Thank a Farmer For Your Christmas Tree

I am a farmer and I raise cattle and corn. Last year, I met a Christmas Tree farmer from Michigan. She wasn't too much older than me and I thought that has got to be a pretty cool job.

Unfortunately, this year this is no live Christmas tree in the Blin house. We leave for Canada on Friday for Christmas, and we were afraid that our poor Christmas tree might a little dry and crispy by the time we got home. So, this year it is Mr. Plastic tree, covered in lights and love.

Now back to the farmer and their Christmas trees. Yesterday, I read 7 Things You Don't Know About the Surprisingly Huge Christmas Tree Business. Yes, I was shocked to learn that the Christmas tree business employes 100,000 (most part-time) workers. And I had no idea that the Christmas tree business generated more than $1 billion annual (compare that to the $600 billion we spend on holiday shopping).

However, this is the fact that I thought was the coolest because it relates directly to me.

"There are 15,000 Christmas tree farms in America, upon which  350 million trees grow on 350,000 acres of land. To put that in perspective, the U.S. harvests 84 million acres of corn each year, 9.5 billion acres of cotton, and 345,950 acres of apple trees."

That is a lot of Christmas cheer. What is in your house? Real or fake? Or maybe you have some other Christmas tradition?

Turquoise Thursday: Agrarian Apparel Giveaway

Today's Turquoise Thursday is a day late, but it is so great I didn't want to wait until next week. Recently, on of my cattle friends launched a new clothing line called Agrarian Apparel. It is full of cute clothing that celebrates farming and food. And it doesn't hurt that she has a few turquoise options!

I received my first Agrarian Apparel T-shirt this week, and I love it. The cotton is great, and I love the length of the shirt. Not one of those too short shirts that shrink in the wash. Now I just need to convince Rachel to make a few more long sleeve versions because it is freezing in Iowa.

Turquoise Thursday: Agrarian Apparel by crystalcattleblog featuring a bead bracelet

The even better news is that Agrarian Apparel is giving Crystal Cattle readers the opportunity to win three $25 gift certificates to their online store. Perfect timing to purchase a Christmas gift for that special someone or maybe even yourself. These shirts are a great way to show off your personal style all while promoting agriculture.

Congrats to Sarah Hamm, Samantha Bolen and Lindsey Rader on winning the giveaway! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway