2C5]k^Am
kAmw6 2?5 }2?4J 92G6 2=D@ @G6C E96 J62CD @A6?65 E96 72C> FA E@ 24E:G:E:6D DF49 2D DE2C\82K:?8 D?@HD9@6 @FE:?8D 2?5 “@H= AC@H=D” AC6D6?E65 3J %:? |@F?E2:? r@?D6CG2E:@? r6?E6C[ H:E9 H9:49 E96J 92G6 =@?8 366? 277:=:2E65 W}2?4J D6CG65 2D 3FD:?6DD >2?286C 7@C ?62C=J a_ J62CD 7@C E96 p=32?J ?@?\AC@7:E 4@?D6CG2E:@?^65F42E:@? @C82?:K2E:@?X[ A=FD qC@H?7:6=5 !F3=:4 {:3C2CJ 7F?5C2:D6CD @C H:?E6C EC66 :56?E:7:42E:@? EC:AD =65 3J &AA6C $24@ '2==6J {2?5 %CFDE]k^Am
kAm%96 72C> :D 2 4@??64E:@? E@ 9@H =:76 FD65 E@ 36 — 2?5 E92E’D 9@H 96 2?5 }2?4J =:<6 :E[ 72C 7C@> }@CE9 r@?H2J’D 9FDE=6 2?5 3FDE=6 2?5 3FDJ 4@>>6C4:2= 56G6=@A>6?E @7 E96 A2DE EH@ 564256D]k^Am
kAm“~=5\E:>6CD 5C:G6 FA 2?5 =@@< 2E E96 72C>9@FD6 2?5 E96 32C? 2?5 E96 7:6=5D 2?5 D2J E9:D :D 9@H E96J C6>6>36C E9:D 72C> H96? E96J H6C6 <:5D 2?5 E92E 6G6CJE9:?8 =@@<D E96 D2>6] xE’D 2? 2?E:BF6 A:646[” D2:5 (2C5]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 E92E E96J 92G6 c\d 24C6D @7 E96 `__\24C6 72C> 56G@E65 E@ E96 r9C:DE>2D EC66D[ H:E9 c_ 24C6D :? @A6? DA246 2?5 e_ 24C6D :? E:>36C] %96J ;FDE 5:5 2 “@?46\:?\2\=:76E:>6 e_\24C6 E:>36C D2=6i” “tG6CJ@?6 WH9@ @H?D 2 DFDE2:?23=6 E:>36C =@EX 86ED 2 @?46\?\2\=:76E:>6 D2=6 D@ H6 E@@< @FCD] $@ ?@H[ H9@>6G6C E2<6D @G6C 7C@> FD H96? H6 6G6?EF2==J D6== H:== 92G6 E@ H2:E AC@323=J ad\b_ J62CD 7@C E96 ?6IE E:>36C D2=6[” D2:5 (2C5]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 }2?4J 92D 2 52F89E6C[ z:>[ H9@ =:G6D @FE H6DE[ 2?5 E96J 92G6 EH@ 8C2?552F89E6CD[ 3FE 2=E9@F89 E96J =@G6 E96 72C>[ E96J 2C6 ?@E :?E@ 364@>:?8 EC66 72C>6CD E96>D6=G6D]k^Am
kAm“$@[” D2:5 (2C5[ “D@>6@?6 6=D6 H9@ 4@>6D 2=@?8 42? >2J36 4@?E:?F6 E@ 8C@H E96 EC66D — @C 8C@H 4@HD[ x 5F??@] xE H:== 36 FA E@ E96>]”k^Am
kAmpD 7@C E96 3FD:?6DD @7 E96 A:4<\2?5\4FE J@FC @H? r9C:DE>2D EC66 @A6C2E:@?[ 96 D6==D 9:D EC66D 2E @?6 7=2E C2E6[ C682C5=6DD @7 E96:C D:K6]k^Am
kAm“x 492C86 Sd_ H96E96C :E’D c\7@@E\E2== @C `c[” D2:5 (2C5[ H9@ H@C<D 2D 2 3F:=5:?8 :?DA64E@C H96? 96’D ?@E E6?5:?8 E@ 9:D EC66D] “x7 2 EC66 86ED E@@ 3:8[ E@ >6 :E 364@>6D 2 =:23:=:EJ]”k^Am
kAmp?5[ 2D ?@E65 62C=:6C[ E96C6’D ?@ BF6DE:@? E92E 36:?8 2 72C>6C — 2 EC66 72C>6C — E62496D J@F A2E:6?46 H:E9 2 =@?8 A2J@77 @? 2? :?G6DE>6?E]k^Am
kAmpD 96 ?@E65[ EC66D 2?5 |@E96C }2EFC6 92G6 2 H2J @7 E6249:?8 FD 2== E92E 2=E9@F89 J@F >2J DE:== =:<6 2 DAC:?8 49:4<6?[ E96 4=@4< :D 2=H2JD E:4<:?8[ 2?5 :E’D =2E6C E92? J@F E9:?<]k^Am
kAm“*@F 8@EE2 <?@H :E 5@6D E2<6 E:>6 H:E9 EC66D[” C6=2E65 (2C5[ 255C6DD:?8 E92E A@:?E] “x 925 2 76==2 :? 9:D >:5\e_D 4@>6 FA C646?E=J 2?5 96 E@=5 >6 96 H2D :?E6C6DE65 :? 86EE:?8 :?E@ 8C@H:?8 r9C:DE>2D EC66D] x 5:5?’E H2?E E@ CF:? 9:D 52J[ 3FE x 2D<65 9:> :7 96 C62==J H2?E65 E@ 36 5@?8 E9:D <:?5 @7 H@C< — 2E g_n”k^Am
kAm!6C92AD E92E 86?E=6>2? H2D E9:?<:?8 =@?8\E6C> 7@C 9:D 49:=5C6? E@ DF44665 9:> :? E96 6?562G@C[ 3FE 2D (2C5 2?5 @E96CD ?@E6[ 2?J@?6 :? DF49 2 A@D:E:@? 925 36DE >2<6 DFC6 E96:C 49:=5C6? 2C6 :?E6C6DE65 :? 42CCJ:?8 @? E96 E2D<] %92E’D ?@E 2 DFC6 E9:?8[ 2D (2C5 D2:5 >2J EC66 72C>6CD 2C6 “28:?8 @FE[” 2?5 E92E >2J 244@F?E 7@C H9J E96C6 :D 2 D9@CE286 @7 r9C:DE>2D EC66D @? E96 H9@=6D2=6 >2C<6E]k^Am
kAm“*@F?86C A6@A=6 5@?’E H2?E E@ 5@ E96 92C5 H@C<] p?5 2D J@F 5C:G6 2C@F?5 J@F D66 232?5@?65 EC66 72C>D — E96D6 =:EE=6 ?62E C@HD @7 EC66D :? E96 7@C6DE[ H:E9 E96 H@@5D 8C@H:?8 324<[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmqFE ?@E 2E E96 r92>36C=2:? u2C>[ H96C6 :E’D DEC:4E=J 2 D6=64E\2?5\4FE @A6C2E:@? 2D 96 5@6D ?@E D9:A 9:D EC66D E@ 2?J H9@=6D2=6CD W7@C 2 G:6H @? E92E >2C<6E[ D66 244@>A2?J:?8 DE@CJX]k^Am
kAm(2C5 D2JD 96 92D A=2?E65 d__ EC66D 6G6CJ @E96C J62C @G6C E96 J62CD 2?5 4FCC6?E=J 92D “23@FE `[a__\`[d__ :? E96 8C@F?5]” w6 D2JD 2E 9:D 286[ ef 2?5 2 92=7[ 96 92D DE@AA65 A=2?E:?8 EC66D]k^Am
kAm“x 7:8FC6 x 92G6 6?@F89 :?G6?E@CJ E@ 42CCJ >6 E9C@F89 E@ 23@FE H96? x’> fb[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 H:E9 2?J =F4<[ 27E6C 9:D 2?5 }2?4J’D E:>6 @? E96 72C> :D @G6C[ D@>6 @E96C 72>:=J H:== 4@>6 2=@?8 E@ 42E6C E@ E96 EC66 72C> 2?5 E96 A2DEFC6[ <66A:?8 E96> E:5J 2?5 42C65 7@C]k^Am
kAmx? E96 >62?E:>6[ E96J 92G6 EC66D E@ 42C6 7@C[ 2?5 @G6C E96 ?6IE H66<[ A6C764E q2=D2> 7:CD E@ D6==]k^Am
kAmpD @7 E9:D HC:E:?8 @? (65?6D52J[ E96 7@C642DE H2D 42==:?8 7@C 2 A@DD:3=6 d\h :?496D @7 D?@H %9FCD52J ?:89E :?E@ uC:52J] vC62E 7@C D<:6CDj 3FE >2J36 3C:?8:?8 E96 A:4<\J@FC\@H? D62D@? E@ 2 4=@D6 — 2=@?8 H:E9 E96 42=6?52C[ 2D >@DE A6@A=6 3J s64] `f 92G6 8@EE6? E96:C EC66] qFE[ :7 E96J DE:== 5@ H2?E 2 EC66 7@C 2 72>:=J @FE:?8[ r92>36C=2:? u2C> 92D E96>]k^Am
kAm(2C5 D2:5 :7 :E E96 D?@H E92E :D 7@C642DE65 :D E@@ 962GJ[ 96 >2J @C >2J ?@E 36 @A6? $2EFC52J] w6 25565 E92E D@>6 A6@A=6 :?D:DE @? 4FEE:?8 E96:C EC66 @? E96 abE9 @C acE9]k^Am
kAm“x? E92E 42D6[ :E’D @? E96 9@?@C DJDE6>[” 96 D2:5] “x =62G6 D@>6 D2HD 2?5 A6@A=6 42? A2J :? E96 42D9 3@I 2EE24965 E@ E96 H2C>:?8 9FE]”k^Am
kAmw@FCD 2E E96 r92>36C=2:? u2C> 2C6 H66<6?5D 7C@> `_ 2]>]\c A]>] u@C v@@8=6 >2A AFCA@D6D[ E96 255C6DD :D `db r92>36C=2:? #@25] ~E96CH:D6[ E2<6 |:== $EC66E 7C@> r6?E6C r@?H2J E@ E96 6?5] %2<6 2 C:89E @? w2>AD9:C6 #@25] p7E6C a½ >:=6D[ 8@ C:89E @? r92>36C=2:? #@25[ 2?5 E2<6 :E E@ H96C6 :E 5625\6?5D 2E r92>36C=2:? u2C>]k^Am
kAmu@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ 42== Wa_fX gh_\dccg]k^Am

(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.