The North Olympic Land Trust’s first Holiday Conservation Celebration, which will be at Lazy J Tree Farm, will offer horse-pulled wagon rides, stream walks, quiet time with Santa and cider and cookies.
The celebration will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at the farm at 225 Gehrke Road, between Port Angeles and Sequim.
The farm, which is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, will offer U-cut Christmas trees in the fields, and wreaths, jams and other foods in its store.
Tours by wagon and by foot will provide opportunities to learn how the land trust is helping farm owner Steve Johnson permanently protect salmon habitat as well as some of the land that produces Christmas trees, fruits and vegetables.
Jim Bower, owner of Jim H. Bower Logging Co. and Blue Mountain Belgians, will drive a team of the horses he uses in his logging operations. The horses will pull one of Bower’s wagons with bench seats.
Bower — who is donating his services, his team and his wagon — said Lazy J Tree Farm’s founder, Steve Johnson’s late father, George Johnson, was his logging partner.
Greg Good, executive director of the land trust, will ride on the wagon to answer questions about the organization’s services that have protected more than 1,800 acres in Clallam County.
“We want to provide more opportunities for the public to see lands being protected through the commitment of private landowners like Steve Johnson, and the time and financial support many individuals, businesses and partner organizations contribute,” Good said.
“Christmas tree harvest season is a perfect time to celebrate this outstanding farm and the stewardship of Siebert Creek.”
At 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., the organization’s conservation director, Michele d’Hemecourt; longtime salmon habitat volunteer Dick Goin; Hoh River Trust’s Land Management Director Mike Hagen; and others with expertise about Siebert Creek will lead walking tours to the salmon stream, which flows through the farm.
Land trust volunteers will serve free cider and cookies, and Santa will be available to children in the Lazy J sales barn.
Johnson said he’s also arranged for a vendor to sell barbecue from a tent set up near the barn.
For more information, see the land trust’s Web site at www.nolt.org.
