Christmas tree college for novices, veterans"Christmas trees are one of the highest income-producing crops per acre," according to Joel Berry, president of the Ohio Christmas Tree Association (OCTA). Because many people are interested in getting involved in Christmas tree production, OCTA has scheduled several events to help show the way.
Anyone interested in knowing more about Christmas tree production is invited to Christmas Tree College, sponsored by OCTA. "From seedlings to sales, the meetings focus on getting involved in Christmas trees from the ground up," Berry said.
OCTA education advisers Randall Heiligmann, natural resource specialist with Ohio State University Extension, and Jim Brown, forestry specialist emeritus with the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, are helping Christmas tree producers across the state create a variety of educational programs for novice and veteran growers.
OCTA members will be on hand to share experiences and answer questions on how they got started, and what its like to be a grower.
Funding for major portions of Christmas Tree College has come from U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Grant Program. All workshops begin with dinner at 5:30 p.m. Admission is $20 per family. Contact OCTA to reserve space at 800-288-1225. Workshops are scheduled:
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