Joe Dombrowski’s Christmas tradition is a year-round endeavor that takes him far from home for most of December.
The third-generation Christmas tree farmer and his small crew live in a trailer on a vacant lot at the corner of Madison Street and Oak Park Avenue, loaded with six varieties of trees grown on the family farm in Powers, Mich.
“It can be kind of a tough 30 days in the trailer,” said Dombrowski as he prepared for a night where temperatures were expected to drop near zero. “But it’s a necessary part of the business. It’s your payday. You do all that work and here is where you finally sell your product.”
His father, Dooley, sold trees in the area for 37 years and many living in and around Oak Park who buy live trees have counted on the family as part of their tradition. One family even provided Dombrowski and his workers with Thanksgiving dinner.
A meaningful part of the season for Dombrowski involves the trip home. The guys will be home in time for Christmas.
“When we get home, it’s kind of special because my kids usually wait up for me,” he said.
“I used to wait up for my dad when he came home.”