Trinity Farms collecting untreated Christmas trees to feed to goats

Joshua Byers, The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.
·2 min read

Dec. 28—BOSWELL — Live Christmas trees are symbols of the holiday season that can fill homes and businesses with festive cheer — but when the celebrations are over, many are left exploring ways to properly dispose of the trees.

That is where Trinity Farms Center for Healing comes in.

For years, the Boswell-area farm has collected untreated Christmas trees to feed to their goats, and is doing so again this year.

"We're just starting this year," co-owner George Newman said. "We have 14 so far."

Last year, the farm collected around 300 trees from area businesses and residents, and Newman expects to receive about the same amount again.

Paula Eppley-Newman, George Newman's wife and Trinity Farms Center for Healing co-owner, said the evergreens offer not only a nutritional boost for the goats through the winter, but also a sort of medicine for the animals.

"They eat those pine needles and it's a natural de-wormer," she said.

In total, the farm has about 68 goats from the Kiko and Nigerian Dwarf breeds.

As George Newman brought trees in, the goats slowly got closer to inspect the treat. Before long, many were lined up to gnaw on the prickly branches leaning against their enclosure wall.

Some ate a bit, then walked away to get some hay, while others took the opportunity to munch on as many pine needles as they could. A few, such as the Nigerian Dwarf goat Doc, used the branches as makeshift scratching posts.

The center has welcomed guests since 2016 and features goats, alpacas and sheep. Eppley-Newman and her husband invite people to come spend time with the animals.

"The main goal is just to have people come here and enjoy the peace and quiet of the outdoors," she said. "Whatever anybody needs, they can come and they can find it."

George Newman said that once the trees are stripped, the recycling program isn't complete.

"This is just one step in the process," he said.

In some cases, the chewed-up trees are secured together and submerged in area lakes as natural habitats for aquatic life. Other times, they are placed in wooded areas for other animals.

Anyone wishing to donate trees to Trinity Farms can drop them along the fence line of the farm at 496 Griffith Road, Boswell.

For more information, visit trinityfarmscenterforhealing.org and the group's Facebook page.