Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Pahl.
Hi Kevin, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
While growing up in Central Florida, my family always made it a point to buy a real Christmas tree. Real versus fake just seemed to be a no-brainer, and having the perfect tree was always a priority. Despite the fun we had over the years, I still felt as if there could be more. You see, we always bought from “big box” stores and I quickly found that picking out a Christmas tree in this way was purely transactional– grab a tree, pay, and leave. In fact, the more I looked around, the more I realized how quick the whole process was and how often people came alone. I felt that the tradition of picking out a Christmas tree as a family had faded, and in this void, the idea of Evergreen Traditions was born. I wanted to make a whole event around picking out your Christmas tree, a day full of family fun. I wanted a farm, where people could spend some time with each other, play games, eat s’mores, and make memories. So finally, when the pandemic hit, my wife and I decided to use that time to make it a reality. We started in March of 2020, and after a year and a half of planning, many late nights, and lots of prayer, we hosted Christmas at the Farm on Thanksgiving weekend 2021.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
No small business is a smooth road. That’s a guarantee. But, we will say we are very thankful for the quick success we found in our first year. One of the greatest obstacles we encountered was the wholesale Christmas tree shortage. Back during the financial crisis of 2008, a lot of farms when out of business. And Christmas trees take a long time to grow, so we are seeing the repercussions of this now. Initially, we called over 100 farms with no success before we were finally able to secure wholesale trees. Even this year, as we look to grow, it’s a constant struggle to find a reliable wholesale supplier that has the inventory to fulfill our order.
As you know, we’re big fans of Evergreen Traditions. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
At Evergreen Traditions, our big event of the year is called Christmas at the Farm. Christmas at the Farm is more than just a tree lot. It’s an experience for the whole family full of hot chocolate, s’mores, and plenty of fun holiday activities, all centered around picking out your Christmas Tree. We take a step away from parking lot Christmas trees, and take a step into Hallmark, making your holiday dreams come alive with local vendors, music, arts and crafts for kids, and a sea of the richest green Christmas trees.
We hope to give people a reprieve from the busy holiday season and leave with much more than just a tree in hand, but with a day full of memories and a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.
What matters most to you?
We take great pride in 4 things: quality trees, family fun, giving back, and service.
Quality Trees: We want our trees to be the fullest, freshest, and healthiest trees possible. That’s why we only order “Grade 1” trees, which are considered the top 20% of the crop. We get our shipment as late as possible, so the cut is as fresh as possible. We take great care with storing the trees, and prioritize the longevity of the trees so they stay green all until Christmas.
Family Fun: It’s important to us that everyone enjoys their time when they’re with us. We put significant effort into our “experience”, and want to create activities that are fun for a wide variety of ages.
Giving Back: Our community matters, and we want to give of our resources to reinvest in the Greenville area and to inspire others to do the same. We are proud to host some of the best local vendors in the Upstate, that make artisan crafts by hand. We also find it important to remind people about the greatest gift given to us in the birth of Jesus, and use that as inspiration to give back to our community.
Service: You can always expect smiling faces to greet you and be around to help out. We truly want to make your visit as perfect as possible, and generally have extended family working the different areas around the farm.
Pricing:
- Tickets: $10 per person
- Christmas tree pricing ranges based on size and species
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.evergreentraditions.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evergreentraditions/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EvergreenTraditions
Image Credits
Jeremy Fleming
