Farm near Halifax accepting Christmas tree donations

Animals at Ataraxy Farm feed on a festive feast of donated Christmas trees.

The holidays have ended but Ataraxy Farm in Lawrencetown, N.S., is still accepting Christmas donations.

Owner Kim Davis says people donate trees and shrubs throughout the year but Christmas trees are always welcome.

“As long as they’re still green,” she said. “They’re healthy for the goats.”

The trees help goats with digestion and deworming and they are an excellent nutritional supplement, Kim said.

“It’s nice and sweet for them,” she said.

Kim and her husband David started Ataraxy in 2013 as therapy for David’s PTSD following his military service.

“It was his sanctuary to help him deal with his PTSD and understand how animals impact him and help him,” Kim said.

The couple opened their farm to the public in June 2021 when someone posted that they wanted to take their child to a farm during COVID-19.

“Since then, it’s actually helped my husband reconnect with society,” Kim said. The couple hopes their farm helps other people with mental health illnesses or social anxiety, she said.

Ataraxy offers farm tours every Friday, Saturday and Sunday that can be booked on the website. Donors can drop off Christmas trees seven days a week between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

“You can come out and check out our animals,” Kim said. “Bring your Christmas tree with you.”

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