To Tree or Not to Tree?

Filed Under being creative, lil things, plans, pop culture

After carefully reading this MSN article (sent by my friend Sabby) about whether fake trees are the “green” choice, I am really in a quandary. This was going to be the first year I had a Christmas/Winter tree* and I was planning on getting a fake one. Reasons: 1) I have no idea how to take care of a live tree - I’ve never lived in a household where Christmas was celebrated; 2) I don’t have a vehicle large enough to go get one, unless it’s tiny, 3) I don’t want to deal with having to discard/dispose of the tree.

I didn’t consider it a more “green” option simply because I live in the Pacific NW, land of the Douglas Fir, and I’ve seen enough fir tree farms to know that those commercials depicting rosy cheeked families tramping off into the wilderness with an ax and a 4-wheel drive is not how most Christmas trees are born.

Sooo … what do I do? I was kind of looking forward to a tree. The Winter tree idea I read about from a co-blogger several years ago. She and her kids had a Winter tree that they decorate - not with shiny balls and santa clauses (not that there’s anything wrong with that), but with things they’d collected from the outside - you know, things that are from the winter. This blogger is a homeschooler and she’d take the kids on little nature runs and the tree would be decorated with their finds. I thought that was awesome, and I *have* been trying to get more into celebrating the seasons.

Unfortunately, I suck at celebrations. I’ve given up on Kwanzaa for the time being (that’s a long story). And now that I’m thrown for a loop what kind of tree - if any - to get, I feel in limbo.

I lack any kind of imagination about these sorts of things.

Comments

5 Responses to “To Tree or Not to Tree?”

StevenR on November 29th, 2007 3:56 am

I note that the first couple folks quoted all make their living in the forestry industry - so yes, they would support buying live trees.

taking care of an indoor cut tree isnt that hard - you keep the tree in water (the traditional stand has a place for the water)- you check the water daily, and you throw it out before you have it a month (usually after 2-3 weeks). Some places mulch the trees, which at least cuts down on waste.
Oh, you dont leave lights on unattended.

Frankly, I use the fake tree - i can leave it up till Feb (the cats like sitting under it), it’s not any more wasteful than most of the junk we buy in our society - if you buy careful, it could be passed down to the next generation….
jacqueline on November 29th, 2007 12:35 pm

What about a potted tree?
hafidha sofia on November 29th, 2007 8:49 pm

Steve, I think you make a point about it not being more wasteful than the other junk we litter our landfills with. True, true. But as this is a new “tradition” (??) for me, I want to start off on the right foot.

I did look on Craigslist - LOTS of people selling their used fake trees, so that’s one option.

Also, Jacqueline - there happens to be a place in Portland that “rents” a potted tree for two weeks (they will even deliver!); then after New Year’s they come by, take it back, and plant it somewhere along the river here in Oregon.

I think I might go that route! Stay tuned ….
kay on December 4th, 2007 11:05 am

I have a fake tree. I bought it a few years ago. Overall I like it more than buying a live tree every year.

That said, I’ve been a bit humbuggy this year and have yet to put it up.

I REALLY like the idea of a rented potted tree. I’ll have to look into that.
Thank You for Your Help - and Resolutions | Never Say Never to Your Traveling Self on December 28th, 2007 6:15 pm

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