Busy Elves Christmas Tree Farm outside of Albany has been in business for 29 years
Busy Elves Christmas Tree Farm personnel seek to help customers buy the ‘right tree’
By Jon Gosa
ALBANY — Looking for a way to keep himself busy after retiring from the insurance business, Joedy Putnal opened Busy Elves Christmas tree farm 29 years ago and has been helping Albany and the surrounding area adorn their homes for the holidays ever since.
For many people, Christmas would not be complete without that hallmark symbol of the season, the Christmas tree.
Putnal, 84 and a native of Lafayette County, Florida, credits his boyhood experience on the family farm and his desire to live long past retirement as the motivations behind owning and operating a Christmas tree farm.
“I remember the most pleasurable times I had when I was a boy was when we lived along the Suwannee River and Papa would give us the day off to go find a Christmas tree,” Putnal said. “We’d go up and down the Suwannee looking for a tree, and I’ve thought about that all my life. The only reason I’m living is because of this place.
“I was in the life insurance business for 40 years. I started at 23, and when I got into my 40s and started paying all of these death claims on men that died at 66 or 67 years old, I realized that if a person retires and has nothing to do, he has no reason to live. So I bought this land way before I retired.”
According to Putnal, because of his fond childhood memories, he wanted to have a Christmas tree farm and began to look for land in 1982.
“I started looking for land because I knew it was something I’d love doing,” the businessman said. “I love to see trees grow, and I love seeing and working with people. So I looked, and it took me about a year to find this 15 acres at $3,800 an acre. I planted my first trees in 1983 and opened in 1987. I was working in the home office in Jacksonville and had someone take care of the farm for me, but I came back up here on weekends until I retired in 1996.
“I have kids come out here, and I teach them how to forget themselves and wait on customers. They have to prove themselves. I pay good wages, and there’s a common tip jar. Nobody can take a tip from a customer. If anybody offers a tip, they tell them to put it in the jar and they share the tips equally.”
Putnal prides himself on honesty and customer service.
“Our purpose is not to simply sell trees,” he said, pointing to a sign on the wall. “Let me read you this. This is my philosophy about business. ‘Profit is not the legitimate purpose of business. The legitimate purpose of business is to provide a product or service that people need and do it so well that it’s profitable.’ That is what we do here. I don’t sell trees, I help people buy the right tree that they want. Our goal is to help each and every customer find his or her desired tree and to have a memorable experience.”
Busy Elves offers five varieties of Christmas trees including Leyland Cypress, Murray Cypress, Blue Ice, Carolina Sapphire and Fraser Fir.
“The Fraser Fir is the only tree we do not grow here,” said Putnal. “The Fraser Fir grows in the mountains due to the need for cooler ground climate. It grows best 2,500 feet above sea level. Even though it is a pre-cut tree, my trees are cut two days before delivery, delivered at night and kept in the shade and in water until sold. All of the other trees grow on site and can be cut by the customer.”
Once the right tree is selected or cut, employees shake the trees to remove any loose needles, wrap the tree for transport and will pre-drill the trunk. Also available at Busy Elves are stands, watering systems, wreaths and decorative bows.
Over the years, Putnal has expanded his business to include a small zoo that features pigs, geese, ducks, pigeons, rabbits, chickens, peacocks, goats and guineas. Most recently, Putnal added several acres of “U Pick or We Pick” blueberries.
“We open for blueberry season May 28,” he said. “You can come out and pick them yourself or we can pick them.”
Busy Elves, located at 102 U.S. Highway 82 in Leesburg (seven miles west of Albany heading toward Sasser), opens every year for the Christmas season on Nov. 19.
For more information visit busyelves1.com or call (229) 883-3933.
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