Requested by Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust (ACT);

December 13, 2024
Contact: Katrina Meserve, Outreach Manager
kmeserve@act-nh.org, (603) 823-7777

Protecting Agriculture Forever, a Christmas Tree Farm’s Story of Vitality and Conservation

The Swiftwater Farm Conservation Area located in Haverhill off NH Route 112, has been protected forever with the Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust (ACT) who works to conserve the lands YOU love.

This exciting property consists of 72.42 conserved acres, including Mountain Star Farms LLC, the Christmas tree farm on the property that has been in operation since 1982. Mike Garvan purchased the property in 1984 from Morris and Helen Olsen who originally planted the property with Christmas trees around 1958. Mountain Star Farms has been producing wholesale, choose-and-cut, and retail Christmas trees and wreaths since 1982 and was voted the favorite Christmas tree farm in New Hampshire for seven consecutive years by WMUR TV-9. The Christmas tree farm is approximately 19 acres in size and is accompanied by about 53 acres of mixed-wood forest.

The Swiftwater Farm Conservation Area (including Mountain Star Farms) has many conservation purposes including protecting present and future agricultural use and viability, preservation of open space and natural habitats and ecosystems, and to protect groundwater and wildlife habitat. The conservation easement on the property guarantees the tree farm will remain available for agricultural use and will not be lost to subdivision. The conservation of this piece of land also prevents loss of forest resources to development or conversion, ensuring the forest and tree farm will remain under one ownership.

Gently rolling slopes and the summit of a small hill cover the western half of the property which includes the tree farm. On this elevated, gently rolling terrain are thirteen acres of hemlock-white pine-mixed wood forest. The eastern half of the property lies in a low, relatively flat area with approximately 29 acres of lowland hemlock-white pine-mixed wood forest. Both areas are managed as a working forest and were partially logged before conservation.

In addition to the forested land, there is a small headwater pond on the property and a small narrow forested swamp which provides wetland habitat for a wide diversity of plants and wildlife. The NH Department of Environmental Services recognizes that wetlands can provide many vital functions like water storage for flood water and storm runoff, wildlife and migratory bird habitat, surface and ground water protection, and much more.

Funding for this project included grants and landowner contributions with funding from the New Hampshire Farm Future Fund (NHFFF) and the New Hampshire State Conservation Committee (NHSCC).

If you are looking for a Christmas tree this holiday season, visit ACT’s newest conserved property the Swiftwater Farm Conservation Area and go to Mountain Star Farms! For more information about ACT, our conservation projects, events, or public trails, visit act-nh.org or call our office at (603) 823-7777.