At 72 years old, nothing has stopped this grandfather from succeeding with his Christmas tree farm. That is right, when many already fantasize about morning walks, the couch and the TV, this man, Bob Schrader, has begun to run a Christmas tree farm in Massachusetts. It was his dream and he has managed to get his son to join him in this adventure, and careful, because it is a job that requires physical effort, planning and detail, since later we all want our tree to look perfect in our homes!
Bob’s story has gone viral because it is very beautiful, but it also makes us think about how we understand retirement. This man did not retire to rest, but to start another project that he is passionate about. After 37 years working as deputy director at the agriculture center of the University of Massachusetts, Bob thought that, if he knew so much about crops, maybe it was time to do something different, a Christmas farm. And it not only gives him money, but by sharing it with his son everything seems nicer.
A new business
Growing Christmas trees is not just planting seeds and waiting, each tree takes between 6 and 10 years to reach the ideal size for our living rooms, that is, what Bob sells today, he started preparing almost a decade ago, as if he had waited all this time to fulfill his dream.
Throughout the year, he and his son prune, fertilize, check pests and prepare the experience for visitors, they want to offer the families that go to choose their tree a complete experience that makes them want to return next year.
Active retirement and far from the couch
Bob is living proof that retirement does not have to mean stopping, much less disappearing from the work world, careful, any way you choose to take your retirement will be welcome because it is yours! But, sometimes, staying active is a way of taking care of oneself: moving, talking, learning new things… continuing to feel useful.
Family work
One might think that his son is simply the young and strong help that does what Bob can no longer do. But in reality it is much more than that, it is a project for both of them, they decide together, they work together, they fight for everything together. In the end it is more about taking care of the bond than the project, and that is wonderful.
If the business continues when Bob is no longer here, it will be thanks to this generational alliance that, more than strategy, is affection and continuity.
A beautiful and vulnerable trade
As beautiful as “Christmas tree farm” sounds, we are talking about a job that depends on weather conditions, a heat wave, a flood or any plague could ruin years of work.
And of course, you have to add the competition of artificial trees, cheap, practical and, for many, enough to decorate their living room.
Bob and his son have understood what is happening in the market and that is why they bet on a complete experience when families go for their trees. Christmas with all the letters.
Legacy
What Bob feels when he sells them is not only economic satisfaction, it is a small piece of ritual shared with hundreds of families who leave happy prepared to decorate their trees. In the end, Christmas is tradition for everyone.
The story of Bob Schrader teaches us that there is no age to stop believing in oneself, nor to start working on our dreams, and now that we are getting used to everything happening in one click, he reminds us that the best things take time, waiting, affection and company. Merry Christmas, Bob!!