Windy Hills Farm

Choose and cut Leyland cypress, Murray cypress or Carolina Sapphire

Windy Hills Farm is a choose-and-cut Christmas tree farm in the community of Ethel, in East Feliciana Parish. It grows three kinds of cypress, and all three keep their needles when you keep them watered.

Leighton Green, a Leyland cypress, is the farm's most popular tree: green, with feathery, symmetrical limbs, and it does not really have a smell, which is a plus for people with allergies. Murray cypress is greener, with stiffer branches, a more natural, open look and a light fragrance. Carolina Sapphire is silvery light green and the most fragrant tree the farm grows, with an herbal aroma.

How a visit works, from the tag to the loading area

Every tree for sale wears a perforated tag showing its height and price. Choose your tree and cut it close to the ground, but not so close that the saw hits the dirt; if the cut is not straight, the staff can fix it. Leave the top third of the tag on the tree, which identifies it after it is processed, and tear off the lower two thirds to bring to the office to pay. Your receipt carries the tree's unique number. Please do not take the whole tag, and a tree without a tag is not for sale, because the farm keeps good-looking untagged trees growing for future years. The farm does not do pre-tagging.

Hand saws are provided, kept on a rack near the office. At busy times they may all be in use, so please return yours to the rack. Chainsaws are not allowed, and only the staff may run one. If you would rather not cut your own tree, the farm is glad to help, although at busy times you may have to wait until someone is free.

Drag or carry your tree to the loading area, or hitch a ride on the hay wagon, which should be making trips around the fields. At the loading area the tree can be shaken, drilled and baled if needed, and the staff help you load and tie it down. Shaking and baling are optional, so you can also load the tree yourself, come inside, pay and head out. If you have a drill-type (spike) stand, tell the staff and they will drill the stump before they load and tie the tree. If you cannot get a tree to the loading area, the staff will help, though they may be busy.

Prices, tags and payment

There is no set price for a tree, and trees are not priced by the foot. The price depends on the size of the tree and other factors, and it is on the tag along with the height, so you know the price before you cut. Ask the farm for the range of sizes and prices before you come.

The farm takes cash, debit and all major credit cards. Card processing runs slowly at this very rural spot, especially on Black Friday, opening day, so bring cash.

Season dates and hours

The farm opens for the season on Friday, November 27 at 10am. It is not open on Thanksgiving Day. On Thanksgiving weekend it is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm, and after that weekend it is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 5pm, as long as there are trees available.

Ask the farm about weekday visits, weather and when the last trees are gone.

Wreaths, garland, stands and the gift shop

Fresh wreaths and garland are made by hand at the farm from Leyland and Murray cypress boughs gathered in its own fields, probably that very morning. The farm tries to keep a good supply on hand, but for large quantities, call ahead and place an order. If you live nearby, the farm asks you to arrange to get your greenery during the week so visitors from farther away can buy on weekends; call to arrange a time.

The farm sells a selection of Christmas tree stands, along with tree disposal bags and tree waterers. It may decline to put a stand on a tree for you: SUVs get torn up, a long trip means the tree needs a fresh cut so it will not sap over, and some stand types are slow to fit and not sturdy enough for the drive.

The small gift shop focuses on handmade goods: jams, jellies and candles made from produce from the farm's own land, plus some ornaments, wreaths, garland, greenery and pinecones, and at times fresh yard eggs and items from local craftspeople.

Caring for your cypress

Southern-grown cypress trees do not go dormant, so they need water continually. Check the water in the stand twice a day for the first few days and at least once a day after that. If you will not have the tree up right away, stand it in a container of water, and if more than an hour passes before it is in water, make a fresh cut across the end of the trunk.

Dogs, tours, photos and good to know

Dogs are welcome on a leash or held in your arms at all times. Please pick up after your dog; the farm will have to institute a no-pets policy if that does not work out. The farm is not doing school tours at this time.

Professional photography sessions are not allowed once the farm is open for the season, though personal phones and cameras are welcome and the farm invites you to send or post your photos. Potted trees are not sold; ask the farm whether seedlings are available.

The farm, the family and contacts

The land was once part of a larger plantation and was the setting of the movie Alvarez Kelly. The farm has been selling trees to the public for more than 20 years, and it is a member of the Southern Christmas Tree Association. Besides trees, it raises beef cattle and is home to numerous dogs, cats, donkeys, chickens and other fowl, along with two overworked humans, one of whom is a veterinarian.

Call the farm at (225) 683-6828, or email windyhillsfarm@gmail.com with general questions, or photography questions. The farm's Facebook page carries updates.

• Windy Hills Farm website ↗
• Windy Hills Farm on Facebook ↗