There’s no better Christmas family tradition than finding the perfect Christmas tree each year, and Mount Nebo Trees has been keeping that tradition alive for families since 2018.
Garry Martens and his wife, Wendy, own the seven-acre tree farm near Miami, and Garry says he looks forward to welcoming both new and returning visitors each season.
Christmas spirit on the move — a Mount Nebo Trees customer loads up his holiday greenery for the journey home
“Since we were little children, we visited different tree farms around the province and in North Dakota,” Martens explained. “Eventually, we decided to make our own little project out of it. As I neared retirement, I thought this could be something meaningful to work on after my career.”
Mount Nebo Trees takes its name from the area it is located in. Situated along the Pembina Valley Escarpment, the district was historically known as Mount Nebo and sits on a small mountain, giving the farm its name.
Martens began planting white spruce, Scots pine and Colorado blue spruce in 2011. The trees grow about one foot per year, and today the farm welcomes more than 300 families annually.
“Seeing people come back each year tells us they’ve had a good time, and that means a lot,” he said. “Our customers motivate us to open each season. Hearing kids laughing and having fun out in the patch is always exciting. It brings Christmas cheer — no one can be grouchy while hunting for a tree, young or old.”
Mount Nebo Trees is open for the last five weekends before Christmas, including Saturday, Dec. 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 21 from 1 to 5 p.m. this year. The on-site gift shop is also open during those final five weekends only.
The farm offers you-cut trees of all sizes, with all trees priced the same. This year, trees cost $70 each, with netting available for $3, plus taxes. Prices are subject to change each year and are posted on the farm’s Instagram page, @MountNeboTrees.
Visitors are provided with a saw, and help is available for gathering, shaking, netting and loading trees once they’re chosen. The farm also features firepits, a warm-up shack, hot chocolate, coffee and cookies, along with a gift shop showcasing local artisans. Wendy Martens manages the retail side of the business, looking after tree sales, the gift shop and seasonal treats. She also helps shape the trees during the summer months and creates live arrangements and wreaths using farm-grown greens.
Christmas tree farming is a year-round commitment for the Martens. Garry plants up to 500 trees in the final week of May and spends much of the summer on weed control. Tree shaping takes place in July and August, before letting nature take over from September to November.
“If God wants the trees to grow, then he’ll make them grow,” Martens said, noting the past few seasons have brought just the right amount of rainfall.
One of the farm’s most recognizable features is a 1948 Willys Jeep, which Garry has owned for more than 50 years. The vintage vehicle is used to haul cut trees back to the yard.
“It has become an essential part of the tree farm,” Wendy said. “Going for a ride in it is a highlight for the young and old alike.”
After the selling season, the trees are left to rest until the cycle begins again. Over time, Martens has noticed increasing demand, including many newcomers to Canada choosing a real Christmas tree for the first time.
He encourages anyone unsure about making the switch from artificial trees to try a real one at least once, noting nothing compares to the scent of freshly cut evergreen. To help trees last longer, he recommends watering daily with hot water and covering nearby heat registers so warm air doesn’t dry them out.
Looking ahead, Martens hopes to continue being part of families’ Christmas traditions and eventually find someone younger willing to take over the farm.
“It’s a big responsibility to meet the needs of families,” he said. “As we age, we think more about what matters, and to us, that means cherishing traditions.”
Mount Nebo Trees is accessible from both Morden and Miami. From the south, the farm is located seven miles north of Morden on Hwy. 432, then 6½ miles west on Road 20N. From the north, it is five miles south of Miami on Road 35W, then half a mile west on Road 20N. Yellow Mount Nebo Trees signs mark the route.
