You know how difficult it is to go out to the bush and find a good Christmas tree? Maybe even a couple, one for a friend or relative? How about going out to the bush to find 100 good Christmas trees? Maybe 150? And how about doing it when you're 80 years old! Ken Kral's been selling Christmas trees for more years than he can remember. “At least 20 years,” he says. He's got a good eye for picking them too. And he watches all year long as he drives around.
Ken pays for a permit from the Forestry Office. They discuss which areas he should cut. It's always places where the government will eventually be cutting the trees down; for example, under power lines. So he's not cutting future merchantable timber.
Like any job, this one has its ups and downs. Ken loves trekking into the bush and finding the trees, picking the best. When he knows someone is strapped for cash he loves seeing the smile on their faces when he gives them an especially good deal. And talk about a good deal! His trees all sell at bargain prices!When the snow is deep early in the year the job is particularly difficult, sometimes causing him to drag trees long distances. If the severe cold comes too early it makes it impossible for him to get a full load because the trees are frozen and the branches break easily and then the trees can't be piled up.
The least favourite part of the job is the wait between customers. He sits in his truck with a good book and a poor heater, and Jilly, the faithful dog, and whiles away too many hours. He just had to come up with a way to resolve some of those hours. So he made up the sign 'Please pick your tree and put $20 through the window. Thank you. Merry Christmas.' And then adds his name and phone number. “People are so good!”
“I've had a couple of funny stories. One about the guy who took a prize tree (without paying), went home to his wife, who, upon seeing the beautiful tree asked where he got it and how much he paid for it. Well, she was not impressed and he came back and paid for it.” And another time Ken saw a woman drive up and put her money through the window without taking a tree. He asked her what she was doing. She said, “Oh, I got one yesterday and I didn't have any money.”
How many years will he continue? He's been saying it's the last year for the past many years. However, so far when the season comes he's moved to get back to business. Most of his working years were in the survey business and this job keeps him enjoying the outdoors with a purpose.
– submitted by Ginnie Dunn Webb