I have to go ahead and put in my 2 cents (what actually costs 2 cents these days? and what does it say about what my ideas are worth) about Christmas trees. I came from a tree-hugging family. When we got trees, we always got Christmas trees with root bulbs. Partially because we felt we paid for that tree fair and square and wanted to plant it in our yard and partially because my sister and I would cry if we killed a tree and then displayed its corpse in the house. Now that I’ve gotten older I anthropomorphize things less and have less sympathy for poor defenseless pines.
But what are the ethics of Christmas trees? Is it bad to cut down a tree and toss it aside? Maybe we should all switch to fake ones. I’ve heard it said many times “Christmas trees are a renewable resource!” Sure, you can cut them down and grow more as you wish. But what about the area used to grow the trees? Are trees the best choice or could something more efficient, like food, be grown there. My guess is no, that most areas used to grow Christmas trees would not be good farming area. And the National Christmas Tree Association supports this idea. However, I may not want to get all my ethical advice from the people trying to sell me the goods. I just hope that no one has ever cut down real trees to grow Christmas trees. The NCTA also says that Christmas trees are biodegradable and Christmas trees, being trees benefit the environment by absorbing bad gases and releasing oxygen, blah blah blah, we know the drill.
The idea of Christmas trees being biodegradable is pretty false. Unless you mulch the tree up, it’s not going to rot very quickly. If you just dump it somewhere, you’re doing a great disservice as an entire tree will NOT compost quickly. Make sure you either mulch on your own or take it to a Christmas tree drop site where they will mulch it in mass. Here are some Portland locations. You can also do curbside pick up with your yard debris. Both of these options cost money, but please don’t neglect to do it. Here are some other ideas about how to reuse (birdfeeder?) or recycle your Christmas tree.
One strange option is to rent a Christmas tree. Someone will drop it off and come get it as needed.
And what about fake trees? Everyone knows how I feel about fake plants, but I also used to cry when trees got cut down. Fake trees are lighter and easier to deal with. Some already come with their own lights. They are more expensive, but they seem more efficient. A cut tree costs about $25-35. They sell full-sized fake trees at Fred Meyer’s for about $130. You can just use the same one every year instead of searching out, cutting down, and buying a new tree every year. In the end you probably end up saving. In spite of this, I say go for the real tree. I hate fake plants so much that I’d rather kill a real one. Real trees smell so amazing and look quaint and adorable rather than tacky and sterile. Don’t forget that raw materials go into fake trees too. Plastic is definitely not a renewable resource. To read the terrifying truth about fake trees, you can go to your trusted source, the National Christmas Tree Association.
Did you know that the NCTA held its contest to find the tree for the White House in Portland. Neither did I. Actually, I never knew there was a National Christmas Tree Association. I guess everyone has to have a lobbying group.
Also, I just discovered an article in the Portland Tribune that begins “When it comes to the real-versus-fake debate, Christmas trees are a bit like womenβs breasts.” A stunning anology. Thanks, Joseph Gallivan.
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