A New Tradition Takes Root at Kevin Cradock Builders
Longtime KCB team member, Tom Sowles, has been bringing Christmas trees from his family’s Northeast Kingdom farm in Vermont to friends and family for years, including one for Kevin each holiday season. The property has been in Tom’s family since 1970, but only began growing Christmas trees in 1990. While the family had acquired more land (a total of 210 acres), Tom’s dad realized he needed help for a bigger Christmas tree operation. That’s when he began leasing land to Bill Tester of Tester’s Vermont Christmas Trees.
“It takes seven years for a tree to grow to eight feet of maturity. We have 40,000 trees in various stages of growth,” Tom explained. “The trees add a lot of value, but the land also provides bird and deer hunting, as well as cross-country skiing, hiking, and mountain biking.”
Over the years Kevin thought it would be a great perq to offer trees to KCB team members. Although it would be a challenge and take groundwork to bring more than two dozen Christmas trees back to Boston, Kevin and Tom were determined to give it a go.
This year they managed to obtain 28 Fraser Firs from the Sowles family NEXT Farm (North East Christmas Trees) – wrapped and tied – for the trip to Boston. KCB team members had a choice of a tree and a pie from Petsi Pies or a ham and a pie. Team members who chose the tree have been sharing photos of them in their homes, adding to the festive nature of the fringe benefit. One of the trees holds court in the Boiler Room, seen in a photo below with Kevin, New England Home Publisher Kathy Bush-Dutton and New England Home Editor-in-Chief Jenna Talbott.
“We talked about it before Thanksgiving this year,” Kevin said. “I’m really glad it worked out for the team. Merry Christmas!”
Photos by Corey Nuffer
Top Row L to R: Christmas tree farm Fraser firs ready for loading; Trees arrive at KCB; Melvin and Noor get ready to saw off the ends; Bottom row L to R: Kathy Bush-Dutton, Kevin, and Jenna Talbott pose in front of the tree at KCB NEH networking event; the KCB tree in the Boiler Room; decorated tree in Brenda’s house; decorated tree in Owen’s house.