To Our Valued Customers and Friends:

We are open this year, but again on a limited basis. We will limit the number of trees that can be cut to assure that the supply of trees is somewhat steady. Many of our customers last year could not wait to tell their relatives that we were open. We opened last year quietly so that there was not a big rush and disappointed customers. We thank you for your patience.

2007 SPRING FLOODS ARE HISTORY – COLE ROAD BRIDGE IS BACK IN BUSINESS!!!
Good news for our customers coming from the Seacoast on Routes 101 and 107 and from Manchester on Routes 101 and 43. The Cole Road Bridge has been repaired and routes to our farm are back to normal.

F2 TORNADO HITS LITTLE OLE DEERFIELD!!!
On July 24, 2008, an F2 tornado touched down in Deerfield. Unfortunately, one woman lost her life when her home collapsed around her. The tornado actually started to touch down 1 to 1-1/2 miles away from our farm on Mount Delight Road, the next road over. Only a few trees were damaged there and the tornado proceeded north where it heavily damaged a local nursery. After that destruction, it really came down in the north end of town and proceeded to do damage northward for 50 miles. Also if you are interested, I have some photos I took as soon as the state highways reopened two days later. They will be in the warming shed.

I say normal, but those coming from the Seacoast and Concord on Route 4 will be able to see the devastation along Route 107 from the tornado that struck our little town.

WREATHS AND MAPLE SYRUP PLUS MORE!!!
I have found a supplier of beautiful very fresh wreaths. They will be on sale just prior to Thanksgiving until my stock runs out. Steve Anderson will also be back this year with his maple syrup collection. We are planning to have a shelter attached to the end of the building and offer these plus other items. Check it out and there may be something of interest. I smell gingerbread houses!!!

REMINDER ON HOW WE WILL DO BUSINESS – SLIGHT CHANGE!!!
We will remain a tag-and-cut operation. Many of out customers told us that they have relatives up for the Thanksgiving holiday and that they like to bring home a fresh tree. To accommodate the holiday sprit, cutting will be open to the public on the day after Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving weekend. No tagging is required for that weekend only. We do ask that people be very careful and mindful of the tags placed by others. The people that expend the energy to make two trips for their tree and have chosen their tree as a family deserve that respect. Other than that weekend, we will not be open to the general public and a tree must have been previously tagged in order to be cut.

In order to ensure that there will be trees every year and so that we will not have to close in the future, the following controls will remain in place.

• Tagging will start on Saturdays and Sundays in the month of November prior to Thanksgiving from 9 am until approximately 4:30 pm or dark. Those dates are 11/1 & 11/2, 11/8 & 11/9, 11/15 & 11/16, 11/22 & 11/23, 11/28, 11/29, & 11/30, 12/6 & 12/7, and 12/13.
• The amount of available tags will be posted weekly prior to the weekend on our website.
• The web site will be changed after every tagging weekend indicating the number of trees still available for tagging on the following weekend. When the number reaches zero, we will be closed for further tagging for that year. We will however stay open the entire weekend that we reach our tagging limit so that nobody makes an unwarranted trip. As an example, suppose we list that 125 trees are available for tagging the following weekend, we will remain open for that tagging weekend even if that number is exceeded.
• The customer must produce their tag stub at time of payment which will be matched to the tag on the tree. If a customer loses their tag stub, they will have to show an ID at the office in order to obtain a replacement stub and should do so prior to cutting their tree.
• Cutting will start on the day after Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving weekend, and the following two weekends from 9 am to approximately 4:30 pm or dark. Open to the public for cutting on 11/28, 11/29, & 11/30. Cutting previously tagged trees on 11/28, 11/29, & 11/30, 12/6 & 12/7 and 12/13 & 12/14.

We will still offer our complementary beverages and cookies, free netting, sharp saws, locator maps and a simplified process; however our prices will be going to $45 for our large trees and $40 for our small trees.

RIDGE’S END DOES RAIN DANCE – RAINS RETURN AND STAY – NEED NEW DANCE!!!

It appeared as though 2008 was going to be another year with a prolonged dry spell causing big problems for the new transplants. As a matter of fact, we had just resorted to hand watering the baby trees with a new and improved water pump system (chainsaw engine hooked up to a pump) when the weather broke and the rains returned. Who says that rain dances don’t work?

We did plant the two additional sections on the lower side of our home last spring. These two sections will add about 1,000 trees to our stock. We have earmarked another section to plant about another 500 trees next spring in the front of the house.

PETS ARE FAMILY TOO!!!
We recognize that many people wish to make the visit to our farm a total family event. That is great!!! Unlike many farms, we do allow pets. What we do require is that they must be leashed for obvious reasons. We also request that you perform Do-Do-Duty behind them. We have “Pet Packs” for that purpose at the door of the warming shed.

MILITARY AND FAMILY UPDATE!!!
Daughter Kathryn doing well with the INS and she got her advancement early in the spring. She is now keeping her shrewd eye open to buy a house in the soft housing market.

Daughter Kimberly also doing well, however like all of us, $4 gasoline for her and hubby’s commute and heating is really eating into the family budget. She also found out what 1,500 feet in elevation difference can do with snow fall accumulation. I was outside the other night, there was a full moon, and I think I saw Santa with a snow blower hanging out of the back of his sleigh!

Daughter Kristen and David finally got married. That saga lasted as long as “General Hospital” on TV! They got married at a local winery and all I can say is that I personally made plenty of room in the cellar for this years' vintage!!! Kristen has changed jobs. It appears she could not get the Army out of her blood. She now works with the State of NH as the state environmental liaison with the National Guard. In the meantime, David is still attending classes working on a BS degree in computer science, but unfortunately, his condition has not improved. On the other hand, fortunately, it has not deteriorated either.

EVERY DAY IS VETERAN’S DAY – RIDGES END PROUDLY SALUTES EACH OF YOU!!!
Our military people are great. They are so patriotic and are some of our country’s best resources. We all could learn something from them in terms of building our character. These people make tremendous personal, financial, and emotional sacrifices while the majority of us are absorbed in our own importance. Please remember, “Every Day is Veteran’s Day”. As you make your contribution decisions this year, remember how good we have it even when times are tough thanks to our troops, and please consider your support of the USO, the DAV or the host of other organizations that support our military. These organizations and our troops need and deserve our support!!

A POET WE AIN’T – BUT PASS THIS ALONG WE MUST!!!

I recently received the poem below and decided to include it in our annual letter for all to share.

HAPPY HOLIDAY’S FROM THE CANNATAS!!!

Enjoy your holidays. May the holiday season be happy for you and yours and we hope your visit to our farm is a pleasant one.

As Always, Happy Holidays,

Mike, Linda, Kate, Kim and Kris Cannata

“May God bless our country, and all who defend her!”