HOLIDAYS IN THE VALLEY : Chop, Chop : Evergreens: A tradition is kept alive at nearby farms, where you can select and saw down your own Christmas tree.

An expedition into the forest to fell the perfect pine was once an important holiday ritual. The advent of corner Christmas tree lots has changed all that. Even some mini-malls and convenience stores offer ready-to-trim live trees. Just add water.

But San Fernando Valley residents willing to drive a few miles--and wield a saw--can recapture that annual forest trek at choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms.

“Many people who cut their own trees bring their family along and make it an outing,” said Joan Geiger, communications director of the National Christmas Tree Assn. in Milwaukee. The association assists tree growers in marketing their product.

“It makes for a lot of memories,” Geiger said. “Parents and grandparents remember cutting their own tree and now they want to pass the experience down to their kids.”

Most local farms grow Monterey pines, a bushy, long-needled coastal tree that can take the heat and is a brighter green than other pines and firs.

The following locations in or near the Valley provide saws and assist in cutting, carrying and securing trees to vehicles:

Andrews Christmas Tree Farm in Chatsworth offers 2,000 Monterey pines ranging from six to 14 feet in height on its one-acre parcel. The trees are $25 to $35.

Jim Andrews and his wife, Joann, who have run the farm since 1984, provide free candy canes for children and boughs for decorating. The farm allows shoppers to reserve trees, tagging them weeks before cutting.

The Andrews farm is at 10946 Independence Ave., but the entrance is at De Soto Avenue and Rinaldi Street. Open 3 to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. (818) 341-9858.

Harvest Hill Christmas Tree Farm, in the Antelope Valley, grows 2,000 Eldarica pines, with 800 ready for harvest on its 1 1/2 acres. The pines, ranging from three to seven feet, are not quite as bushy and green as Monterey pines, which easily freeze in this farm’s colder region. Trees may be reserved. Opens Saturday.

Harvest Hill, 14021 Elizabeth Lake Road, Lake Hughes. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays through Mondays. (805) 724-1679.

Green Acres Christmas Trees in Sepulveda farms 8,000 Monterey pines on its 4 1/2 acres, with 1,700 of the trees ready for cutting. Trees up to four feet cost about $25; those from four to eight feet are about $35. Trees may be reserved. Opens Saturday.

Green Acres, 16401 Roscoe Blvd., is open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. (818) 892-1021.

Frosty’s Forest Tree Farm in Newhall grows 21,000 Monterey pines at its two locations, which total 10 acres. About 12,000 of the trees are ready for harvest.

Trees up to 5 1/2 feet cost $25, up to eight feet are $33 and more than eight feet are $38. Potted Monterey pines range from three to eight feet high and cost $25 to $65. Wreaths sell for $15 and bough door hangers are $7.50. Flocking is $3 per foot. Opens Saturday.

Frosty’s, 23256 Lyons Ave., Newhall, with a second lot a quarter of a mile north of Lyons on Orchard Village Road. Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. (805) 259-6450.

The Christmas Ranch has 4,500 Monterey pines to choose from at its Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks locations. The trees range from tabletop-size to 14 feet and sell from $5 to $29.95. The Thousand Oaks location also offers 400 cut noble and Douglas firs, ranging from five to 10 feet, that sell from $20 to $80. Flocking and fire retardant is $3.50 per foot.

Wreaths, $7 to $25, and garlands, $1 per foot, are available at the Thousand Oaks location. Both locations open Sunday.

The Simi Valley ranch, 3800 Cochran Ave., is open 9 a.m. till dusk Saturdays and Sundays. The Thousand Oaks ranch, 1586 Pederson Road, is open 2 to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. (805) 527-6412.

Holiday Forest Ranch in Moorpark offers 60 acres of Monterey pines, the tallest of which top 12 feet. Cost is $3.50 per foot. The family-run business is at 4645 Hitch Blvd. at California 118. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (805) 523-7313.

Grandpa’s Christmas Tree Farms grow 4,000 Monterey pines and a few Eldarica pines on 10 acres in Hacienda Heights. All of the trees, ranging in height from three to 10 feet, are available for cutting and are $3.50 to $5 per foot.

Free boughs are available, usually in greater quantities during mid-December. “And we have free coffee when the generator’s going,” said Anne Kipers, who owns the farm with her husband, Kenneth, and his parents. Trees may be reserved.

Grandpa’s, 16531 E. Colima Road, Hacienda Heights, is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. (818) 968-9804.

The Green and Fresh Christmas Tree Farm in Pasadena has 10,000 Monterey pines growing on its six acres, with about 1,500 trees to choose from. The trees, ranging from five to 12 feet, are $19 to $45. Custom trees, extra wide and tall, sell for about $50.

Charles Mautz, who has farmed the acreage for 18 years, said he provides free coloring books for children, and coffee and lemonade for adults. Mautz also doles out gas lanterns for night shopping. Boughs sell for $1 a sack. Opens Dec. 7.

The Green and Fresh Christmas Tree Farm, 3190 E. Del Mar Blvd., Pasadena, is open 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. (818) 792-6725.

Windmill Christmas Tree Farm in Valencia consists of 70 acres dotted with 100,000 Monterey pines, with 15,000 of the trees ready for harvest. The trees (six to 12 feet in height) at the farm’s two locations all sell for $32.

The family-run farm provides free boughs and has a concession stand that sells hot dogs, chili, and hot and cold drinks. Santa makes an appearance every weekend, except the last weekend before Christmas. Free hayrides will be given from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Magic Mountain location. Tree stands, $15 to $60, are also sold.

Trees are reduced to $28 beginning Dec. 17 at the Rye Canyon location. Shoppers can call to receive $2 coupons, which are doubled in value Tuesdays through Thursdays.

Windmill farm, 25500 Rye Canyon Road, Valencia, is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Also at 25249 Magic Mountain Parkway, with closing times of 8 p.m. (805) 255-6943.

Toluca Lake Christmas Trees has five 12-foot Monterey pines growing on its lot for customers with high living room ceilings. The trees may be felled for $100 each. The business offers other services, such as tree delivery, for $10, of its cut Douglas, noble and Scotch pines, spruce and grand firs, all ranging in height from two to 15 feet. The cut trees sell for $10 to $300.

The company will also decorate your tree: $30 per foot for the basics and $50 per foot for the works. White flocking and fire retardant is $2.50 per foot. For the adventurous, pink, red, silver and black flocking sells for up to $5 per foot.

Potted live trees, including spruce, Monterey, Italian stone and Aleppo pines, ranging from two to eight feet high, sell for $15 to $175. The company will also pick up your tree after the holidays for $25.

Toluca Lake Christmas Trees, 10601 Riverside Drive, is open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 8 a.m. to midnight Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. (818) 505-8039.