Where to buy real Christmas trees in New Jersey

Buying a real, fresh-cut Christmas tree at a New Jersey farm is as much about the experience as it is about the purchase.

Run through the rows of trees and take in the woodsy fragrance. Peek through the branches and you might see remnants of a bird's nest. Some trees might even be decorating themselves for the holidays, sprouting tiny pine cones.

If we dislike suburban sprawl and want to see space preserved for farmland, we need to patronize the farms that are already here.

So get out there and enjoy New Jersey's farms! If you don't want to do the actual sawing, employees can do that for you at most farms, along with bagging your tree and carrying it to your car. Some farms restrict the sawing to staff.

Where is your Christmas tree growing? Check out the following 30 farms:

MONMOUTH COUNTY

1. Anne Ellen Christmas Tree Farm, 114 Daum Road, Manalapan, 732-786-9277 or anneellenfarms.com — 100-acre farm with more than 50,000 trees. Christmas shop, hot chocolate, food court, visit farm animals, pictures with Santa. Field-grown trees start at $60, pre-cut start at $40. Open daily, 9 a.m .to 8 p.m., through Dec. 23. Fields close at 4:30 p.m. Only pre-cuts for sale after dark.   

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2. Conover Christmas Tree Farm, 3105 Hurley Pond Road, Wall, 732-938-3782 or conoversfarm.com -- Open in December 1 p.m. to dusk on weekdays and 9 a.m. to dusk on weekends.

3. The Fir Farm, 166 Hillsdale Road, Colts Neck, 732-598-6056 or thefirfarm.com -- Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fridays through Sundays. Handmade wreaths, cut trees, participant in Trees for Troops.

4. Keris Tree Farm & Christmas Shop, 848 Route 524 (Stone Tavern Road), Allentown, 609-259-0720 or kerischristmastreefarm.com — A third-generation, 24-acre Christmas tree farm. Cut-your-own and balled trees. Pre-cut Fraser Firs from North Carolina. Christmas shop, hot chocolate, visits with Santa. Open daily, 8 a.m .to 5 p.m., Nov. 18 through Dec. 24. Closed Thanksgiving Day.

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5. Lincroft Christmas Tree Farm, 523 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft section of Middletown, 732-747-4381 --  Open through Dec. 24. Weekday hours are 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and weekend hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Santa, wreaths, handicapped- accessible.

6. Patterson Greenhouses, 636 Adelphia Road, Howell, 732-431-5271 or pattersongreenhouses.com -- Open daily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Dec. 24 for tagging and cutting trees. Grave blankets, wreaths. Greenhouse also open. 

7. Towering Pines Farm, 329 Wilson Ave., Aberdeen, 732-583-6436 -- Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends through Dec. 23. Firewood also for sale.

OCEAN COUNTY 

8. Lone Silo Farm, 139 Brynmore Road, New Egypt, lonesilofarm.com — Open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. the weekend after Thanksgiving and weekends in December.

9. Picea Acres, 50 South New Prospect Road, Jackson, 732-370-8733 or piceaacres.com — The 4-acre farm gives every customer a baby tree to plant at home, with the purchase of a Christmas tree. No credit cards accepted. The 2017 season runs from Nov. 24 through Dec. 22. Hours are 11 a.m. to dark on weekdays and 9 a.m .to 5 p.m. weekends. Opens at 9 a.m. Nov. 25.

10. Pine Meadow Farm, 24 Buckalew Lane, New Egypt, on Facebook — Now in its fourth season in business, Pine Meadow offers free hot chocolate, candy canes and coloring books for kids, wagon rides to the Christmas trees. Christmas shop, wreaths, grave blankets, decorated sleds for sale. For 2017, the farm will have trees up to 12 feet tall. Pine Meadow won a blue ribbon at the 2017 Middlesex County Fair's Christmas tree competition. Check Facebook for updated hours.

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11. Yuletide Tree Farm, 138 Evergreen Road, New Egypt, 732-349-2705 or yuletidefarmnj.com — Any size tree is $45. Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Douglas Fir, Canaan Fir. Hours for 2017 are daily, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, from Nov. 25 through Dec. 23.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY

12. Barclay's Christmas Tree Farm, 35 Orchardside Dr., Cranbury, 609-799-1855 or barclaystreefarm.com — Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Douglas Fir, White/Concolor Fir, Fraser Fir. Price is $55 for any tree up to 12 feet and $120 for over 12 feet. Wreaths, Christmas tree stands and other supplies for sale. Cash or checks only. Leashed dogs welcome. Hours are from 9 a.m. to about 4:30 p.m. Nov 24 and weekends through Christmas.     

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13. Giamarese Farm, 155 Fresh Pond Road, East Brunswick, 732-821-9494 or giamaresefarm.com — Christmas trees available for tagging and cutting, from Thanksgiving week through Christmas Eve. Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Douglas Fir, Concolor Fir, available for cutting. Pre-cut Fraser and Douglas firs. No pets allowed. Open from 10 a.m. to about 5 p.m., Tuesdays through Sundays. Farm market also open.

14. Griffin Nurseries, 190 Fresh Ponds Road, South Brunswick (GPS address is Jamesburg or Monroe), 908-809-8572 or griffinschristmastrees.com — Christmas trees, wreaths, garlands. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

15. Habiak Farms, 315 Deans Rhode Hall Road, South Brunswick, 908-917-6388 or on Facebook — U-cut trees, wreaths, grave blankets. Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Pine, Douglas Fir, Concolor Fir, Fraser Fir. Open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fridays and weekends, from Nov. 24 through Dec. 24, depending on availability.

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16. Lantier Tree Farm, 163 Dey Grove Road, Monroe, lantiertreefarm.net or on Facebook— Family-owned and operated for more than 30 years. Craft shop, snack shop, trees, balled trees and wreaths. Price is $60 for any size Douglas Fir, Norway Spruce or Blue Spruce. Pre-cut Fraser Firs priced by the foot. For updated 2017 hours and info, check Facebook.

SOMERSET COUNTY

17. Dower Farm, 4 Todd Ave., Peapack, 908-781-5407, 908 781 6203 or dowerfarm.com — For more than 40 years, Dower Farm has offered Christmas trees, mainly Norway Spruce and Canaan Fir. Trees are priced at $9 per foot. Cash or check only. Pets welcome, but please leash your dogs. Open weekends from Thanksgiving to Christmas, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Trees are priced at $9 per foot. 

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18. Wolgast Tree Farm and Apiary, 176 Bennetts Lane, Somerset section of Franklin, 732-873-3206 or wolgasttreefarm.com — Austrian Pine, White Pine, Norway Spruce, Canaan Fir, Scotch Pine, Douglas Fir. All trees are $45, regardless of size or species. Also selling wreaths, tree stands, local honey, beeswax and beeswax products, and bluebird boxes handmade from Jersey-grown Douglas Firs. Well behaved, leashed dogs welcome, but please bring bag to collect waste. Hours for 2017 are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends, Nov. 25 through Dec. 23.

 MORRIS COUNTY

19. Fairview Farm Christmas Trees, 91 East Mill Road, Long Valley, fairviewfarmchristmastrees.com — A 115-acre farm with more than 6,000 available fir trees, including Fraser, Canaan, Balsam and Concolor. You choose tree and staff will cut it down. Trees are grown without pesticides. All trees cost $70. Cash or check only. The 2017 season opens Nov. 24 and runs weekends through Dec. 23. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

20. Hidden Pond Christmas Tree Farm, 4 West Field Road, Mendham, 973-865-6362 or hiddenpondtreefarm.com — Cut your own Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir for $50 for a 6-foot tree. Pre-cut Fraser Firs from Hidden Pond's Pennsylvania location, starting at $65.. Cash or checks only. Handmade wreaths and greens. On weekends, enjoy free treats: hay rides, hot chocolate, bonfires and roasted marshmallows. Leashed dogs welcome. Hidden Pond uses sustainable, organic farming practices. Opens for the 2017 season on Nov. 24, with hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Regular hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, through Dec. 24. 

21. Plut's Christmas Tree Farm, 220 Flocktown Road, Long Valley, 908-852-6669 or plutschristmastreefarm.com — Blue Spruce, White Pine, Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, Serbian Spruce, Concolor Fir. Prices range from $40 for a five-foot tree to $107 for a 14-foot tree. You choose and staff will cut. Pre-cut trees also available. Wreaths, garlands, grave blankets, gift shop, concessions. Cash or check only. Open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays, beginning Nov. 30.

HUNTERDON COUNTY

22. Alger Tree Farm, 7 Beacon Light Road, Califon, 908-832-2298 or algertreefarm.com —  Check the website or Facebook for 2017 updates.

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23. Charlie Brown’s Christmas Tree Farm, 231 Adamic Hill Road, Milford section of Holland Township, 908-995-4365 or charliebrowns-xmastrees.com — This farm, which exclusively offers Douglas Firs, began in 1985 as a way to support the Volendam Windmill, an 80-foot-tall tourist attraction on site. Wreaths also are sold. New for 2017 is an area for letters to Santa. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 24 and weekends until Christmas. Check Facebook for updates.

24. Cherryville Farms, 352 Quakertown Road, Pittstown, 908-806-4580 or cherryvillefarmsnj.com — Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Douglas Fir, Canaan Fir, Concolor Fir. Pricing is about $8.50 per foot. Cash or check only. Wreaths, crafts, refreshments, wagon rides. Cut-your-own or staff will cut. No chainsaws. Leashed pets welcome, but please bring bag to clean up waste. Opens for the 2017 season Nov. 24 and runs weekends until Dec. 17. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  

SUSSEX COUNTY

25. Am-Jac Christmas Tree Farm, 26 Plains Road, Augusta. 973-948-4222, amjactreefarm.com, or on Facebook -- A five-acre farm selling cut-your-own Christmas trees since 1987. Colorado Blue spruce, White spruce and Norway spruce. Free candy canes and coloring books for children. Open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 24 - 26 and weekends in December. Weekdays by appointment.

26. Giordano's Tree Farm, Route 94 at Hilltop Drive, Newton. 908-231-8847 or giordanostreefarm.com --  Blue spruce, White spruce, Douglas Fir, Norway spruce, Fraser fir. Any tree, any size, is $42. Open for the 2017 season one weekend only: Dec. 2 and 3, from 8:30 a.m. until dark.

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27. Hilltop Greens, 25 Statesville Quarry Road, Lafayette. 973-383-8682 or hilltopgreensnj.com -- All Douglas firs. Free hot chocolate. Opens for 2017 on Nov. 24 - 26, then weekends in December. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.

WARREN COUNTY

28. Evergreen Valley Christmas Tree Farm, 77 Jackson Valley Road, Washington. 908-835-0557 or evergreenvalleychristmastrees.com. Wagon rides, hot chocolate. Opening for 2017 on Nov. 24. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. New for 2017: No dogs allowed.

29. Green Farms, 23 Biedleman Road, Washington. 732-887-6615 or on Facebook. Open for cut-your-own Christmas trees, wreaths and grave blankets beginning Nov. 24, then open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

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30. Kingfisher Farm, 55-A Primrose Road, Hardwick. 908-362-9557 or on Facebook. Open Nov. 24 - 26 and weekends in December, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.