By Claudia Iseman
While most folks are in summer vacation mode this time of year, Dr. Candace Calsoyas is already thinking about Christmas. Calsoyas spends half the year teaching environmental literature at the Rachel Carson College at UC Santa Cruz and the other half operating her organic Christmas tree farm in Aptos.
“I like to let everything go to seed because it creates more organic matter,” says Calsoyas.” She doesn’t use pesticides, there’s no irrigation system and the trees are never fully cut down. The trees will re-sprout if you leave green at the bottom.”
Dr. Candace Calsoyas teaches environmental literature at the Rachel Carson College at her organic Christmas tree farm in Aptos.
She calls her farm “La Pajarosa” (red bird) and she’s been working the one- acre farm for over 50 years.
Located at 2020 Pleasant Valley Road, Calsoyas grows over six varieties of trees and says customers come year after year to experience what she calls “tea and trees.” She has a tea house where she serves hot cider to patrons.
“Her trees look unique, says Catherine Segurson. “You don’t find that at other tree farms,” she added.
Segurson and her family have made La Pajarosa tree farm an annual holiday tradition, as they have been returning for about 20-years.
“Candace always makes it a fun experience. It’s like what Christmas was like in the 1960s,” said Segurson. “The farm is Christmas in nature.”
In spring and summer Calsoyas is busy pruning and shaping the trees. She uses a weed wacker and a tractor to til the soil to keep the weeds under control and waters only the seedlings.
She said she has to be careful not to trim too much, as she doesn’t want to impede the growth of the trees but adds she doesn’t like to shape to the branches to look like they’ve been through a pencil sharpener.
“I don’t have a fence up because I want to this to be a wildlife habitat,” said Calsoyas.
She enjoys seeing the deer and coyote roam through the trees but breaks out in song when she sees the occasional Rattle Snake.
“The sound of my voice seems to sooth them and they slither away,” she said.
Last month, Calsoyas attended the annual California Christmas Tree Growers Association conference where Christmas tree growers discuss planting methods.
Usually, she’s one of the few organic growers but she said this year there were newcomers who were interested in farming without pesticides. The natural approach to growing also allows her to keep her prices affordable at $75 to $85 a tree.
“People often tell me that it’s their dream to be a Christmas tree farmer. I love it, it’s like having my own mini forest.”