Starting a New Life Together
Just shy of the Susquehanna River and perched on a mountain in Danville, Pennsylvania, is a new agricultural setting known as Iron Roots Tree Farm. And, nestled atop the 37-acre farmland is a brand-new home to go along with it.
Sarah Weber and Josh Snyder purchased the land three years ago. This past July, they broke ground to build their dream home. While they were at it, they started a Christmas tree farm, too.
“I’ve always had an interest in it,” explained Josh. “Christmas is my favorite time of year.” The farm is currently growing Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir, White Pine, and Blue Spruce. They’ll be adding more varieties in the future.
“We named the farm Iron Roots Tree Farm for a few reasons,” Sarah said. “Danville is the town of the ironmen. We wanted to include a local touch because we’re both locals, and we included roots to be symbolic of the trees.”
One Seedling at a Time
For ten years, Josh has created Christmas wreaths as an additional stream of revenue. For the past five years, Sarah has joined him in making them as well.
“I’m just here for the ride,” Sarah said. As a NICU nurse, Sarah also works full-time but is committed to seeing their dreams come to life.
“There’s more of a demand for Christmas trees because less and less people want to put the work into keeping up with these farms,” she explained. “It’s a long-term investment.”
Josh and Sarah planted nearly 2,000 seedlings on one-and-a-half acres last year by hand and with the help of their families, who live nearby. This year, they plan to plant another 1,200 seedlings on an additional acre.
“There’s a lot of love put into every single tree,” Sarah said. It takes eight years for Christmas trees to be ready for harvest and while they wait, the couple will continue making Christmas wreaths. They look forward to using their own trees to do so in the future.
Sarah and Josh plan to continue building their dreams on the land to accommodate future customers. Once the trees are ready for harvest, they will offer cut-your-own Christmas trees, with a pole barn to greet visitors. Josh and Sarah have plans to serve hot cocoa, string an abundance of Christmas lights, and have a spot to display Josh’s blow molds — another hobby of his. Farm animals and a petting zoo are also being considered, with the desire for Josh’s two young daughters to have a hands-on learning experience.
Building a New Home
In the meantime, the couple is inching closer to having the construction of their home completed. Josh has been able to help with much of the finished work and personal touches — the custom pantry as a prime example.
Sarah’s favorite aspect of the construction process is the labor they put into it, and she looks forward to a soak in the new bathtub. As for Josh, he’s most thankful for being in their new home together.
Sarah and Josh received land and construction loans from Farm Credit to make their tree farm and rural home dreams a reality. Their loan officer, Sharon Piccioni, has been right by their side from the beginning.
“Farm Credit has helped us achieve all of our goals with the house and the tree farm,” Sarah explained. “Sharon has been phenomenal. She immediately responds to us and answers any question we have.”
Farm Credit supports young, beginning, and small farmers — like Sarah and Josh. Their commitment to supporting the next generation of farmers allows people like Sarah and Josh the opportunity to reach their goals and make their mark on agriculture.
“My hope is that their farm will eventually be a staple in the area,” said Sharon. “It’s fun to watch them grow and achieve their dreams.”
