Celebrating 22 years in business, Matthew Gay has recently opened his Christmas tree farm for another joyful holiday season to sell thousands of quality trees that are grown to last.
Open everyday while supplies last until Christmas Eve, Gay’s farm, located in Augusta at 2335 Tobacco Road, features various types of Christmas trees that can be freshly flocked at a customer’s request. Trees offered include Murray Cypresses, Carolina Sapphire Cypresses and Douglas Firs.
Showcasing countless rows of Christmas trees, Gay said his pride lies in growing amazing trees and educating buyers on how to make theirs last for the entire season.
“I want to sell a quality product so people want to buy locally,” said Gay. “In February and March, when families drive by, I want them to say, ‘man, we got a great Christmas tree there. We’re going back next year.’”
Taking extra care to constantly water all his trees, balance soil nutrition and freeze the small percentage that are transported to ensure freshness, Gay utilizes his profound tree expertise to grow healthy trees years in advance to selling them.
“We do anything we can to preserve them,” he said. “I want them to last. If they don’t, that’s possibly a lost customer forever, because they switched to buying an artificial tree.”
To Gay, everyone should experience the joy of going out as a family to hand select a fresh Christmas tree to bring home for the holidays.
“The process and experience of going to get a tree and enjoying the popcorn and hayrides – we don’t get to do that much around here anymore,” said Gay. “So that’s a memory kids will have forever.”
One of his primary focuses is providing families a special place to create family-friendly holidays memories.
“It’s not about the money – I love when the people come out and getting to know them,” he said. “I’ve had young parents with their children come out here, because they used to come here as kids and remember how fun it is, and that means an awful lot to me. It’s just about getting out and having a good time.”
By buying trees from his local farm, Gay said visiting families are also helping to support the community’s economy.
“The money spent here stays here in Augusta,” he said. “I live here; I’m not one of these pop-up places that’s going to be here today and gone tomorrow.”
Hiring local high schoolers and college students who return for several seasons, Gay’s farm has also taught many young men in the community the value of a great work ethic. For many, the farm acted as a second family.
“It’s a great environment, and I get to meet new friendly faces and see the kids have fun … it definitely feels like a brotherhood,” said longtime worker Michael Goulet. “I don’t do it for the money; I do it because I like seeing the smiling faces on kids.”
Attracting families for decades with boiled peanuts, hot chocolate, Christmas wreaths, jams, fresh wreaths, photo-op stations, hayrides, a giant inflatable snowman and a warm bonfire, while some patrons of Gay’s farm have grown up looking forward to returning every year, other newcomers have only recently added the farm to their holiday traditions.
“[Gay’s] workers are really lovely here. The customer service is great … they’ll help you whatever you are looking for,” Naya Jackson, who moved to Augusta two years ago. “It really brings you into the spirit.”
Emphasizing his support for local troops, Gay also provides for local soldiers by donating some of his trees every year to Trees for Troops to give a little holiday cheer for lower ranking officials who are in need. Shoppers wanting to assist in Gay’s mission to give back to soldiers also have the option to sponsor a tree.
“I do it because the only reason I’m able to be in business here is because of them,” said Gay.
Not only creating memories for customers, Gay’s farm is also known to host celebrations, free of charge, for Fort Gordon soldiers, such as Christmas parties.
To Gay, there is nothing more satisfying than being a homebase for holiday memories for children, parents and soldiers.
Gay’s Christmas Tree Farm is open from 2 p.m. until dark on Monday through Friday and on Sundays from 1 p.m. until dark.
For more information on Gay’s Christmas Tree Farm, visit: https://gacta.com/farms/gays-christmas-tree-farm/
