It is said that the best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second-best time to plant a tree is now. Tim Vala, co-founder of Vala’s Pumpkin Patch, did even better. When he and his wife purchased their farm forty years ago, there were few trees. But Tim had a vision, and despite having little money or spare time, he planted some trees that first year. Every year since he insisted on planting many more. His amazing effort changed the landscape in a major way. The four-hundred-acre property now has a forest of trees which line the curving roads and paths and beautifully frame every scene.
This year, we introduced a feature called Tim’s Measuring Tree to honour Tim’s efforts. He is planting three new trees around it. Each year, guests visit they will be able to step inside and measure their growth. Our hope is that it will become a tradition. Those young trees that Tim plants this year will also grow alongside the guests. It is going to be a fitting tribute to Tim and a wonderful photo op.
