Back on the old blog, there was a survey up for the past few weeks, asking readers about their Christmas tree preferences. The four choices were:
* Reusable fake tree
* Cut live tree
* Live tree with rootball
* I don’t use a Christmas tree
When I first posted that survey, I thought for sure that all of the green folks that read the blog would reveal that they used a live tree with the rootball. I mean, that seems like the greenest Christmas tree option of all, doesn’t it?
Lo and behold, here’s how the survey shaked out.
* Reusable fake tree (54%)
* Cut live tree (27%)
* Live tree with rootball (2%)
* I don’t use a Christmas tree (15%)
I have to say that these findings really surprised me. But, then again, if my life really does reflect those who read this blog, then those findings are right on the money.
Why?
Because two years ago, we decided to invest in a reusable fake tree, and that’s what we’ve been putting up each December ever since.
In the past we had done the live tree with a rootball, and even managed to keep one alive until spring so we could plant it in our front yard. The rest of these rootball trees usually died in the garage waiting for the warmer weather. Now that our house doesn’t have a garage, they’re not an option.
Most often, we chose to have a live, cut tree. After the holidays we would toss it in the woods to let it decompose naturally. It always killed me to see people putting their Christmas trees out like trash. Hello, what about composting it? At least this year, my town is organizing a Christmas tree recycling day, when a local landscaping company will accept trees that he’ll turn into wood chips. (If your town doesn’t offer this kind of program, visit Earth 911 to find a Christmas tree recycling program near you.)
The fact that we could never recycle our Christmas tree and it gets expensive when you have to buy a tree each year, well, that’s what clinched the deal for us and the fake tree. Sure, I know that fake trees are made of petroleum but I’ll bet that the tree we have now will last 20 years or longer. That means that in 20 years’ time, I’ll have cut out the drive to and from the tree farms, I’ll have saved 20 trees from being cut down and discarded, and I’ll have taken that expense out of my budget.
Thanks to all that took the survey; now post a comment on why you agree–or disagree–with the survey’s findings about the greenest Christmas tree of all.
READ LEAH ON HOME GOES STRONG
Most fake trees are made in China — lots of chemicals and toxins used. The process of making them is bad for the environment and then they continue to out-gas in your home for years. A recently released survey showed that the average fake tree is used for four years and then ends up in a landfill, where it continues to do bad things to the environment..
Live Christmas trees, however, are a crop, just like tomatoes, soybeans, apples, or whatever. Live trees are grown for the express purpose of being cut in a few years. While they are growing, they clean the air and make the earth a better place for us to live and breathe.
Live trees are expensive, but if you go and cut that tree yourself, it’s not so bad. My family drives a short distance into the country each year and we cut a tree for $20. Yes, that $20 adds up year after year, but I’ll find somewhere else in my budget to make a cut.
The week after Christmas, we’ll put the tree on the curb and it will be picked up by the city and turned into compost. All that compost is free for anyone who lives in our town.
Jen:
First of all, thanks for making your way to the blog’s new home. I appreciate your taking the time to post.
Secondly, I also appreciate your take on fake versus live Christmas trees. This is definitely food for thought.
Leah
We’re going no tree this year. We have a fake one that we’ll probably freecycle at some point. I preferred the real tree when we got one a few years ago. I tend to agree with Jen on this, real is better. And even better our trees are chipped up as part of our recycle fee
I guess we just have a really good waste management service here in California.
Also Leah, no RSS feed yet on the new blog?
Hi, Di:
I’m still getting used to WordPress’s template.
Thanks for reminding me about the RSS feed. I think I’ve successfully added it to the sidebar above. Please let me know if it works for you.
Thanks also for making the time to visit us here at this new address.
Leah
working now thanks!