Imagine tromping through the snow to find your perfect Christmas tree while Jack Frost nips at your nose. Or exploring nature trails on foot, by snowshoe, or on cross-country skis. Or sipping a steaming cup of hot cocoa while making a Christmas wreath for someone special. At Winterport Evergreen Farm, visitors can embrace the holiday season \u2014 and maybe even start a new tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The childhood stomping grounds of Julia Kearns along the Monroe Road sprouted into a Christmas tree farm in the fall of 2016 when she and her husband, Sean Kearns, planted 100 Christmas trees, planning their second career as tree farmers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lack of rain, however, led to the demise of all the trees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe truth of the matter is we really didn\u2019t know all that much about growing trees at a farm level,\u201d Julia said. \u201cYes, we were confused and frustrated, but more so, we were humbled and determined.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The couple planted hundreds of new trees in the spring of 2017, and have continued planting hundreds of seedlings each year since. Eventually, they left their full-time careers behind \u2014 he a Navy captain and she a middle school teacher \u2014 to focus on the farm. They\u2019re now celebrating one year as a small Christmas tree farm with a big community-minded heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The history of this community gathering spot in \u201cBack Winterport\u201d began 50 years ago when Julia\u2019s parents purchased the Cox farm, once a chicken farm. Today the Kearns have carved out 10 acres for their business \u2014 keeping the entire family busy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAfter we married in 2014, we toyed with the idea of planting a small plot of Christmas trees that would be strictly for our extended family,\u201d Sean said. By 2017 this idea had grown into a plan for a second career as Christmas tree farmers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe started our first successful planting of approximately 300 Christmas tree seedlings, and we have been planting between 300 and 800 seedlings each spring,\u201d Sean said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After their first failed planting, the pair knew they had to \u201cget smarter\u201d in the tree farming world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe reached out to other tree farmers and sought their expertise. We attended conferences, bought and read books, talked with folks from UMaine Cooperative Extension, and so forth. Call it stubbornness, call it pride, or call it Maine determination, we dug in,\u201d Julia said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sean admitted the journey wasn\u2019t easy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe learning curve was very steep the first few years, and we still find ourselves \u2018learning things the hard way\u2019 from time to time, but with a lot of personal research and the help of organizations like MCTA [Maine Christmas Tree Association] and the UMaine Cooperative Extension, we have gotten to the point where we mostly feel like we know what we are doing,\u201d Sean said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere are so many variables that come into play when there are numerous trees in a plantation,\u201d Julia said. \u201cPests, irrigation, and weed control become priorities. Mother Nature always has her say \u2014 we just try to learn to work with her and take what she gives us, and grow from there literally and figuratively.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This Christmas season, Winterport Evergreen Farm celebrates one year of business with nearly 3,000 balsam fir varieties growing in sizes ranging from one foot to over 10 feet tall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to the trees, the business has also blossomed into a community market that ran from May through September, bringing together old acquaintances and the opportunity to meet new people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt started as a notion to host some sort of farmers\u2019 market and grew into the idea of a community market with a greater variety of vendors, food, live music, and civic and other charitable organizations,\u201d Sean said. \u201cIt has truly brought the greater community together out here in Back Winterport.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe spend hours talking about different ways to bring the community together, including spotlighting civic groups and charities. As soon as one market is over, we are planning for the next one \u2014 always with community in mind,\u201d Julia said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the markets, more than 30 vendors nestle between apple trees and fields of fir trees, and the barn, built of milled wood from the family property, sports farm-made products. And because Christmas is always on the mind of this couple, the farm celebrated Christmas in July, giving patrons a leg up on their holiday shopping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vendor Jen Tweedie of Winterport likes the atmosphere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s family friendly, offers \u2018welcome home\u2019 vibes, and everyone is kind,\u201d Tweedie said. \u201cIt’s wonderful to see how many businesses we have in and surrounding Winterport.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Aside from the variety of products, live music is a big draw. Don Bergeron of Winterport is one of a few musicians who joined the community market. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe atmosphere is of appreciation and a small town vibe,\u201d Bergeron said. \u201cI\u2019ve met many people and the exposure has boosted my musical experience and luthier skills (one who makes stringed musical instruments).\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Julia called the couple\u2019s venture a tale of persistence. Sean agreed: \u201cAny sort of farming involves a lot of hard work, and Christmas tree farming is no exception. But we find it very fulfilling along with the other agrotourism activities we host here, such as the community markets, wreath making classes, school visits, and workshops.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere is a substantial amount of work that leads up to opening day, but sharing holiday memories with families is a beautiful feeling \u2014 and it\u2019s that feeling of goodness that carries us through the days of hard work from April to October,\u201d Julia said. \u201cWhen November comes and the snow is flying and the hot cocoa is flowing, it\u2019s like living in a Hallmark movie.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The barn at Winterport Evergreen Farm hosts a gift shop offering a variety of products. Wreath making classes are now underway, and Christmas tree sales begin the day after Thanksgiving, continuing each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during the season from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bangormetro.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Winterport-2.png\")
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