Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 10 : Fall 2011 | Page 37
rest from the morning’s work. She smiles as she thinks out
loud, “Summers require many hands with big appetites.”
Richards Tree Farm has been in existence for
nearly 30 years now. Progress has made working on the
tree farm much easier over the years since its inception.
Gary Richards explains, “A motorized shearing machine,
developed by Jim Bouchard, has replaced many days of
shearing with shearing knives. Frank built a tractor-driven,
hydraulically-operated saw that has replaced the need for a
chain saw and has made the cutting of trees much safer and
faster.”
N OYES F LORIST
&
G REENHOUSE
11 F R A N K L I N S T R E E T
C A R I B O U , M A I N E 0 47 36
2 07 49 8-2 296
www.n oye sf lo wers.com
But, It’s Not All Work
Although hard work plays a significant role in the
lives of the Richards family, hard play is just as important.
During any given weekend, you can find the family getting
together for a meal around the well-used family table at the
residence of the senior Richardses. They may play board
or card games together, or just sit and talk. Conversation is
never lacking! On weekends in the winter, you will often
see the entire family sliding on the hill near their home.
This includes grandparents, children, grandchildren, and
great-grandchildren. They treasure each others’ company
and have exciting family times. And they still love spending
time around their own Christmas tree together.
“Now, that farmer and his wife live on the tree farm.
They still love Christmas season best of all, and so does their
growing family. Even though their kids have grown up, every
year they pick out a real Christmas tree, decorate it, and spend
time with their family. Just like the farmer and his wife did
years before.”
It would appear that Gary and Mary Etta’s dream
for a family tree farm worked out perfectly. After all, the
third generation of Richardses is now an active part of the
operation and the third generation of customers is coming
to pick out their Christmas tree here. As Christmases
progress, perhaps Gary’s and Mary Etta’s three and a half
great-grandchildren (the fourth is due in September, 2011)
will be the next generation to work the farm.
Please visit them on the Web at
www.mainechristmastree.com/farm
or on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/pages/Richards-Christmas-Tree-Farm
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Houlton, Maine 04730
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207.408.3100
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Caribou, Me 04736
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