Tree Farming
a business calls
The Dollinger’s of Lanark have been in the Christmas tree growing business since the late 50’s when Dad, Ned and I pulled a single bottom walking plow behind a John Deere “A” through the rock garden known as Dollinger’s Farm and planted trees which I think were from the state. The location changed in the 70’s when Ned purchased Mom’s half of the farm and later sold it to a developer who built a lake and sold lots for development The tree farm moved to a location adjacent to the development and the Lanark Dollingers started growing anew. The business blossomed and Peg was somewhat envious of the Lanark Dollingers having an outlet for their artistic talents in making decorations and wreaths and carved waterfowl for sale in their choose-and-cut operation.
The financial crisis of the early 80’s resulted in my demotion and salary freeze and Peg’s reduction in work at the local junior college so the Peoria Dollinger’ became wannabes and we purchased 18 acres of land near Mossville, Il., about 18 miles away from where we lived but close to Peoria. The Peoria land was much drier and less nutrient than Lanark, the Peoria weather is much hotter, and two of the first four years were drought years resulting in about 80% loss of trees planted for those two years and stunted growth for the others, but we plugged on and eventually started selling trees about 1988.
Peg of course was a ton through the whole process working day and night like a horse mowing, trimming trees, destroying grackle nests, spraying for larvae eating pine needles and still keeping house and working at ICC in adult basic education and job retraining. With our first sales season Peg really shined however in making and decorating holiday wreaths out of our ugly stunted trees. Cindy visited us at that time as well and followed in Peg’s footsteps in creativity and an artful flair.
What a feeling after seven years of toil to finally see some cash coming in for a change and the first year was a real learning experience. We couldn’t keep up with making wreaths and decorating them or with tying trees on the top of cars with confidence that they would last for the trip home. We had a trust ‘em mode of operation giving them saws and measuring later without having a lot of signage posted. One portly middle aged lady asked Matt, then a teenager, “What are the rules?” To which Matt replied “Don’t run with the saw”, and we all had a laugh.
The tree farm became a real burden however when I had the opportunity to receive a two step promotion and a 20% tax free bonus for accepting my dream job in Geneva, Switzerland. Ever the trooper as far as the tree farm was concerned Peg returned to the US twice a year to manage the farm as best she could. June meant coming home to trim trees and November 15 she would return to start making wreaths and set things up for selling trees returning to Switzerland for Christmas. Luckily we were able to sell the farm to a local couple who continued the business and built a permanent home on the land.
- The welcoming sign to Dollinger's Christmas Pines, Mossville, IL