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It takes a year for a tree to grow one foot taller at Bakers Creek Tree Farm. It takes minutes for families there to plant a Christmas tradition.

There is plenty of tradition being born and renewed Wednesday afternoon at the 6-acre tree farm owned by Charlie Zearfoss. After days of rain since Thanksgiving and more in the forecast, people are taking advantage of a sunny break in the blustery weather.

Cars and SUVs pull into the gravel lot at 409 Henry Lane off U.S. 411 South in Greenback, the home of the only business in Blount County where customers can pick out a live Christmas tree growing in the soil.

Customers walk through the tree-covered pasture, make their pick and wait until Zearfoss pulls up on his lawn tractor and puts a chain saw to the trunk of their tree.

The trees vary in size, up to 9 feet tall. One price fits all -- $40 per tree, cut, delivered to your vehicle and strapped to the roof with twine. You can tell the regulars, those customers come prepared with tarps to spread on their vehicles' roofs.

With a steady stream of customers arriving to search for their favorite white Pine or Norway spruce, Zearfoss is busy. His volunteer partner shares her knowledge of the operation.

Judy Heater, who lives in Greenback in Loudon County, helps park cars, collects money, gives out instructions on tree care and generally takes care of the operation while Zearfoss is out in the field cutting and hauling trees

"We've been friends for 20 years," she says and smiles. "I work for free and he pays me in wood and a free Christmas tree."

The cordwood comes in handy. Heater has wood-burning stove.

Years ago, Zearfoss, Heater and Al Schmidt all worked at a paper mill in New Jersey. Schmidt moved south first. He bought Maple Lane Farms, now operated by his son Bob and noted for its corn maze and Strawberry Jam Festival.

Zearfoss followed in 1993 and soon began planting trees. It was almost inevitable that Heater would follow.

"When you start visiting, you fall in love with East Tennessee," she says.

It was obvious to Heater that Zearfoss had found his destiny.

"This is his baby. He eats, drinks and sleeps these trees all year long. He loves it."

Between the selling seasons, Zearfoss keeps the grass mowed and the trees trimmed. That's what draws the people, especially the children.

Christmas playground

"Where we get the real satisfaction is watching these little kids -- about 4 or 5 years old with grandpa. They're not interest in picking out a tree, they're out there playing hide-and-seek. It is cute to watch," Heater says.

"When these kids let loose, they run around all over the place. See what I mean about the kids out there? Look at them running."

There they are -- chasing, jumping, spinning, yelling and yelping. Some wear red Santa caps that disappear and reappear as the children dash between the needle-covered branches of forest green.

The Pope family of Maryville arrives back to the parking area with a chosen white pine in tow. Bill, the dad, had marked the crown with his Santa hat to make the tree easy for Zearfoss to spot. Sons Nicholas, a student at Fort Craig School, and Nathan, who attends Wesley Day School, also are capped in floppy red and white. They've been part of this post-Thanksgiving ritual for just about as long as they can remember.

"Ever since it opened," says Missy, their mom. "It's our tradition. We come with our hats on."

This is the first year for Debbie Radosevich and her boys, Nicholas and Alexander. In June, they moved from South Florida to Mt. Vernon near Madisonville. When in Florida, they selected cut Christmas trees from stores. When Radosevich spotted the Bakers Creek Tree Farm sign on U.S. 411 South, she had another idea.

"I passed this the other day and thought this is more fun."

The boys haven't slowed down since sprinting across the pasture to reach the trees.

"They've been all over, and it's good exercise, too. They're having a blast. Look at 'em go," Radosevich says.

This is year two for Tim and Mandy Clark, who recently married. They first picked out a tree at Bakers Creek Tree Farm in 2007.

"This is our second year together at Christmas, so it's like a tradition starting," Tim said.

For Mandy, it's a renewal of an old family tradition. She recalls sawing off live cedar trees for Christmas with the folks who raised her.

"I remember, me, Anna and Paul (Irwin) used to go to the property down in Tellico -- just wandering through the woods and picking one out," Mandy says. "That's what we used to do every year, so this is a little bit closer to that."

Bakers Creek Tree Farm, 409 Henry Lane, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week until Dec. 23. To reach by phone, call (865) 856-4042.