COUPLE SELLS 1000 CHRISTMAS TREES THEY PLANTED YEARS AGO TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THEIR GRANDKIDS

Dreaming of what they could become, Bruce and Shawn Carpenter planted 5,000 small pine and fir trees in rural Indiana ten years ago. Today, about 1,000 of those trees have made it through and are now fully grown. They are being sold by the couple, who own a vacation park in Brown County, to use the money raised to support the education of their eight grandchildren.

Shawn Carpenter explains, "It was an investment to help our grandkids for college." "One that has taken a long time." It's the ideal time to harvest the trees, some of which are an amazing 14 feet tall since the couple's eldest grandchild is currently a freshman in college.

To draw attention to their property, Bittersweet Farms, Bruce and Shawn created a straightforward sign that read, "Christmas Trees for Sale." Additionally, they shared a Facebook post urging people to stop by and help them with their endeavour to pay for their grandchildren's college education.

Scotch pines, concolor firs, and Canaan firs are among the trees available to visitors, who can also choose to chop down the tree themselves. “It's whatever they want—we'll cut it for them or give them a saw to do it themselves,” says Carpenter.

A Columbus Regional Hospital executive bought a tree for the hospital for 2024 and 2025 after the family sold six trees, including two of their largest, on November 30, their first day of business.

If the Carpenters sell 60% of their stock at an average price of $83 per tree, they will have made almost $50,000. Bittersweet Farms charges $10 per foot for their trees. They would end the season with roughly $39,000 in profit after deducting taxes and expenses, which would account for about 20% of their take-home pay. Each of the eight grandchildren would receive $4,875 from their grandparents if they all enrol in college, which would be a fantastic way to start the next phase of their lives.