<![CDATA[Goslin's Greenery - Blog: Pine and Resin]]>Thu, 23 Oct 2025 16:46:46 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Checking in with our greens on Epiphany]]>Tue, 09 Jan 2018 03:02:42 GMThttp://www.goslinsgreenery.com/blog-pine-and-resin/checking-in-with-our-greens-on-epiphanyWe hope you all fully enjoyed your Twelve Days of Christmas, as did we. Last Saturday was Epiphany, which we decided would be a good day to assess how our greens are holding up (it was certainly too cold to play outside). It's a Goslin family tradition that we put up our trees and decorate our houses on Christmas Eve. Yes, that's because we wait to see what's left unsold in the shop and on the lot. But what started off as a frugal and practical decision has since morphed into a fun tradition for us. Long story short: it's amazing how long and how well cut greens will last. 

Our exterior wreaths, garlands and swags look perfect (-18 degree temperatures will help, of course!). But how have our interior decorations held up? We violated many of the "rules" that we usually impart to our customers: we placed our greens right next to heating vents, neglected to water them, and placed hot incandescent bulbs on our garland. Yeah, we don't like to fuss much. And yet, everything still looks picture perfect and smells great. 

​​We are most commonly asked about needle retention, so here is what we found. Needles did drop -- especially balsam -- in the initial setup, but after that there was hardly ANY loss observed. The one exception was our garland, which we placed on our staircase and was therefore subject to "little hands" and frequent brushes as we went up and down the stairs. Our conclusion: all of the varieties used in our greens (balsam, white pine, cedar, concolor and fraser fir) have excellent needle retention, especially if they aren't handled frequently. 

Below are pictures from Epiphany day. Does the Christmas tree look familiar? That's the tree from our shop, once twenty feet tall and holding all of our bows, but now cut to fit our living room. Amazingly, it was cut around Halloween and yet continues to hold our ornaments into the second week of January.
]]><![CDATA[THANK YOU to all of our commercial and retail customers]]>Mon, 25 Dec 2017 03:42:50 GMThttp://www.goslinsgreenery.com/blog-pine-and-resin/thank-you-to-all-of-our-commercial-and-retail-customersAfter 30+ years in this business you'd think we'd be able to phone it in by now. But every November we experience the same old anxieties as we near the holiday season: "Will we be able to deliver all our commercial orders on time?" (None missed.) "Will the weather cooperate to keep our greens at just the right temperature?" (It's Michigan, what can you expect?) "Should we have done any advertising this year?" (One of these days...) "Should we have put together a Facebook page?" (We hate Facebook, whatever it is.) "Should we at least have a better sign? And of course, do people even know what a 'Greenery' is?" (At this point, I think we're just stuck with that name.)

So it's with relief and amazement when, somehow, over a thousand visitors find their way to our little corner of Emmet County. Many are now old friends, who know just where their tree is stashed, and whose ribbon preferences we know intimately. Still others are new-timers, who are brought to us either by curiosity ("what's a 'Greenery'?"), serendipity or persistence (Google Maps can be tricky). We get locals from around the corner, and visitors from around the country (again, Google Maps can be tricky).

The Goslin's Greenery team enjoys seeing who comes down our drive, chatting them up, and taking the pulse of our community. We always strive to be honest and polite, though when push comes to shove we'll always prioritize honesty over false politeness. If we occasionally come across as prickly -- well, that just comes from spending a lot of time handling blue spruce (that's the prickly tree, for all you fir-heads out there). It goes without saying that we're passionate about what we do, and that we love being part of this community. After all, there are easier ways to make a buck. But once you've got pine resin on your hands, it's tough to get off.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you from the team here at GG! Let's hope that 2018 is even better and brighter.  ]]><![CDATA[Do you know where your Christmas tree comes from?]]>Fri, 22 Dec 2017 04:11:02 GMThttp://www.goslinsgreenery.com/blog-pine-and-resin/do-you-know-where-your-christmas-tree-comes-fromWhile this year's Christmas tree news has focused on shortages, and delivery problems, a less reported, but perhaps more distressing report, is this one from the Guardian. Wage theft, chemical exposure, unsafe working conditions. How many customers at [big box store] realize that their tree was trimmed, cut, bailed and loaded by exploited immigrants, who were treated by their employers as disposable labor? What could be more contrary to the Christmas spirit than to treat our fellow man this way?

If you have already cut your tree from our lot this year, you know just how much work goes into hauling a 50 pound tree to your car. And you can rest assured that your tree is not a product of exploited workers. Of course a lot of work goes into preparing the trees for you, our visitors to cut; it takes roughly a 10 year period, from planting to trimming, to make those trees ready. And here is the Goslin's difference: all of our live trees have been personally planted and tended by our owner or co-workers who have been treated fairly. What is "fair"? Well, for the last 4 years, all of our part-time employees have been paid $15 per hour. The same goes for the makers of our wreaths and garlands.   

As we see it, the you-cut model for Christmas trees provides the best of all worlds: you know where much of the labor comes from, because you supplied it. And as a result, you get to benefit from a price point ($25) that would make a downstater's head spin. Oh yeah, and the fresh air and cardio work out is just icing on the cake. ]]><![CDATA[Cut a Tree, Plant a Tree]]>Sun, 17 Dec 2017 13:05:41 GMThttp://www.goslinsgreenery.com/blog-pine-and-resin/cut-a-tree-plant-a-treeA few weekends ago, we met a nice young family who came with a most unusual request: after walking back and cutting a Christmas tree, would it be possible for them to plant a new tree on our farm? We politely demurred -- it's the wrong season for planting -- but we did show them our rows of potted trees, which customers may purchase for $25 and plant on their own property (in the spring). 

Nevertheless, at our company staff meeting we continued to think about their request, and the possible reasons motivating it. This particular family didn't explain why they wanted to plant the tree. We hope they weren't concerned about the health of our business (it's doing fine!). But they are not alone: more and more every year we have had families visit our farm to find a live tree to take back home. No doubt many people are concerned about the environmental consequences of cutting down a tree. Are you one of them? Rest assured that we continue to plant replacements, and we have planted many other trees that have grown big enough to offset the smaller ones that are cut down.

This year why not start a new family tradition? Cut a tree, plant a tree. Purchasing a living tree, in addition to your cut Christmas tree, is a great way to provide continuity between the seasons. Potted trees enhance an outside living space, such as a deck, and are easy to move around. Once planted in the ground trees can grow quickly, and are an ideal means of controlling erosion, drifting snow, or encroaching neighbors (a friendlier alternative to a fence). If placed correctly they may also help you moderate the temperature of your home, by blocking the wind and direct sunlight. As the trees grow big, they serve as reminders of Christmases past: of family members who have grown up to start their own families, or who have passed away in the intervening years.

Although our regular business hours end on Christmas Eve, we do sell potted and bagged pine trees throughout the year (after the snow melts). If you are interested in purchasing a live tree, you can reach us at 231-203-1127 to learn more about the varieties we may have available.  
]]><![CDATA[Ski the Farm]]>Sat, 16 Dec 2017 02:31:41 GMThttp://www.goslinsgreenery.com/blog-pine-and-resin/ski-the-farm
At this point it is safe to say that we are going to have a very white Christmas here in Emmet County. Of course our 20 acres remain open for those hardy souls who wish to venture out and cut their own Christmas tree (and kudos to those families who braved a winter travel advisory to do so!). But the conditions are also perfect this year for those who like backcountry skiing or snowshoeing. 

Did you already cut your tree, back when the ground was dry? Or did you purchase a pre-cut? Or maybe you just drove by our farm, and wondered what's back there? (Answer: a lot of pine!) Well, feel free to make a return visit with your skis or snowshoes, and check out the winter transformation. Our farm is open to the public during business hours (Wed-Sunday, 10-5:00) for those who wish to enjoy some winter sports, at no cost. 

As of Friday, Dec. 15, we have about a foot of fresh powder in the back, and a couple of miles of 2-track to explore. The gradual incline of our land provides a fun, easy ride down to the back of our farm, while still being manageable for beginner skiers. We hope to see you one last time, before we close for the season (our last day is Christmas Eve at noon). 
]]><![CDATA[Featured Product: Birch Bark Pot]]>Fri, 15 Dec 2017 02:37:00 GMThttp://www.goslinsgreenery.com/blog-pine-and-resin/featured-product-birch-bark-pot
After several months of intensive R & D in our secret laboratory, Goslin's Greenery is proud to introduce a new product to our 2017 line-up: the amazing, versatile birch bark pot! While the display of Christmas greens will eventually dry out, the birch bark pot can be reused for other purposes throughout the year. In spring you can re-use the pot for your herbs, or for a flower bouquet. Or perhaps use the pot to start a beach bonfire in the summer. 

We have only a select few of these models currently in our shop, so hurry. By 2018 we should be able to scale up production and bring thousands of these units to market. 
]]><![CDATA[Featured product: Advent Wreath]]>Sun, 10 Dec 2017 04:35:25 GMThttp://www.goslinsgreenery.com/blog-pine-and-resin/featured-product-advent-wreath
An advent wreath makes a beautiful centerpiece on your dining room table, whether for the advent season, or just for a Christmas Day dinner.

There are many different traditions regarding the candles (i.e., their color and when they are lit), which depend on denomination and cultural background. Click here for more info, from the world's foremost authority on advent wreaths. 

Our advent wreath comes with four battery powered candles (AA batteries not included). These can be easily removed from the wreath ring and then reused for future Christmases. Or, if you prefer, you can substitute real candles and insert them into the wreath ring.  
]]><![CDATA[What makes our Christmas greens so great?]]>Fri, 08 Dec 2017 12:32:48 GMThttp://www.goslinsgreenery.com/blog-pine-and-resin/what-makes-our-christmas-greens-so-great
Goslin's Greenery was not always the industry behemoth you see today. It all began in the early 1980s, when our business was launched as a small one-man enterprise, supplying wreaths and garlands to shops along Little Traverse Bay. With a reputation for quality, on-time delivery, and honest prices, the business grew to supply shops in Charlevoix, Emmet and Cheboygan counties. In the early 1990s we constructed our corporate headquarters (aka, the barn) and the business expanded to provide wreaths and garlands for retail sale, as well as you-cut Christmas trees.

Through it all, our garland and most of our wreaths continue to be hand-made by our founder, Owen Goslin.  By our calculation Mr. G. has produced over 13 miles of garland -- so far. That's enough to line the entire length of Little Traverse Bay! So what makes our greens so great? Obviously it starts with having a ready access to fresh pine, cedar and firs -- which we have, thankfully, in abundance right by our back door. But it takes a master craftsman to turn those conifers into art. 

In recognition of Mr. G.'s enormous contribution over the years, our board of directors has unanimously voted to name him the 2017 employee of the year.  Mr. G. will be receiving a handsome birch bark plaque (which doubles as excellent kindling), and the right to take not just one, but TWO days off from work per week. Congratulations are in order!
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