What We’re Doing.
About 30 years ago, a bunch of friends gathered in the tiny hamlet of Hazleton in Northeastern Iowa to celebrate Earth Day on an old family farm. The idea was simple: let’s all hang out in the woods for a few days, drink beer and…plant trees? Peter, Gussie, Leo and John Lodholz and a cadre of skilled drinkers laborers did just that. (There was also some poorly supervised firearm use, but that’s a story for the campfire.) Years later, thousands of trees have formed beautiful groves and extended the forest line on what was once wide open farmland. As our world changes, it looks like a brilliant move in retrospect.
Were they ahead of their time, or did time just age their works extremely well? Clearly, we believe they were visionaries and our goal is to continue the tradition with some artistic license. Every year, on the first weekend of every October (give or take a few days, we welcome you to stretch out your visit), we’ll convene on the Thompson homestead in the White River National Forest in Colorado for a bit of community, bonhomie, beer drinking, bratwursts and service.
The original Earth Day:
The Oktoberfest sequel:
So…why Oktoberfest instead of Earth Day?
One of those friends all those years ago was Mark, who took his sons along for a few Earth Day weekends, forming some of the best memories each of them had with their dad and his friends. We figured we’d start our own tradition in the same vein, but with a Mark-centric twist. Prolific and proud home brewer that he is, Oktoberfest just fits him a little better. You bring yourself, he’ll brew the beer. Plus, it’s just about the best time to be in the Rockies, right as the Aspens are changing color.
And maybe we can convince him to install the kegerator to run taps up to the bar in the Jester Brew Haus.
The rules.
Leave it better than you found it.
We want everyone to have a good time, but the mission is important. Some years we may do a big project at the house, others we may hit the road to help local conservation efforts. And when we leave the homestead, our mom better not be cleaning up after anyone in her own home.
Rowdiness = uselessness.
If you only know one speed when drinking, and it’s pedal to the floor until you also hit the floor, this may not be your party. It’s difficult to use a hammer or shovel when you’re seeing double.
Accommodations are free, BUT…
it’s a first-come, first-served deal if you want a roof over your head. The Thompson homestead has two couches, four beds and enough floor space to handle maybe 5 single person mattresses. There’s room to camp on the grounds, and there are three full bathrooms for guests. And technically, there’s another bed in the transit van on property. If we’re booked up and camping ain’t your deal, check out nearby AirBnBs or hotels.
Who we help:
Roaring Fork
Outdoor Volunteers
RFOV promotes stewardship of our public lands by engaging the community in education, restoration and conservation projects. The group was founded in 1995 by locals who saw the need for a volunteer organization to work in partnership with the public agencies that manage, preserve and protect our public lands. Their goal was to support these land managers, as well as other conservation-minded organizations, by providing a foundation of expertise and resources to complete high-quality, tangible projects.
