For some Black Friday is "Green" Friday

NEW LEBANON, Ohio (WDTN) - On Black Friday while some choose to shop till they drop, others would rather chop till "it" drops.

"This is good," says Laura Rench of her cut-your-own-tree business. "Gets people in the spirit."

At Country Pines Christmas Tree Farm in New Lebanon, the only things in line are the trees and the shopping is done with a different kind of cart, but making the right selection is just as important

Just like in the stores they'll bag it for you, but out here you have to cut your own deals.

Families like the Statens had thousands of trees to choose from despite the summer heat that almost stole Christmas.   

"It really truly was amazing," Rench says. "We started getting rains at just the right time and actually I think the trees look better this year than last year."

Everybody has their own idea of what makes the ideal tree.

"You follow your wife," says Bernie Darst. "When she picks out the one she wants that's the one we like."

Some trees are more popular than others. The Millers marked their tree only to comeback and find it had been taken by somebody else.

"It's a sad commentary on America when Black Friday has moved from the stores to the Christmas tree field," said one Miller jokingly.

But nobody is going to confuse this crowd with the ones you'll find at the stores.

Where else can you have a picnic in the parking lot after you're done shopping, like the Darst family did.

It's something they'll savor for a long time.

"Family tradition," Bernie says. "Hopefully something we can pass on. These grandkids will get married and they'll bring their kids out. It's something missing in America today. We want to keep passing on tradition."