A Forest of Treats: The Great Home Depot Tree Delivery

Saturday, January 10th, started like any other morning at Blue Iris Farm, but it quickly turned into a winter wonderland of a different kind. While most people are packing away their holiday decorations this time of year, our pasture was just beginning to look like a lush evergreen forest.

We are sending out a massive, heartfelt thank you to the Home Depot in Montville, CT, for their incredible donation of over 60 fresh Christmas trees!

A Community Effort

This wonderful surprise was made possible by a very thoughtful individual at Home Depot who reached out to us to see if our residents could use the leftover trees.

Logistics are always the biggest challenge with a donation this size, and that’s where our newest volunteer, Evan August, stepped in. Evan has already been a hero helping us transport hay, and on Saturday, he generously used his truck to haul load after load of evergreens to the farm. We also want to thank the unnamed Home Depot employees who worked hard alongside Evan to get those 60+ trees loaded up.

Why These Trees Were Special

You might be wondering—don't Christmas trees get dry and brittle by mid-January? That’s what made this donation so extraordinary. These trees were never brought indoors; they spent their time in the outdoor nursery, keeping them incredibly fresh, soft, and hydrated.

Actually, it was quite surprising just how "nursery-fresh" they were considering it’s already the second week of the year! Because they weren't dried out by home heating systems, they retained all their nutrients and that wonderful piney scent. It is a world of difference from the "brittle" trees that have spent a month in a living room—and our animals certainly knew the difference!

Happy Tummies, Happy Farm

When the truck arrived, the excitement was palpable. While the goats are usually the first to claim any "browse," they had some competition this time! Love and Blue, our cows, were right in the mix, and even Iris the pig joined the festivities.

Watching the animals investigate their new forest was the highlight of our week. It was a sensory playground for them—something to smell, something to rub against, and, most importantly, something delicious to snack on.

Sustainability in Action

Beyond the joy it brought the animals, this donation is a win for the planet. Instead of these trees being hauled to a landfill or a garbage dump, they are being repurposed as enrichment and snacks for our animal family. It’s a perfect circle of giving.

Thank you again to the Montville Home Depot and Evan August for making Saturday such a memorable day. Our "Haystack" is a little greener this week, and our hearts (and goats' bellies) are very full!