Christmas will come to the Pine Grove Farm on Sunday, Dec. 6, with Deck The Halls, a fundraising event to support Hilliard House.

Hilliard House is a home for women and children in crisis that services Hanover County, Henrico County and the City of Richmond.

The fundraiser will be held from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the home of Carolyn and Jerry Peart at 12438 Elmont Rd. in Ashland.

Entry donation is $25 per person for those 17 years and older; $10 6 to 16 years of age; and free for children 5 and under. One hundred percent of the ticket price goes to Hilliard House; volunteers pay for the expenses.

Through the entrance donation, those attending can make multiple decorations for their homes. Carolyn said the fee is less than the typical cost of one wreath or one centerpiece or one fresh holiday decoration.

Guests can make as many decorations to take home as they wish. Carolyn said they supply wreath forms, wire, clippers, decorations (all natural), to include several types of pine cones, holly berries, beauty berry, winterberry, juniper berry. Also available are various types of greenery: fir, cedar, holly, boxwood, pine, magnolia, etc.

Carolyn said they provide premade bows or ribbon to make your own.  (These bows alone cost $12 at the big chains). They also have candles and holiday decorations for festive table centerpieces.

Fifteen tables are set up with all kinds of supplies. A gardening “expert” is stationed at each table to teach and mentor.

A Kid’s Corner is available in the corral by the barn. A fresh tree is located nearby, so children can make decorations to hang on it and then take home. Experts help guide the children, who can make wreaths, swags, etc.

Susan Greenbaum will perform holiday favorites in the barn, where hot chocolate, tea, coffee, cider and homemade goodies will be served.

In the spirit of “green,” Carolyn said, “We use our special Deck The Halls mugs.”

For an additional donation, participants can buy fully decorated wreaths, swags and tabletoppers created by design experts, with all freshly cut greens.

New this year is a “Giving Tree,” with items/needs partnering with the Ashland Police Department’s “Shop With a Cop” Christmas for kids program.

The Pearts’ Christmas Tree in the barn will be loaded with envelopes identifying gift needs for individual children. Guests can make $5, $10 or $20 donations based on what is written on each envelope. The money will be picked up by the Ashland Police Department to subsidize the cost of the Christmas wishes they fulfill.

As for supplies, the event has grown too large for the Peart farm to supply the greenery. “We asked a variety of historic estates in Hanover if we could trim their greenery,” Carolyn said. “All said yes. Our suppliers are Hickory Hill, Winterberry and Maplewood. I love this: it’s the past helping to shape a better future.”

According to Carolyn, their farm has been in existence since the 1700s, though the main house was not built until 1910 on top of the foundation for a small two-story one-room building, which was built in 1854.

The outbuildings – the original smokehouse, work shed, bunk house, and food and dairy storage shed —- are still being used as well as the barn which dates to 1905.

The barn was renovated in 2002 and turned into Jerry’s art studio, preserving the original heart pine loft flooring and as much of the original structure as possible.

The event is held in the backyard, a huge open space bordered by the outbuildings on one side and tall pines on the other.

The Pearts moved to Ashland from Chicago permanently in 2003.

In September 2004 Carolyn and her sister Patrice Richman of Richmond were trimming boxwoods. Carolyn turned to Patrice and said “Don’t folks in the south use this stuff for Christmas decorations?” And that’s how it began.

Patrice was a volunteer for Hilliard House and they decided to hold a small fundraiser. They postponed the trimming until December., added greenery from Carolyn’s holly, cedar trees, hemlocks, pine trees and magnolia, got donations of ribbon and wreath forms from Vogue Flowers, got help from Ashwood Gardens and invited Carolyn’s new friends and the families of Patrice’s Girl Scout Troop. Thirty-five people came, made wreaths and swags and gave donations to Hilliard House.

Through the years, attendance has grown from 35 in 2004 to more than 250 in 2008.

Carolyn said parking for the handicapped and elderly is available at the farm. All other parking is offered at Henry Clay Elementary School on Hanover Street in Ashland. Vans shuttle guests one mile to the event or they can walk on a path through the woods from Cubs Lane neighborhood to Pine Grove farm.

A van dropoff and pickup is located at Ashwood Gardens, next door to Pine Grove Farm. Folks take a short leisurely walk (1/10-mile) through the field and woods and enter the back yard where everything is set up.

Sponsors are Ashwood Gardens, The Flower Market/Vogue Flowers, The Garden Club of Ashland and Richmond Family Magazine.

Anyone wanting to join the organizing committee can contact Carolyn Peart at 798-9131 or Carolyn.peart@verizon.net.

For more information on Hilliard House, visit www.hilliardhouse.org.