I hate to say this, but we have a fake tree. In fact we have six of them throughout the house. I consider myself to be fairly earth friendly in how I live on most days. After a little research and reading, I realize my decision to get a fake Christmas tree three years ago wasn’t very earth friendly at all. Or family friendly for that matter. Although not a decision that I can’t change for upcoming Christmases. When buying one, I hadn’t put much thought into the plastic, lead coated object that would be standing in my family room. I only thought about the pine needles that wouldn’t be stuck in my rugs and the sap that wouldn’t be stuck on my socks.
I do have to say it has been nice having one (or six). They go up not long after Thanksgiving is over and we get to enjoy them for at least a month, extending the holiday for as long as possible.
There are several articles on the pros and cons of both real and fake Christmas trees. I won’t get into all the nitty-gritty, but when it comes down to it, pesticides removed, you can’t lose with a real tree. There are several farms that now sell organic trees allowing you to avoid all the cons, minus the stray needles, if you are willing to do a little hunting. In fact I just found out there is one right near us at Blooming Hill Farms. I suppose next year we will be getting one (or six) to replace the plastic standbys that we currently have. They may not be up as long as their fake counterparts, but it’s going to smell awfully good in our house next Christmas!
Some useful information to help you decide for yourself on a Christmas tree, real or fake.
- List of organic Christmas tree farms.
- New York Times article. Easy to ready and straight forward.
- Some thoughts from Grist.com on the issues.
- The National Christmas Tree Association is on the side of a real tree being a better choice. Their easy to read chart may help in your decision.
- Article on the ongoing debate.
Still learning how to…
Live Well
It was process this year getting the tree and actually getting it decorated. So much so that I have given serious consideration to getting a fake tree. However, you have reaffirmed my heartfelt belief that REAL trees really are better! I will keep up the 33 year tradition of having a real tree:) Thanks!
I must say, I really enjoyed your writing. I think, typically there can be pros and cons to nearly every purchase. Take heart though, as we are ever evolving in all aspects of our lives. It’s never too late to discover and change it up…from the simplest of things to the more complex. Christmas IS my favorite celebration for so many reasons but I’ll touch on “trees and greenery.” As a tradition, my husband and I and our 5 children look forward to going to a managed tree farm (local of-coarse) picking a tree and having it cut down for us. In addition,I have a tall slender “fake tree” so we have 2 full size trees and 5 small trees.I enjoy decorating with various “natural and man made” items. Here’s a couple of tips for you: Gently hold a branch from the inside and slide it out to the end,your looking for minimum or no needled left in the palm of your hand.
Use a 2-liter empty bottle to fill with HOT (keeps the pores open) water and fill reservoir daily or as needed. We’ve never had a sap problem as there’s only very little while decorating and that comes off hands easily. Nothing beats the smell of a Douglas fir or balsam tree in your home! : ) Merry Christmas~