2nd Annual Free Holiday Tree Harvest Event in Marin

Marin County Parks Gives Families the Chance to Harvest Holiday Trees

For the second year in a row, Marin County families will not have to venture far to harvest their own holiday tree. On Saturday, Dec. 1, Parks invites the public to a very special 40th anniversary event in the San Geronimo Valley to pick out, cut down and take home a holiday tree.

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., participants can help remove invasive pine trees from the Roy’s Redwoods and Maurice Thorner preserves.

Parks Director and General Manager Linda Dahl remarked that “last year’s event at Ring Mountain was so successful, with hundreds of families taking home more than 300 invasive pine trees; we decided to make it a tradition.”

Tree quantities are limited, so families are strongly encouraged to make a reservation for this event. Many of the trees could serve as a terrific addition to holiday decorations, but may not necessarily replace a traditional holiday tree.

Parks staff will assist families as they use maps to locate and pick out a pine tree from the preserves before cutting it down. Brownie Troop 32311 from San Rafael will offer baked goods and hot chocolate to raise funds for local schools at the event. 

Generous support is also provided by the San Geronimo Valley Golf Course. Monterey pine trees are an invasive species in the San Geronimo Valley, and in recent years have spread rapidly into native habitats.

Open Space preserves and conservation easements, which cover more than 40 percent of the San Geronimo Valley, are home to rare plants and chaparral, and the Valley’s streams are habitat for threatened steelhead and endangered coho salmon. Planning & Resources Chief Elise Holland noted that “while we normally work to ensure that nothing (vegetation or otherwise) is removed from our preserves, this event offers families the opportunity to both protect native habitat and take home a holiday tree.”

Meet at the San Geronimo Valley Golf Course parking lot at 5800 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. Participants should dress in layers and wear clothing that is appropriate for hiking through scrub in difficult terrain. The trees are scattered throughout the preserves, and may be difficult to access. Refreshments, tools and interpretive talks will be provided. For more information, or to make a reservation, contact Natural Resource Specialist Matt Sagues at msagues@marincouny.org. Heavy rains may cancel. Please call 415 473-2686 on the morning of December 1 to hear a recorded message if the event is cancelled. Visit marincountyparks.orgto learn more about Parks and our many free outdoor events.

If you are a person with a disability and require assistance to participate in this activity, please contact Steve Petterle at (415) 473-6387, TTY (415) 473-2495, CRS dial 711, or spetterle@marincounty.org.