Annual Pumpkin Hunt
We are Paul and Annette Brusven from Spring Valley Family Tree Farm in Troy, Idaho. We started looking for land early in our marriage to start a Christmas tree farm. We wanted to provide a place for families to come and spend time together, while fulfilling our desire to grow things as well! In 2004, we found acreage near Spring Valley Reservoir that was just what we were looking for. It had been a horse ranch and was mostly pasture, but it had a barn and a great well – two items that were essential for a Christmas tree farm, and it sold us on purchasing the property. In 2005 we planted our first 1600 trees, bringing our dream of a Christmas tree farm to life. The first harvest was in 2012 when we sold 30 trees to friends and family. Since then, business has grown a bit, and we reached our potential last year with sales of 1100 trees. Customers can choose from thirteen tree species, with the most popular being Grand Fir, which smells the most like Christmas. The barn houses a gift shop where over 40 local vendors sell lovely handmade items including ornaments, candles, knitted items, quilts, and stained glass and much more. We also offer wreath making classes the weekend before Thanksgiving. Our children, Tessa and Cole, enjoy coming home for the holidays to help with the festivities and tree selling.
Annette’s parents, who owned a wholesale Christmas tree farm near Harrison, have converted their farm to a seed orchard which provides seed for the seedlings that are grown for our tree farm, so it truly is a family affair! Annette has a degree in Plant Science, and a Masters in Horticulture and worked at the University of Idaho Pitkin Forest Nursery for 25 years. Paul has a background in soils, crop production, and conservation planning. He works full time for the Nez Perce Tribe as coordinator for the Bio Control Center. He always wanted to farm, not knowing he’d end up tree farming. It’s a good mesh, between Annette’s background and his desire to do more agriculture and mechanical related aspects of farming.
We have expanded the use of our land over time and now grow blueberries, pumpkins, sweet corn, vegetables and cut flowers you can purchase at the Moscow Food Co-op and the Latah Farmers Market. We also have a new lavender field and make lavender blueberry vanilla jam, lavender shortbread, Earl Gray lavender tea, and other culinary delights that can be purchased in our gift shop from Oct-Dec!
Another popular event we offer is our annual Pumpkin Hunt the 2ndand 3rd weekend in October. Pumpkins are hidden among the Christmas trees as well as Golden Gourds, which bring a prize if found! There is a 700 straw bale maze, hay rides, petting zoo, and a giant sling shot. Brats, hotdogs, fresh pressed apple cider and pumpkin bars and cookies are available as well. We also offer field trips for school groups the first two weeks of October, before the general public comes out to enjoy the fun.
We really enjoy the whole aspect of agri-tourism. We’ve met wonderful people and appreciate building relationships with members of the community and surrounding area, while also providing a place for families to come and spend time together making memories.
To learn more about Spring Valley Family Tree Farm check out our website: https://www.springvalleyfamilytreefarm.com and facebook page:
www.facebook.com/Springvalleyfamilytreefarm
