CELEBRATION TREE FARM AND WELLNESS CENTER
Enthusiastically greeted by Ginger, the canine, I approached the Celebration Tree Farm and Wellness Center barn to meet Jonah and Burdie, two of the three worker-owners of the multi stakeholder cooperative. They arranged some chairs in the shade and we sat down to talk. The field of yellow flowers in front of us captured the beautiful September light as I learned about the formation of this new cooperative.
THE FARM
Jonah and Burdie purchased the property in Durham in 2015. Originally not excited about the tree farm, they decided to give it a try since people would come to the farm for their annual Christmas Tree out of habit. It was also a way to build, and be part of, community – an important element that is present throughout their lives. In their second year of operation, they decided to open an outdoor Celebration Market, which now takes place on Small Business Saturday every year. The market has grown tremendously and tripled in size last year during the Pandemic.
In addition to the seasonal Tree Farm and Market operation, Celebration Tree Farm and Wellness Center also offer rustic and pandemic-safe lodging in their Celebration Bus, spa amenities, and a beautiful event venue for weddings and other celebrations. They also include yoga and wellness consultations in their regular offerings. Much of the wellness work has migrated to an online format during the pandemic which has both been positive and negative.
THE CO-OP
The Celebration Tree Farm converted to a multi stakeholder cooperative in 2020. Jonah and Burdie sold 110 acres of Land to the Land in Common Land Trust and the Co-op assumed a 99 year lease as stewards of that land. The co-op now has three worker-owners and just rolled out a Community Supported Forrest (CSF) membership program that opens up member-ownership for those who have remained members for a year. Membership offers an Organically Certified celebration tree, a small tree and a wreath along with deep discounts on lodging and amenities, event space rentals and year round access to the farm’s trail system.
CHALLANGES AND FUTURE PLANS
There have been few challenges for the Tree Farm during the pandemic. Infact, as mentioned already, the Celebration Market tripled in size due to the pandemic and peoples need for community in a safe outdoor setting. A few pivots that were done early on, like separating check-in and check-out and developing an online ordering option for customers, will actually serve the co-op long-term and has informed the newly released CSF program. There are, however, ongoing challenges with running a tree farm. Selling Christmas Trees is a seasonal business with an inventory that replenishes slowly (trees take 7-10 years to mature). Understanding the right level of growth for long-term forest sustainability and balancing that with achieving scale to sustain 2-4 worker-owner year round remains the key challenge for the current worker-owners.
RESOURCES
The Celebration Tree Farm enjoys being a CMBA member and Jonah specifically recommends our P6 Conference. He is also currently available as mentor for CMBA members needing assistance with Equity and Inclusion work in their co-op. You can find more information on our Mentorship Program HERE. The Celebration Farm and Wellness Center crew is also willing to assist you with questions regarding cooperative farming. You can reach them by emailing celebrationtreefarm@gmail.com or calling 207-653-3319.
Here is a list of additional helpful resources that Jonah and Burdie want to recommend to other CMBA members:
The Cooperative Fund of New England (CFNE)
The Cooperative Development Institute (CDI)
Co-op Farming Guide – A Greenhorns Guidebook by Faith Gilbert
