For those who celebrate Christmas, cutting and decorating a Christmas tree often stands among the happiest holiday memories. With the recent shortage of trees, though, it may seem tricky to find a tree to harvest without going the store-bought artificial route. Thankfully there are still options for fresh trees, and through local businesses, services and permits the people don’t have to pack away their harvest tools just yet.

Starting in mid-November, the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management made Christmas Tree cutting permits available. Permits from RRSNF, and the BLM Districts of Medford and Coos bay cost $5 per permit with a limit of five permits per household. An individual permit for each tree is required. These permits will be available through various vendors across Southern Oregon, and will allow permit holders to cut trees only from designated areas open to Christmas tree harvesting. Maps marking these areas will be provided upon purchase of a permit(s.) Additionally this year, fourth-graders will be eligible for a free Christmas tree permit through the “Every Kid in the Park” program. Interested families can obtain these permits at www.everykidinapark.gov. Full information about permits and availability can be found on the USDA Forest Service website.

Beginning after Thanksgiving, the U-Cut Christmas Tree Farm will be selling trees beginning at $40.00 apiece. According to their Facebook page, this farm offers a wide variety of tree species, both fresh and pre-cut, and provides cutting and hauling assistance. U-Cut Christmas Tree Farm, 3132 Camp Baker Rd., Medford

For larger, specialty Christmas trees, Jones Forest Products in Grants Pass offers white, grand or Shasta fir trees for reservation, harvest and delivery across the country. Tree sizes range from 20’ to 100’, and are harvested on private land via airlift. This service has been valuable for capitol building, hotels and resorts, as their website confirms. Reservation information is available on their website at www.jpfchristmastrees.com.