Columbia Star

Lakewood Tree Farm, a family affair



Reagan, Glen, Lindsey, and Madison

Photo by Jessie Shealy, Shealy Photography. Reagan, Glen, Lindsey, and Madison

 

Glen Miller first met Lindsey Lake in the summer of 2001. Glen was struggling with the death of his 15-year-old brother, as was everyone in his family. He was looking for someone to help process the grief he was feeling.

Lindsey had lost her father to cancer when she was nine so she understood what Glen was going through. A beautiful day spent outdoors followed by a year as close friends allowed Glen to communicate his feelings to someone who understood.

After high school, Glen began working as a mechanic. Lindsey moved to Charleston, graduated from Trident Technical College, and joined the medical profession in medical-surgical and postpartum nursing.

Glen worked as a mechanic for several years but eventually decided it was time to put fear aside and do something he felt was important. He began the process of becoming a paramedic. After spending 10 years in emergency medical services, Glen moved on and became an educator for a local hospital system and completed a degree from Western Carolina University.

Trees stand like soldiers at attention.

Trees stand like soldiers at attention.

Lindsey had completed her goal of becoming a nurse practitioner and relocated back to Chapin. They reunited after more than a decade apart and decided to get married. After two daughters were born, Lindsey and Glen decided they wanted to create some memories and give back to their community in a different way.

In late December 2019, they started work on what would become Lakewood Tree Farm. Lindsey’s father, Steffen Lake, ran a wood treatment company called Lakewood Treating, Inc. so the name paid homage to him. They also hoped the name would provide a link for their daughters, Reagan and Madison, to their grandfather, who they never knew.

The couple found eight acres of land on Sid Bickley Road in Chapin and began to transform the property into the dream they had for a facility that offers families “a way to relax during the holidays, a place where people can take their kids and enjoy an evening away from the typical holiday stress, and buy a tree if they need one.”

Glen created a ten-year plan, planting 300 cypress trees each year, shaping them, cutting the grass around them every ten days, and watching over them until maturity.

The property was nothing more than that when this process started. Glen refurbished the existing home and outbuildings, installed the fencing required for his plan, and added the pavilion and other necessary things to build Lakewood Tree Farm into the facility Glen and Lindsey initially envisioned.

Two years into the process, Glen made the difficult decision to quit working and become a stay-at-home dad. Covid was raging and Lindsey was an essential worker. Childcare was not only expensive but complicated, so Glen, who really liked teaching paramedic procedures in health care facilities, stopped working and took care of his two daughters during the day and worked on building Lakewood Tree Farm during free time.

Six years in, he has just finished a shaded pavilion that is the cornerstone of any family oriented activity. Trees line the property like soldiers at attention as far as one can see. Two buildings have been refurbished to perfection and are incorporated into the regular working activities at Lakewood, along with special occasion photography.

While going solo on Lakewood Tree Farm, Lindsey and Glen decided they wanted to partner with a local charity and offer support during the fall holiday season. Boys Farm is located in Newberry and was founded in 1960 by Reverend and Mrs. W.D. Shealy Jr.

Reverend Shealy and his wife ran a large and successful ice cream business in Charleston, which they sold to become ministers. After nearly completing the process, they were called to open a home for disadvantaged boys instead. Lakewood Tree Farm does fundraisers for Boys Farm and gives away Christmas tree ornaments highlighting Boys Farm.

Glen continues to work toward the completion of Lakewood Tree Farm. He admits the work is hard but says he enjoys most of the tasks and likes doing sweat equity on his own place. “Planting the trees and cutting grass around those trees requires the most effort. The rest is pretty easy,” he says.

Glen and Lindsey are looking at maybe including a fall season, incorporating things like a pumpkin patch into the existing schedule. But that’s still in the planning stage. There is still much to be done to complete the original vision.

“I have a childhood memory of a Thanksgiving Day where we went to a farm for a Christmas Tree. It’s the only time I have a memory of getting a tree. It’s a Thanksgiving I’ve never forgotten,” said Glen.

For more information, visit www.lakewoodtreefarm.com, boysfarm.org, www.agandarttour.com/richland, or www.instagram.com/lakewood_ tree_ farm.

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