For farms

The Russell Farm

📍 1248 VT Route 116, Starksboro, VT🗓 Season dates not yet published for 2026🏷 Pricing TBD

Horse-drawn wagon rides out to the fields and a fire pit back at the cabin make this one of the more experience-driven cut-your-own farms in this research, but it's weekends-only and no pricing is published.

The Russell Farm in Starksboro, VT

How you get your tree

This farm offers

cut-your-ownchoose-and-cut (staff cuts it for you)

Included

horse-drawn wagon/carriage rideshot chocolatefire pit/games at the cabinmaple syrup for salehandmade wreaths for sale

Our take

What sets The Russell Farm apart from most other cut-your-own operations in this research is the wagon ride: a horse-drawn wagon (and in some years, a carriage or sleigh) takes visitors out to the tree fields, with hot chocolate and a fire waiting back at the farm’s cabin while staff load the cut tree onto your vehicle. That’s a genuinely different kind of visit than walking a field yourself and dragging a tree back to the car — it reads as an outing built around the experience of getting to the tree, not just the tree itself.

Worth booking ahead, and worth extra time

The farm’s own site indicates wagon or carriage rides may need to be booked in advance, so this isn’t necessarily a walk-up-and-ride situation — if the wagon ride is the reason you’re coming, call 802-453-2208 before you drive out to confirm availability. Because of the added ride, fire pit, and games at the cabin, budget more time here than a typical cut-your-own stop; this is closer to a half-morning or half-afternoon outing than a 30-minute errand.

A shorter, weekends-only schedule

The farm operates Saturday and Sunday only, 10am to 4pm, rather than staying open through the week. That’s a real constraint if your schedule doesn’t line up with weekends during the season, and it also means the farm likely sees more concentrated traffic on the days it is open, since there’s no weekday option to spread visitors out. No 2026 season dates were published as of this research, and an older listing describing a specific late-November-to-mid-December window wasn’t carried forward here since it named exact past dates rather than a recurring pattern — call ahead to confirm this year’s schedule.

The pricing gap

No tree pricing turned up anywhere in the sources reviewed for this farm. Given the added experience — the wagon ride, the fire pit, staff loading your tree — it wouldn’t be surprising if pricing reflects that fuller visit rather than a bare-bones cut-your-own rate, but that’s a reasonable guess, not a confirmed fact, so don’t treat it as one. Balsam fir and Fraser fir are the two species on offer. Beyond trees, the farm sells maple syrup and handmade wreaths, giving you a couple of easy add-ons if you’re already making the trip.

One more honest note: the farm’s exact street address couldn’t be precisely geocoded during this research, so the location on file is an approximate city-centre coordinate for Starksboro rather than a pinpoint address. Confirm directions by phone rather than relying solely on a mapped pin if you’re unfamiliar with the area.

Planning your visit

Best time to go

No 2026 dates were published. The farm operates Saturday and Sunday only, 10am-4pm, and appears to run a shorter, weekends-only schedule rather than being open daily through the season.

How long to budget

An hour or more, given the wagon ride out to the fields and time by the fire pit — this isn't a quick in-and-out visit.

Crowds

Not documented directly, but a weekends-only schedule (versus daily hours at some other farms) likely concentrates all visitors into two days, which could mean busier Saturdays and Sundays than farms spreading traffic across a full week.

Parking

Not described in the record.

Strollers and accessibility

Not addressed in the source. Staff reportedly help load your cut tree onto your vehicle, which could ease the physical effort compared to fully self-serve farms.

What to bring

  • A reservation for the wagon or carriage ride if that's part of your plan, since the farm's own site suggests advance booking may be needed
  • Cash or card — the record doesn't specify which is accepted
  • Extra time, since this is more of an outing than a quick cut-and-go stop

How to spend less here

  • No tree pricing is published in the record, so there's no dollar figure to plan around here — ask when you call or arrive
  • Hot chocolate is offered as part of the visit, though the record doesn't specify whether it's free or for sale

Who it suits

Good for

  • Families who want more than a bare tree cut — a horse-drawn wagon ride, hot chocolate, and a fire pit with games at the farm's cabin
  • Visitors who don't mind booking ahead, since wagon or carriage rides may need advance reservation
  • Anyone who wants to combine tree shopping with buying maple syrup or handmade wreaths

Skip it if

Skip if you're hoping for a weekday visit or need firm pricing in advance, since the farm is open Saturday and Sunday only and no tree cost is published anywhere in the record.

Worth pairing with

This farm sits in Starksboro, Addison County; Werner Tree Farm in nearby Middlebury is the closest comparable option in this research batch if you want to compare a pre-cut selection against this farm's cut-your-own, wagon-ride experience.

Common questions

How much does a tree cost?

Not published in the record. Call 802-453-2208 or ask on-site.

Do I need to book the wagon ride ahead of time?

The farm's own site suggests wagon or carriage rides may need advance booking, so it's worth calling ahead if that's a priority for your visit rather than assuming it's available on arrival.

What days is the farm open?

Saturday and Sunday only, 10am-4pm. No 2026 season dates were published as of this research.

What tree species are available?

Balsam fir and Fraser fir.

When is The Russell Farm open in 2026?

2026 dates had not been published when we last checked. In past seasons it has run: Sat-Sun. Check with the farm before driving out.

How much does a tree cost at The Russell Farm?

Pricing was not published when we last checked.

Can I cut my own tree at The Russell Farm?

Yes. It's cut-your-own and choose-and-cut (staff cuts it for you).

Where is The Russell Farm?

1248 VT Route 116, Starksboro, VT, in Addison County. It is one of 5 farms we track in Central Vermont.

How The Russell Farm compares in Central Vermont

We track 5 farms in Central Vermont, 4 of which let you cut your own tree. The farm has not published a starting price, so it cannot be compared on cost — call before you budget.

What sets it apart locally: it has a hayride or sleigh ride, wreaths and garland for sale, which most Central Vermont farms on our list do not.

One caveat worth repeating: this farm had not published its 2026 dates when we last checked, while 2 of the 5 farms we track in Central Vermont had. Treat any date you see elsewhere as last year's until the farm confirms it.

Other farms near Starksboro

There is 1 other farm we track in Addison County. All Central Vermont farms →

Quick facts

SeasonSeason dates not yet published for 2026
Days openSat-Sun
Hours10am-4pm
Starting priceNot published
Tree typesBalsam fir, Fraser fir
CountyAddison County
RegionCentral Vermont

Directions

Open in Google Maps ↗

Map pin is set to the town centre. Navigate to the street address above, not the pin.

Sources

therussellfarm.com · newenglandcities.com

Checked September 2026.