It's officially Christmas time in North Georgia, and what better way to get in the spirit than cutting down your own Christmas tree? You can do just that at Cooper's Tree Farm, our Small Business Spotlight for this month!
Cooper's Tree Farm is located off of busy Highway 53 in Braselton. Even if you happen to miss the signs lining the road, it's hard to miss the now-famous giant wooden reindeer that stands near the front entrance.
Owner John Cooper of Cooper's Tree Farm purchased the land back in 1975, and planted his first trees immediately after. The Christmas tree planting and growing process can take around seven years, so the farm didn't officially open for business until 1990.
"We've had families that [they] started coming and now their children are coming," said John Cooper's wife and Cooper's Tree Farm co-owner Kathy Cooper. "And they're always really pleased to tell you that it's their family tradition that they started with their mom and dad and they're moving forward with their children."
Cooper's Tree Farm offers several varieties of trees, from Leyland Cyrpus and Carolina Sapphires that are grown on the farm, to Fraser Firs that are brought from another farm in North Carolina.
Visitors also have the option to either select and cut down a tree using a saw provided by the farm, or they can choose a tree that has already been cut. Either way the process is fairly simple: bring the tree to the loading station where it is priced, bagged and loaded for transport. Each tree is also tagged with a colored ribbon, which coordinates with a nearby chart that explains what type of tree it is and the cost.
But there is more to do at Cooper's Tree Farm then just picking out a Christmas tree. A gift shop located on the property offers handmade wreaths and garland made out of tree cuttings by Kathy Cooper's sister. The gift shop also houses other goodies like ornaments and Cooper's Tree Farm t-shirts to help commemorate a visitor's experience.
An ATM is also located in the gift shop for a customer's convenience, since Cooper's Tree Farm only accepts cash and checks.
For younger kids and animal lovers, the farm is home to several different animals in the petting zoo. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own furry friends as well, as long as they stay on a leash.
But perhaps what makes Cooper's Tree Farm really stand out is their commitment to the community, which the Cooper family has called home for many generations.
The Coopers generate money for the Department of Family and Children Services, or DFACS, by allowing families to have photoshoots on the farm for a fee. Kathy Cooper said the business donates around three to four hundred dollars each year to DFACS from this profit.
"We do give back to the community," said Kathy Cooper. "But I think the important part is just...when you have been here for so long you look for people that have been regular customers and they share their lives with you."
And speaking of the next generation, Cooper's Tree Farm manager and the Coopers' future daughter-in-law Jessica Cowart talked a little bit about how important the farm is to her as well.
Cowart said it's like "livin' the Hallmark dream on a Christmas tree farm."
"It's really cool because being involved in the charities, I get to be more involved in the community. So it helps me get to know everybody around here, since I'm not from Hall County," said Cowart.
So whether you're in the market for a live Christmas tree, or just want to spend some time with family during the most wonderful time of the year, odds are you'll find a lot of that Christmas spirit and familial love at Cooper's Tree Farm.
Cooper's Tree Farm is open seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can find more information about them on their Facebook page.
Small Business Spotlight is a periodic feature highlighting unique small businesses in AccessWDUN's 10-county coverage area.
