KCKidsFun

Thanksgiving is in 2 days and it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…perhaps decorating your home and putting up a tree is in store for you this weekend.   We thought we’d make the tree-searching easier for you if a real tree is what you’re after.  I stumbled onto a great site belonging to The National Christmas Tree Association. Yes, there really is such a thing! The site is very useful–simply enter your ZIP code in the green “Find My Tree Now” box on the left to see a listing of tree farms/lots and how far they are from your home.

Please be sure to call ahead to check hours of operation, especially to the listings without websites. It seems like we lose a few more tree farms to development every year – we don’t want you to venture out just to find that the old Christmas tree farm is now a subdivision!  If I’ve missed anything–send the info my way and I’ll gladly include it.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, Kids Fun readers!  I am especially thankful for my family’s health and happiness–and for our newest family member.  It’s hard to believe that it’s been nearly 10 months since my husband and I brought her home!

KANSAS TREE FARMS

Bishop’s Pine Crest Tree Farms – hay rides, Santa visits. FREE: Tiny-Tot train ride; hot chocolate; cookies; coffee.
13259 166th Street, Linwood, KS, 66052 (THIS IS IN WYANDOTTE COUNTY, JUST A BIT WEST OF K-7 BETWEEN K-10 AND I-70)
Phone: 913-441-8811 or 913-441-3605
Email: mrbishop@sky.net

D & G Christmas Tree Farm - Cut your own and precut Christmas trees
Hwy 69 & 247th Street, Louisburg, KS, 66053 (just south of Johnson County)
Phone: 913-837-2387
Email: tree1@micoks.net

Long Branch Christmas Tree Ranch                                                                              25990 W. 77th Street Shawnee, KS 913-441-5990

Midland Holiday Pines -winter hay rides, winter wagon rides
18541 Midland Drive, Shawnee, KS 66218 (one mile west of 435 at Midland)
Phone: 913-631-5095
Email: jwegs1@aol.com

Tomahawk Pines Christmas Tree Farm
6575 West 183rd Street, Stilwell, KS, 66085
Phone: 913-681-2312
Email: thebeilers@aol.com

Bierman’s Christmas Tree Farm & Pumpkin Patch - Santa, sleigh rides
2825 S 63rd Street, Kansas City, KS 66106 (just north of Merriam)
Phone: 913-375-1317

Evening Star Pines - Christmas trees
9820 Evening Star Road, Eudora, KS, 66025 (off of K-10, just west of Johnson County)
Phone: 785-542-1634
Email: criscc_esp@msn.com

Green Forest Tree Farm- Free Coffee & Hayrides, Free Gifts for Kids, Santa’s sleigh and 14′ chain saw sculptured deer sculpture by local artist
292 North 2100 Road, Lecompton, KS, 66050 (between Lawrence and Topeka)
Phone: 785-887-6645
Email: tryan@faic2.com

Strawberry Hill Christmas Tree Farm – hay rides, free hot spiced cider, cookies and hay rides.
794 US 40, Lawrence, KS, 66049
Phone: 785-841-0916 or Fax: 785-841-2266
Email: info@strawberryhillchristmas.com

Baker Christmas Tree Farm - Christmas trees- you choose and you cut
17277 Springdale Road, Leavenworth, KS, 66048
Phone: 913-651-3829
Email: acb1040@hotmail.com

Wilderson Tree Farm - We offer FREE coffee, hot chocolate and candy canes, as well as hay rides.
14820 Parallel Road, Basehor, KS, 66007 (not too far west of the Legends and the Kansas Speedway)
Phone: 913-724-1057 or 913-724-3788

MISSOURI TREE FARMS

Fort Osage Christmas -
3022 N. Twyman Road, Independence, MO 64058

Mrs. Claus appears beginning Thanksgiving weekend, she reads holiday stories to the kiddies at the top of the hour on Saturday and Sunday. Bonfire to warm your soul; Hot Chocolate and Candy Canes and Coloring books; all complimentary.
Phone: 816-650-3516
Email: kimjluke@embarqmail.com

Santa’s Tree Farm
1051 NE Todd George Rd, Lee’s Summit, MO, 64086
Phone: 816-524-2190

Reindeer Lane -
19401 Fightmaster, Trimble, MO, 64492 (up near Smithville Lake)
Phone: 816-628-3253
Email: xmas@reindeerlane.biz

Christmas Ranch Tree Farm – U-Choose and Cut your own Christmas trees
24818 N.E. 148th, Excelsior Springs, MO, 64024
Phone: 816-630-5086
Email: roy.freeman2@GTE.net or chafeman@cmh.edu

Schmitt Tree Farms - Living rooted trees, U-Choose and Cut your own Christmas trees
1018 N. Morse, Liberty, MO, 64068
Phone: 816-781-5790

Schmitt Tree Farms/Santa’s Forest – many varieties and large trees available plus SANTA!
2806 SE 209th St, Holt, MO (north of Liberty)
Phone: 816-320-2248

Fulk Farms - U-Choose and Cut your own Christmas trees, Wagon rides and gift shop available.
26905 Hwy 92, Platte City, MO, 64079 (just north of the airport)
Phone: 816-858-2467

Pine Grove Tree Farm - choose and cut your own white pine Christmas tree
27102 East Herring Rd., Greenwood, MO 64034 (just southeast of Lee’s Summit)
Phone: 816-524-5797
Email: cbkeith57@netzero.com

Pumpkins & Pines – hayrides, choose your own Scotch or White pine to cut, Christmas store and hot chocolate!
20606 South SR 7, Pleasant Hill, MO (between Lee’s Summit and Harrisonville)
Phone: (816) 540-3887

We had a weird spring here in the Kansas City metro area and, while it affected all of us, it reeeeeealllllly affected our local growers. We had a lot of rain (usually good) and a late freeze (overwhelmingly bad). Some crops were damaged, others just delayed. But here we are – mid-June. And the berries are upon us!

Have you ever taken the kids berry picking? Did you go as a child? I can remember strawberry picking as a child and then watching my mother make and can preserves. Mason jars, lots of boiling water, paraffin wax and probably a lot of whining by me. I didn’t like strawberries. Have I mentioned that I was kind of a weird kid?!

I’m not sure about my 7-year-old but I KNOW that my 6-year-old is dying to get out to pick some beautiful, plump blueberries this summer. I think she’ll eat them just as fast as she can pick them though!

The blueberries are ripening now and will be generally available through mid-August in our area. Several farms also grow blackberries, which ripen up a bit later. Look for blackberries starting about July 1st through September/October.

I know of one local grower that has strawberries in season. Unfortunately, that season is over. The same grower though has red raspberries available to pick. Yum!

Here are the Kansas City-area berry picking spots to check out:

• The Berry Patch (just south of Leawood & Martin City) – HUGE crop of blueberries and blackberries, great activities for kids!

• Cy & Dee’s Blackberry Farm (Louisburg, KS) – 28615 Rockville Rd., 913-837-2254

• Duncan’s Berry Farm (Smithville, MO) – might not have you-pick berries this year, probably should call first

• Lawson Brothers’ Farm (Baldwin City, KS) – raspberries and blackberries here! (And strawberries in season.)

• Schreiman Orchards (Waverly, MO) – 660-493-2477 – berries and peaches, an hour east of KC

• Sibley Orchards (Sibley, Jackson County, MO) – blackberries (and peaches and apples in season)

• Wagon Wheel Orchard (Gardner, KS) – no berries here (and the cherries were freeze-damaged this year) but look for peaches and apples beginning in August

For a few more in the outlying areas, check out the Pick-Your-Own Farms and Orchards site for state-by-state lists:

• Pick-Your-Own Farms and Orchards (Kansas sites)

• Pick-Your-Own Farms and Orchards (Missouri sites)

*photo via barcoder96

With only 23 days left until Christmas…if you don’t have your tree up yet, now is the time! December did seem to take us by surprise after the later-than-usual Thanksgiving. We thought we’d make the tree-searching easier for you if a real tree is what you’re after. I have to give thanks to my two main sources…Amber at www.kansascitymommies.com had a wonderful list going and was kind enough to share with us. Thanks, Amber! I also stumbled onto a great site belonging to The National Christmas Tree Association. Yes, there really is such a thing! The site is very useful–simply enter your ZIP code in the green “Find My Tree Now” box on the left to see a listing of tree farms/lots and how far they are from your home.

Please be sure to call ahead to check hours of operation, especially to the listings without websites. It seems like we lose a few more tree farms to development every year – we don’t want you to venture out just to find that the old Christmas tree farm is now a subdivision!

KANSAS TREE FARMS

Bishop’s Pine Crest Tree Farms – hay rides, Santa visits. FREE: Tiny-Tot train ride; hot chocolate; cookies; coffee.
13259 166th Street, Linwood, KS, 66052 (THIS IS IN WYANDOTTE COUNTY, JUST A BIT WEST OF K-7 BETWEEN K-10 AND I-70)
Phone: 913-441-8811 or 913-441-3605
Email: mrbishop@sky.net

Boresow’s Country Pines

5695 Clare Road Shawnee, KS 66226 Phone: 913-441-1111

D & G Christmas Tree Farm – Cut your own and precut Christmas trees
Hwy 69 & 247th Street, Louisburg, KS, 66053 (just south of Johnson County)
Phone: 913-837-2387
Email: tree1@micoks.net

Long Branch Christmas Tree Ranch

25990 W. 77th Street Shawnee, KS 913-441-5990

Midland Holiday Pines -winter hay rides, winter wagon rides
18541 Midland Drive, Shawnee, KS 66218 (one mile west of 435 at Midland)
Phone: 913-631-5095
Email: jwegs1@aol.com

Tomahawk Pines Christmas Tree Farm
6575 West 183rd Street, Stilwell, KS, 66085
Phone: 913-681-2312
Email: thebeilers@aol.com

Bierman’s Christmas Tree Farm & Pumpkin Patch – Santa appearances, sleigh rides
2825 S 63rd Street, Kansas City, KS 66106 (just north of Merriam)
Phone: 913-375-1317

Evening Star Pines – Christmas trees
9820 Evening Star Road, Eudora, KS, 66025 (off of K-10, just west of Johnson County)
Phone: 785-542-1634
Email: criscc_esp@msn.com

Green Forest Tree Farm- Free Coffee & Hayrides, Free Gifts for Kids, Santa’s sleigh and 14′ chain saw sculptured deer sculpture by local artist
292 North 2100 Road, Lecompton, KS, 66050 (between Lawrence and Topeka)
Phone: 785-887-6645
Email: tryan@faic2.com

Strawberry Hill Christmas Tree Farm – hay rides, free hot spiced cider, cookies and hay rides.
794 US 40, Lawrence, KS, 66049
Phone: 785-841-0916 or Fax: 785-841-2266
Email: info@strawberryhillchristmas.com

Baker Christmas Tree Farm – Christmas trees- you choose and you cut
17277 Springdale Road, Leavenworth, KS, 66048
Phone: 913-651-3829
Email: acb1040@hotmail.com

Wilderson Tree Farm – We offer FREE coffee, hot chocolate and candy canes, as well as hay rides.
14820 Parallel Road, Basehor, KS, 66007 (not too far west of the Legends and the Kansas Speedway)
Phone: 913-724-1057 or 913-724-3788

MISSOURI TREE FARMS

Fort Osage Christmas -
3022 N. Twyman Road, Independence, MO 64058

Mrs. Claus appears beginning Thanksgiving weekend, she reads holiday stories to the kiddies at the top of the hour on Saturday and Sunday. Bonfire to warm your soul; Hot Chocolate and Candy Canes and Coloring books; all complimentary.
Phone: 816-650-3516
Email: kimjluke@embarqmail.com

Santa’s Tree Farm
1051 NE Todd George Rd, Lee’s Summit, MO, 64086
Phone: 816-524-2190

Reindeer Lane -
19401 Fightmaster, Trimble, MO, 64492 (up near Smithville Lake)
Phone: 816-628-3253
Email: xmas@reindeerlane.biz

Christmas Ranch Tree Farm – U-Choose and Cut your own Christmas trees
24818 N.E. 148th, Excelsior Springs, MO, 64024
Phone: 816-630-5086
Email: roy.freeman2@GTE.net or chafeman@cmh.edu

Schmitt Tree Farms – Living rooted trees, U-Choose and Cut your own Christmas trees
1018 N. Morse, Liberty, MO, 64068
Phone: 816-781-5790

Schmitt Tree Farms/Santa’s Forest – many varieties and large trees available plus SANTA!
2806 SE 209th St, Holt, MO (north of Liberty)
Phone: 816-320-2248

Fulk Farms - U-Choose and Cut your own Christmas trees, Wagon rides and gift shop available.
26905 Hwy 92, Platte City, MO, 64079 (just north of the airport)
Phone: 816-858-2467

Pine Grove Tree Farm – choose and cut your own white pine Christmas tree
27102 East Herring Rd., Greenwood, MO 64034 (just southeast of Lee’s Summit)
Phone: 816-524-5797
Email: cbkeith57@netzero.com

Pumpkins & Pines – hayrides, choose your own Scotch or White pine to cut, Christmas store and hot chocolate!
20606 South SR 7, Pleasant Hill, MO (between Lee’s Summit and Harrisonville)
Phone: (816) 540-3887