Big John Leyden’s

Big John’s was my first visit to a Christmas Tree farm. Prior to this holiday season, I have always gone to places where the trees are already cut down and pretty much ready to be loaded on to the car (minus some snipping and sawing here and there). The BJ Leyden’s Christmas Tree Farm is an extensive farm filled with different species of tree. We were given directions by a friendly young women as we entered the farm and informed the variety of trees we could choose from, where they were located, and given a map. We didn’t drive too far down before we stopped to begin looking for a tree to match our desired height, width, etc.
We aren’t too picky but didn’t want anything too large, so we opted for a tree that was about average height and full enough to look nice in our living room. My only complaint was that my husband had to walk around for quite a while to find someone to help cut the tree down while I staked out our territory. Soon enough, someone came and cut down the tree for us, trimmed it on the bottom so that it would fit nicely in the tree stand at home and hauled it up to where they tie it enough to fit on the car. We drove over to where they do this and they hoisted the tree on the car and gave us ropes to tie it down to the vehicle ourselves. I kind of wished they could have helped with this part but I know they are busy. Once you have the tree securely tied down, you drive up to a small station where you pay for your tree (and have the opportunity to purchase a wreath if desired) before exiting. They take credit cards, which is great because we didn’t have cash on us. All-​together I thought that everyone was very nice and helpful. They could use more staff in the tree fields to help with cutting down trees but I’m sure they are stretched thin when it’s busy. Our tree was around 50 $, but I think for the experience it is worth the price and isn’t much more than a tree from the big box stores.

Great selection of trees. Get there within the first weekend of opening since most people will want to go during Thanksgiving weekend.
+Great service, flag someone down and they are more than happy to use their chainsaw to cut the tree down and tie it up like an umbrella.
+Number of trees is amazing! Don’t be disappointed if the tree you want is taken. There will be more.
–Since there is so much trees, you always have a nagging feeling you should look more before deciding…

This isn’t truly a «cut your own» Christmas Tree joint unless you bring your own saw. Otherwise you’ll be fishing around the fields for a guy to take a chainsaw to it.
The tree selection was very good despite half of the great ones being tagged. If you want to reserve a tree, you can come in early in the season and claim one aka «tag» it. Bring ribbons and decorations to do so.
They will pack up the tree for you and provide you with as much rope as you need to get it on your car (which you do yourself).
My hint for that is to tie some rope in between some of the bottom branches and bring it down the front of the car and tie it through your license plate. That’ll keep it from sliding off the back on the highway.
This place seems pretty famous and we came because of all the online mentions and traditions people mentioned about coming here.
It’s a great little/​big place, trees are $ 45 bucks and there’s a giant Santa Claus to take pictures with the kiddies.