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The yearly question

Every year I hear the same conversation.  What to do?  Cut down a tree or buy a fake?

I'm personally not so fond of fake trees.  I like the smell of the real thing.  I like the little bit of sap that gets stuck to everything around it and keeps the holiday spirit around a little longer.  I like the needles stuck in my carpet, because it further supports my desire to remove the carpet.  I like the way the tree is never perfect.  And I like the process of bundling into the car dressed like we're about to climb a 14,000-foot mountain to drive to town and pick out a tree together.  This year we actually cut our own tree and enjoyed hot cocoa afterwards, huddling in a temporary shelter while the wind threatened to blow it away.  It was lovely.

So, when I find someone against fake trees, I have to take notice.  Larry West writes for E/The Environmental Magazine, and goes in to great detail in this article. 

There are some troubling points in his piece:

Larry West suggests buying a live tree and planting it in your yard at the end of the season.  I have tried this.  We bought the cutest little tree, decorated it and enjoyed it in our home for a few weeks.  I was so happy because it started to perk up while indoors.  We then put it outside, prepared to put it in the ground in the Spring.  By then, unfortunately, it was as dead as a doorknob. Apparently, if you allow the tree to stay indoors long enough, it will not survive.  

Solution?  I'd suggest finding farmers who are willing to grow trees without all the pesticides and encouraging your community to compost the trees at the end of the season.   

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Dave
Posts: 4
Comment
Living Christmas Trees
Reply #4 on : Tue February 19, 2008, 09:18:34
If I'm not mistaken, I'm sure that the PVC in fake trees is a cause of Cancer. Therefore, I will do the environment a favor this year and buy me a living Christmas tree.
Missy
Posts: 4
Comment
fake vs real
Reply #3 on : Sun December 16, 2007, 11:06:47
I feel the same way about my real tree. As a land owner who is slowly trying to let nature have her land back the way she wants it by planting about 300 new trees each year I think I can harvest one a year to brighten my holiday.
leslie
Posts: 4
Comment
link
Reply #2 on : Sun December 09, 2007, 21:41:33
http://green.yahoo.com/blog/greenpicks/46/oh-christmas-tree-oh-green-christmas-tree.html
Leslie
Posts: 4
Comment
Christmas Trees
Reply #1 on : Sun December 09, 2007, 21:41:05
Here's a good article which supports my belief that it's best to cut the tree down at a christmas tree farm. It's so much fun!