Christmas couple spreads cheer in Dallas County 

There is a place in Dallas County that personifies Christmas – it’s Johnson Christmas Tree Farm.   

One of the only local places to cut your own tree, it also features a store with locally made items and owners Steve and Margie Johnson hope visitors get the Christmas spirit while there.  

“This time of year, people are in a happy mood,” Steve Johnson said. “And we meet so many people we didn’t know.” He added that it is a blessing to have such positive interaction and “to spread a little Christmas spirit.”  

The land for the Christmas farm located at 3750 Dallas County Road 306 has been in the Johnson family since at least 1945. Back then, they weren’t farming it but leased it to other farmers, Steve said. Today the majority of the land is leased to the Henry Brick family.  

Steve said he and Margie have always loved the Christmas season. He said they especially love the reason for the season, referring to the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.  

When he retired from International Paper, he wanted to do something, so he started planting trees some five years ago and learned the best species to grow in Dallas County.  

The farm grown trees are Blue Ice, Burkii Cedar, Carolina Sapphire, Leighton Green Leyland Cypress, Murray Cypress and Virginia Pine. Johnson Christmas Tree Farm also offers Fraser Firs, which are brought in from North Carolina.  

Steve is very knowledgeable about the trees he grows. He can explain that “you have two options. Do you want a tight tree or do you want one you can hang a lot of ornaments in?” A tight tree is great for people who only want to put lights and garlands. An open tree has plenty of space between the branches for a lot of ornaments. Steve will tell you which species is best for what you want.  

Another aspect Steve will point out is the way each species smells. He explains how your home will smell depending on the tree you get by shifting into memory mode, reflecting on the smells and ambiance experienced in Christmases past. The picture he paints will certainly help you choose the tree you really want.  

In the Christmas shop, Margie Johnson has a rack filled with homemade baked goods from bakers all across the county. There are also jellies and jams all made locally. On the top shelf above the jellies are pepper sauces, including Steve’s pepper sauce made with peppers he grew. “It makes a good stocking stuffer, all the jams and jellies,” she added. They even sell Paul Comb’s Cyprus Bend Honey.  

Also in the Christmas shop are a number of handmade items made by local artisans. Featured is the works of local potter, Mary Jane Moore, who “lives right down the road from us.” Margie said, “She made our mugs.” There are handmade towels, baskets, wreaths and other handmade Christmas gift ideas. There is also a desk where children who are visiting can sit and write letters to Santa.  

And like every good self respecting Christmas shop in the state of Alabama, the Johnsons have one rack dedicated to Alabama and Auburn decorations.  

Johnson Christmas Tree Farm opened the week of Thanksgiving, with Black Friday being the best and busiest day. Last weekend was the last that Johnson Christmas Tree Farm held regular hours for this season, however, the Johnsons said if anyone needs to get a tree now, to call and they will be glad to accommodate them at 334-872-2004. And find them on Facebook and Instagram.  

As for the future of Johnson Christmas Tree Farm. “It’s going to get bigger and better,” according to Margie. “We’re going to have a firepit with s’mores. I want people to come and sit around and enjoy it. I want to have some cut outs for people to take pictures with.” Steve said, “just make a big picture frame that says Johnson Farms for people to get pictures.”  

If you did not make it out to Johnson Christmas Tree Farm this year, you have something to look forward to for next year.