MEDINA TWP. — It takes water and sunlight to make a tree grow, but strong roots to make it thrive.

At Kall Christmas Tree Farm, you are likely to be greeted in the parking lot by a Kall, shown the selection of trees by a Kall, have your tree carried to your car by a Kall, browse in the gift shop over candles and scarves made by the Kalls, and settle up at the sales counter, staffed by a Kall.

Bob and Julie Kall began the Foskett Road tree farm in 1986 and the family roots have grown deep. Their three children, siblings, parents, nieces and nephews all pitch in.

“It’s nice having all of us together,” Julie said.

A drought promptly wiped out the first trees in 1988. The Kalls replanted. Another drought hit in 1990. Again, they replanted.

“Most sane people would’ve quit by then,” said Bob.

They persevered and things have, well, snowballed. In addition to the 7 acres where the shop is located, they grow trees at two other sites and bring them in weekly during the season, keeping a few hundred cut trees on hand.

Fraser, Canaan and Douglas firs are the most popular of the seven varieties the Kalls grow because of their fragrance and soft, short needles. Like people, Christmas trees come in every shape and size.

“People say, ‘Just pick out a tree for me,’ ” Julie said. “I say, ‘No way.’ People’s tastes are so different. I like a fat Christmas tree. Some people like them skinny.”

One acre can grow 1,600 trees. Each takes 10 to 14 years of growth and care before it is ready to be harvested. If you visited in the off-season, you’d see an assembly line of Kalls planting, fertilizing, shearing, mowing and fending off diseases and pests that can ruin trees or put them years behind.

“It’s a 12-month deal,” Bob said, with only a four-week window during the holidays to make an income.

Tree prices range from about $30 to $75, depending on size and variety. Divide the price by the age of the tree and the grower may get $3 or $4 per tree per year — before expenses, Bob said. Subtract labor and other costs, the return is perhaps $1.50.

In other words, the Christmas tree business is about more than money.

“This isn’t our livelihood,” Julie said. “Making money is just a plus.” She is a dental hygienist and Bob drives a truck for the Medina sanitation department. Among the trees, it’s peaceful, they said. There’s time to think.

Working on the farm and serving customers has taught their kids important life skills, Julie added. Their oldest, Kelly, is in college. Andy is a Medina High School junior and Tony is a seventh-grader.

The kids have been involved almost since they could walk. Once, when Tony was about 3, he decided to help a customer. Bob’s brother, John, went over to see if he needed any help.

Tony held up a capable hand and said: “Uncle John, I’ve got it under control,” Bob recalled, laughing. And Tony did, John reported later. On their own, the kids donate any tips they receive each year to Akron Children’s Hospital, something Julie and Bob are particularly proud of.

The Kalls also raise animals — including chickens, alpacas, horses, cows and ducks — which visitors are welcome to see.

Buyers often come to the tree farm for their own family experience — choosing a tree together, cutting it themselves if they wish, visiting the animals, talking to those who grow the trees. Children receive a candy cane, a coloring book, hot chocolate and a cookie.

Near the back of the farm is a spruce tree — taller than all the rest, and decorated with candy canes. It’s a memorial to Bob’s late father, John. His guiding principle was: Treat people the way you would like to be treated.

“That’s what we try to do,” Bob said.

The Kalls offer these tips for choosing a cut Christmas tree:

– Make sure the tree’s needles feel fresh, not brittle.

– Don’t rely on the traditional method of judging a tree’s freshness by shaking it and seeing if it drops any needles. All trees drop some needles naturally.

– As with buying any natural product, it’s always best to purchase from someone who can tell you firsthand how a tree was grown and harvested.

– Once the tree is in the house, keep it watered and away from direct heat.