Note: Owner/grower, Curtis Buchanan lives in Jonesborough, TN and owns Glen Ayre Tree Farm in Mitchell County, NC, the first certified organic Christmas tree farm in the United States. He can be reached at 423-753-5160 or uchanan753@aol.com. Curtis Buchanan grew up on a farm near Bakersville, North Carolina, that has been in his father?s family since the early 1800s. The family has traditionally raised trees, and Curtis followed in this tradition until a few years ago. He still produces Fraser Fir Christmas trees on the same land that his father?s family grew on for centuries, and the farm still looks over the famous Roan Mountain. Curtis recently changed his production methods to make them sustainable. Commercial Christmas tree farmers often use a powerful organophosphate pesticide called Di-Syston to control the Balsam Twig Aphid and Spruce Spider Mite. The Balsam Twig Aphid causes curling of the fir needles and makes the tree unmarketable. Di-Syston is so toxic that signs must be posted every 100 feet around the field before application. Applicators must be specially certified to apply the chemical and must wear the maximum personal protective equipment. The chemical is normally applied in late April in granular form and is systemic in action. Experts in the Christmas tree industry said that heavy applications of chemicals were mandatory in order to produce quality trees. Curtis decided that he would quit growing Christmas trees if he couldn?t find a way to produce them without chemicals. In fact Curtis did stop growing trees for three years, from 1992 to 1995. But in 1995 Curtis decided to try growing Christmas trees organically, and eight years later (in 2002) his operation was certified organic. Curtis tried many products and methods before he discovered a highly refined vegetable oil, called ?Natur?L Oil,? that was being manufactured and marketed as a surfactant by Stoller Chemical Company. Curtis sprays the oil in a 2% solution with a high-pressure sprayer. The oil suffocates the aphids for a 90% kill. Curtis says, ?There?s a fine balance between suffocating the aphids and not suffocating the trees.? Curtis has used the oil for four years now and is satisfied that he can produce market-quality Christmas trees. Stoller Chemical Company recently applied to Organic Materials Review Institute to have the oil brand-name listed for this purpose. Many customers have told Curtis that his Fraser Fir Christmas trees are the only trees that they can tolerate in their house, even though they have not tested positive for fir tree allergies. There is no scientific evidence to support it yet, but Curtis and others think that the trees are still expelling the Di-Syston from their needles in December, causing the allergic reactions. Researchers at the Appalachian Sustainable Development/Community for Jobs and Environment think the theory could be valid. They are sponsoring research into Di-Syston residual emissions. Curtis is excited about his tree operation and foresees his work having an impact on all commercial tree production. Contact:
Curtis Buchanan
Glen Ayre Tree Farm
208 E. Main St.
Jonesborough, TN 37650
423-753-5160
Posted: March 17 2007
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