My first time. Sneads Asparagus Farm

Since this is only our 2nd Christmas in Virginia, we still havent quite found "our places".  Back in Michigan we had a place to go buy pumpkins, a place to go cut down our Christmas tree, a place to pick apples.  We had places we went religiously for all occasions.  Some of these places are places I grew up going, and some   are places we found together as a family.  I admit it is hard leaving all you have ever known, and having to start fresh.  Last Christmas we had no clue where to go, and very little money to work with.  So we went to the local nursery and picked a pre-cut tree.  It was a pretty tree, and did its purpose, but a big part of the fun of Christmas is searching through fields of trees, finding the perfect one and chopping it down yourself.  Getting all covered in tree sap, getting needles in your gloves, and your hair.  I love it!

This year we discovered Snead's Asparagus Farm.  At first I was afraid to go there, because of the name. How could an Asparagus farm have great Christmas trees?  Well let me tell you, they have BEAUTIFUL TREES!  The whole property is beautiful! and they let you roam about it, as you wish!  I even heard Mr Snead say to his friend "there is a special jail for people like us, people who let strangers invade their property and not care"

The first thing that struck me was that its just that A FARM! I love farms.  I have always wanted to live on a farm.  We were greeted by Mr Snead himself, who told us the lay of the land, and invited us to wander about on our own.  And if he wasn't around when we got done, just drop our payment in the box by the porch.  A man who trusts the honor system in this crazy world we live in, is a hard man to find!

Aside from Mr Snead, we were also greeted by 5 beautiful dogs.  English shepard dogs, I believe.  Two of the dogs even followed us into the forest of trees, ball in mouth, trying to play catch with my daughter.  I later found out, while talking to Mr Snead, that only 4 of the dogs are his. Apparently one of the beautiful dogs, is a lost dog.  His dogs are so well known, someone found this beautiful girl, and thought she was his.  He is keeping her safe, until they find her real owners.

Then we happen upon an old train car, or semi car, filled with chickens!  It made me smile, because I grew up around birds.  My Grandfather, who lived down the street from us, raised chickens, pheasents, pigeons, and whatever other birds he could find.  Seeing chickens in a field of Christmas trees, makes me happy!

Along with the chickens and dogs, they also have horses and other animals.  I was looking too hard at the horses, when I tripped and fell over a metal box in the ground.  I hurt my ankle pretty bad, so I didnt get to fully explore all there was to see.  But from what I understand there may also be other animals back there.

Our daughter discovered the play house, decorated to look like a gingerbread house, the teepee and the tire/horse swings.

Then after all this, we still found our perfect tree.  Honestly its the best tree we have ever chopped down.  Its so big and full and perfect!

 It was an amazing experiance.  Im so happy to found "our place" to buy Christmas trees from.  I am pretty sure we will also make this our Pumpkin place, and maybe even our asparagus place!  I told Mr Snead we were going to set up a tent at the back of the property and just live there.  In which he replied " I was just saying yesterday, all you need in this country is a piece of land and a dream"