Family Tree

Get all Norman Rockwell this holiday by gathering friends and family to cut your own Christmas tree. For 40 years the Castro Valley Christmas Tree Farm has been a holiday tradition. You won't find bounce houses or Santas singing "Ho, ho, ho" here; owner Paul Illingworth prides his operation on its simplicity. He and his crew plant between 6,000 and 12,000 trees each year, resulting in 12 acres of pesticide-free and beautifully groomed Douglas firs and Monterey pines (precut Noble firs are also available). At the farm entrance you'll be handed a saw and a map; then you're free to roam. Hop out of the car anywhere along the 2-mile dirt road, search up and down, and when you find the perfect tree, saw away! One thing: Be sure to leave a few branches on the stump so that a new tree will grow.

TIP: Keep the green going—visit Earth911.com to find a convenient location where your Christmas tree can be dropped off for recycling after the holidays.

To reach the tree farm follow I-580 East; take the Redwood Rd. exit and turn left (north) on Redwood Rd. Go 3 miles until you reach the farm. It is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Douglas firs are $60.30, Monterey pines are $49.30, and precut Noble firs are $71.25. Dog-friendly!