Podcast Summary:

New York Farm Bureau News Bytes
Episode #8: Interview with Pete Goderie at Goderie's Tree Farm – 12/17/2025

Episode Overview

This episode centers around the traditions, operations, and environmental commitment of Goderie’s Tree Farm in Johnstown, NY—a family-run business now spanning nearly a century. Host interviews co-owner Pete Goderie, showcasing the farm’s evolution, community roots, agricultural challenges, innovative practices, and the business’s adaptation to changing times. The episode also spotlights the intersection of farm legacy, environmental stewardship, and practical insights for Christmas tree enthusiasts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Farm History and Family Legacy

• Origins:

  • The Goderie family farm began around 1930 after Pete’s great grandfather relocated due to the Sacondaga Reservoir flooding.
  • Initially a dairy farm, transitioned to Christmas trees in 1970.
  • Pete and his brother Mike took over operations in the mid-1980s, regaining the full property by 2000.
  • The farm currently spans roughly 250 acres, cultivating both Christmas trees and nursery stock.

• Quote:

  • "My parents decided to start growing Christmas trees in 1970 to put my brother and I through college. Ironically, it never really made any money until we were out of college." — Pete Goderie [00:28]

• Community Tradition:

  • Longstanding ties—generations of families return annually. Children and grandchildren maintain the tradition of selecting a tree, especially with the cut-your-own experience.
  • "It's great with this business. You see the families come in and over the years you see the children come back in and the grandchildren come back in..." — Pete Goderie [01:38]

2. Christmas Tree Varieties & Agricultural Decisions

• Farm grows several kinds: Fraser fir, balsam fir, Korean balsam hybrids, Lazio cross, concolor fir.

• Tree selection driven by growth rates, consumer preference, and adaptability to local climate.

• Fraser fir is especially valued for needle retention and resilience to local weather conditions.

• Quote:

  • "Fraser fir are the ones that will retain their needles the best... They want to be dry, well drained... They have a very late bud break which is good for this climate." — Pete Goderie [02:42]

3. Farm Operations, Maintenance, and Seasonal Tasks

• Tree Maintenance:

  • Starts in April—planting, fertilization, and selective pest spraying (focused on spider mites, aphids).
  • Shearing begins around July 4th to shape trees and encourage bud growth, aiming to finish by early fall.
  • Significant mowing, herbicide use, weed control throughout the season.

• Quote:

  • "You really should shear everything once the season. That forces the tree to create more buds for the following year and it gives it that uniform shape." — Pete Goderie [03:26]

4. Cut-Your-Own, Pre-Cut, and Tagging Services

• Offers both cut-your-own and pre-cut trees; ratio and demand depend heavily on weather.

• Customers may pre-tag trees, scheduling pick-up, or choose to cut their tagged tree with family involvement.

• Distinct lot areas for different services, with wholesale supply managed separately.

• Quote:

  • "If it's a nice year... we had to shut it down because we had so many people... For the most part, it's about a 50-50 blend." — Pete Goderie [04:39]
  • "A lot of people come in and pre-tag the tree and they give us the date they want it cut." — Pete Goderie [05:09]

5. Products Beyond Christmas Trees

• Farm creates and sells wreaths, kissing balls, garlands, bough bundles—most made by a consistent group of local women.

• Blueberry pick-your-own (about an acre), high tunnel tomatoes supplied to local restaurants and orchards, onsite nursery and landscaping division.

• Quote:

  • "We've got about 12—mostly gals—that come in here. Some are stay-at-home moms... a good group; I've had the same group for probably 25 years." — Pete Goderie [06:16]

6. Landscaping and Year-Round Business

• Landscapes and installs trees for customers, with two dedicated crews led by Pete’s son Jared.
• Uses three tree spades to provide various tree sizes.

7. Environmental Stewardship & Conservation Initiatives

• Partners with USDA and NRCS on woodlot management—about 100 acres of forest, managing five acres annually through stewardship grants.

• Established a half-acre pollinator habitat of wildflowers, left unmowed during the growing season.

• New irrigation project (with local Soil & Water): building an acre-sized pond to irrigate 40-45 acres, ensuring climate resilience due to erratic rainfall.

• Quote:

  • "We also put in a pollinator habitat... a half acre... killed all the native vegetation off and then we put wildflowers." — Pete Goderie [07:35]
  • "The rainfall per year is the same, but... you're getting either a lot at once or none of it. We tend to lose a lot of transplants in the spring." — Pete Goderie [08:27]

8. Christmas Tree Care Tips

• Fresh cut at home is critical; lots of water, preferably warm, is best—preservatives unnecessary.

• If a tree runs dry, drill below the water line to reopen water uptake channels.

• Quote:

  • "The best thing is a fresh cut in the bottom when you get it and lots of fresh water... As far as preservatives, I've heard a lot of things...but the best thing is a fresh cut, plenty of water." — Pete Goderie [09:39]
  • "If your tree stand runs out of water, that'd be a little trick to try." — Pete Goderie [10:19]

• Disposal:

  • Mulching, use by goat farms, or festive local "Christmas tree burning parties."

9. Farm Bureau & Workers’ Comp Savings

• Pete strongly endorses the Farm Bureau’s Safety Group 486 workers’ compensation program.

• Program substantially lowered the farm’s insurance costs; recommends it to other farmers.

• Quote:

  • "One of the best moves we ever made. It cut our workers comp in half." — Pete Goderie [11:48]

10. Farm Hours and Year-Round Operations

• Open seven days/week during Christmas season (8 am–7 pm; closes at 6 on Sundays).

• Winter months spent on maintenance and prep work for spring.

• Quote:

  • "Our only downtime around here is usually January, February, March... But we do a lot of maintenance around here too." — Pete Goderie [12:52]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I've had the same group for probably 25 years that come in. It's almost like family." — Pete Goderie [06:16]
• "A couple of breweries... have Christmas tree burning parties, which is a festive... I think they sell some beer with it too..." — Pete Goderie [11:21]
• "You see the families come in and over the years you see the children come back in and the grandchildren come back in..." — Pete Goderie [01:38]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Historical Overview — [00:28]
• Traditions, Families, and Community — [01:30]
• Tree Varieties & Growth — [02:01]
• Tree Farm Operations & Shearing — [03:19]
• Cut-Your-Own vs. Pre-Cut & Tagging — [04:31]
• Additional Christmas Products & Handmaking Wreaths — [05:56], [06:16]
• Blueberries & Greenhouse Tomatoes — [06:46]
• Landscaping & Nursery Business — [07:01]
• Conservation Efforts & Pollinator Habitat — [07:35]
• Irrigation & Climate Adaptation — [08:27]
• Christmas Tree Care Tips — [09:30]
• Disposal, Mulching, and Community Events — [10:43]
• Farm Bureau Insurance Savings — [11:38]
• Operating Hours & Year-Round Activity — [12:46]

Episode Tone & Style

Warm, community-focused, and pragmatic—blending down-to-earth agricultural know-how with humor, tradition, and environmental consciousness. Pete Goderie’s style is approachable and matter-of-fact, seasoned with anecdotes and practical tips for both farmers and families.

Takeaways for the Listener

• Goderie’s Tree Farm exemplifies sustainable family farming, innovation, and community connection.
• There’s more to Christmas trees than meets the eye—considerations range from climate-adapted species to year-round hands-on care and environmental responsibility.
• Even long-standing farms benefit from support programs like those offered by Farm Bureau.
• Practical tips abound: fresh water is key; environmental stewardship pays off; and traditions, old and new, keep rural communities vibrant year-round.