<p>Stepping out among the fields of Emmanuel Tree Farm, visitors find the true meaning of Christmas.</p><p>Certainly, there are the traditional symbols of the season: the Scotch pine and Canaan fir planted in neat rows, fresh-cut Fraser firs and other varieties, plus wreaths, small potted trees and other decor.</p><p>But owners Don and Karen Beckwith point to more meaningful experiences their farm offers. Along the Nativity Trail, people can learn the biblical story of Christmas, dress up like Mary or Joseph and read scripture about Jesus’ birth.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]<p>And during their time on the farm, families get to connect in a way that otherwise they might not be able to.</p><p>“It’s very joyful to me to see families coming and going,” Karen Beckwith said. “Seeing the happiness on people’s faces, it’s special.”</p><p>What started as a post-retirement plan for the Beckwiths has evolved into a labor of love. They opened up Emmanuel Tree Farm for the season Friday, ready to carry on their role in the holiday traditions of local families.</p><p>After taking 2019 off while Don Beckwith recovered from surgery, it feels good to open back up again to repeat customers and new visitors alike.</p><p>“One thing we’ve always noticed is, our customers are happy. It’s Christmas, people are in a good mood, it’s inspiring that there are good things out there,” Don Beckwith said.</p><p>Don Beckwith knew the magic that a live tree can bring to the holidays. His family had always bought one for their home for Christmas, and when he married Karen, he brought that tradition with him.</p><p>At the same time, they spread the joy of picking out a tree to their friends.</p><p>“We had two kids, and they were really into going out every year. They’d usually bring a friend or two, usually people who didn’t buy a real tree with their families, and we made a day out of it,” Karen Beckwith said. “It was a lot of fun, and even when our kids were in high school and college, we’d go out.”</p><p>About 25 years ago, during one of their excursions to buy a tree, the Beckwiths encountered a Greenwood resident who was selling trees out of his front yard.</p><p>“I thought maybe that’d be something to do when I retired — grow trees and have a little farm, where people could choose and cut them,” Don Beckwith said.</p><p>At the time, it was just a dream. But Don Beckwith kept bringing it up, laying out plans. After he and Karen Beckwith, a teacher for 32 years, retired, they started looking for land to start their tree farm.</p><p>They found the perfect spot in Trafalgar.</p><p>“It was just beautiful. That got me on board,” Karen Beckwith said.</p><p>Up to that point, the Beckwiths had no experience growing trees, other than planting a few in their yards. They had to learn about which varieties grew best in their soil and in the Indiana climate, and plan out how long before the ones they planted would be mature enough for people to cut down.</p><p>“We had planted a few evergreens in our yard back home, and they grew fine, so I thought it shouldn’t be too hard,” Don Beckwith said. “Little did I know…”</p><p>To get guidance and learn what it takes to have an evergreen tree farm, the Beckwiths joined the Indiana Christmas Tree Association and sought out help. Other members were invaluable in providing insight from their own experiences.</p><p>“We made a lot of errors along the way, and still do,” Karen Beckwith said. “It’s been a lot of work, but it’s a labor of love.”</p><p>Scotch pine grows well in Indiana’s climate and the soil of southern Johnson County. Another variety, Canaan fir, proved difficult to grow at first, but adjustments have allowed the Beckwiths to have a solid stand of those trees as well.</p><p>Their favorite type of tree is the Fraser fir, an aromatic and soft-needled tree. Those don’t grow easily in Indiana, so Emmanuel Tree Farm purchases pre-cut trees from North Carolina.</p><p>“They smell wonderful, and people really enjoy them,” Don Beckwith said.</p><p>The trees are the centerpiece of the farm. But they also had ideas about uniting the spirit of Christmas with the reason for the season.</p><p>“His dream, and as I got on board, was to make it more faith-based and make it nativity themed. That’s where the name ‘Emmanuel’ came from,” Karen Beckwith said.</p><p>The Beckwiths ran with the concept. As people pull into the property, there is a full nativity scene to greet people. Areas are set aside where kids — and even their parents — can dress up as Mary, Joseph, a shepherd or a donkey.</p><p>The farm also features the Nativity Trail, recreations of biblical stories and moments from Christ’s birth set along a walking pathway. They collected statues set up to tell different stories, building small shelters to house scenes such as the Annunciation, the Visitation, and Mary and Joseph’s trip to Bethlehem.</p><p>Scripture passages are included in the scenes, so people can connect the Bible verses with the imagery.</p><p>“They can walk through and read scriptures pertaining to that particular scene,” Don Beckwith said.</p><p>Drawing from her experience as a teacher, Karen Beckwith always has different crafts for kids to do while on the farm. This year, it’s a stick and figurine baby Jesus that children can use to count down to Christmas.</p><p>This will be the fourth season for the tree farm, after having to sit out last year as Don Beckwith recovered from medical issues.</p><p>The pandemic has required some changes to their traditional activities. Glass partitions are set up to protect workers and visitors. Instead of face painting, they’ll be offering holiday hand painting. People are asked to wear masks.</p><p>“Everything is outside, so we feel pretty good about it,” Karen Beckwith said.</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="Emmanuel Tree Farm" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>What: A Trafalgar-based Christmas tree farm offering cut-your-own trees, pre-cut trees and holiday decor.</p><p>Owners: Don and Karen Beckwith</p><p>Where: 4919 W. 300 South, Trafalgar</p><p>Open to public: Today and Sunday, Dec. 4-6, 11-13</p><p>Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays</p><p>Information: emmanueltreefarm.com</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]
