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Buy a Real Christmas Tree Just like Charlie Brown

December 12, 2008 By: Anna26 Comments


12/11/2011 See updates below:

Do you remember in the movie, A Charlie Brown Christmas, when Charlie Brown picks up the only real Christmas tree, albeit a scraggly one, at the tree market store? He chose this tree rather than the big shiny aluminum tree requested by Lucy for the play. When he returns with his tree, the Peanuts gang chastises him for buying the pathetic tree. At the end of the movie, the Peanuts gang fixes up the tree and Lucy exclaims, “Charlie Brown is a blockhead, but he did get a nice tree.”

What can we learn from Charlie Brown, a renaissance environmentalist?  Forgo the fake shiny tree this year. Purchases of artificial trees have increased from 7.3 million in 2001 to 17.4 million in 2007 compared to a slight increase in the purchase of real trees.1 These days everyone is being asked to reduce their own carbon footprint.  Why should we stop at the holiday season? Buying a living tree (preferably plantable) is the obvious choice during the holiday. If Charlie Brown was an adult today, he would have the following reasons why it is important to buy a real Christmas Tree.

Support your Local Economy

For every dollar you pump into your local economy, you help your neighbors and community farms or nurseries. To find the closest local US or Canadian Christmas tree farm go to Gardens.com.

Reduce your Carbon footprint

According to data collected by the US Department of Commerce for years 2005 and 2006, 85 percent of all fake trees come from China Just think of the fake tree’s carbon footprint from the manufacturing and shipment of the tree from China to your local store.  I figured the footprint is equivalent to at least Shaquille O’Neal’s size 22 EEE shoes.

Trees Help the Environment

According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service, trees

  • “Help to settle out, trap and hold particle pollutants (dust, ash, pollen and smoke) that can damage human lungs.
  • “Absorb CO2 and other dangerous gasses and, in turn, replenish the atmosphere with oxygen.
  • Produce enough oxygen on each acre for 18 people every day.
  • Absorb enough CO2 on each acre, over a year’s time, to equal the amount you produce when you drive your car 26,000 miles. Trees remove gaseous pollutants by absorbing them through the pores in the leaf surface. Particulates are trapped and filtered by leaves, stems and twigs, and washed to the ground by rainfall.”

In addition, Christmas Trees are a haven for wildlife, stabilize soil and protect water supplies, and they often grow in soil that does not support other crops.2

How toxic is your Fake Tree?

Fake plastic trees are mostly made out of PVC or aluminum. According to the Center for Healthy, Environmental & Justice, PVC is one of the most hazardous consumer products created.  CHEJ states,

“Our bodies are contaminated with poisonous chemicals released during the PVC lifecycle, such as mercury, dioxins, and phthalates, which may pose irreversible life-long health threats.  When produced or burned, PVC plastic releases dioxins, a group of the most potent synthetic chemicals ever tested, which can cause cancer and harm the immune and reproductive systems”

PVC is not the only chemical you need to worry about. According to a 2002 Kansas City’s KMBC-TV report, Richard Mass, the director of the Environmental Studies program at the University of North Carolina-Ashville discovered lead in a ¼ of the artificial trees he tested. It raised a red flag since studies have shown that lead causes permanent brain damage especially in infants and young children.

In the article, he urged people to test their artificial trees for lead. You can buy a lead test kit at the GT store.  (Note, the $15 test kits from the Clean Water Lead Testing are no longer available.) For $15, you can obtain a test kit from the Clean Water Lead Testing, a nonprofit nationally certified testing center offered by the Environmental Quality Institute at the University of North Carolina and Clean Water for North Carolina.  However, fake trees continued to be made with lead.  Just last year, CNN also reported on the dangers of lead in fake trees and wreaths.

Think Life Cycle

If you buy a plastic or aluminum tree, think about the materials used to make the tree.  Plastic is a petroleum based product which is a resource that is not infinite.  The manufacturing of aluminum from raw materials uses a lot of energy.  On the other hand, a Christmas tree is a renewable crop.  According to the Texas Grower’s Association, for each one harvested, two or three saplings take its place.

What about when it is time to say good-bye to your fake tree? Unless you live in a progressive area that recycles PVC or aluminum, then your tree will end up in a landfill.  As for a Christmas tree, it can be shredded into mulch.  In addition, the trees are used to create erosion barriers for beaches and shorelines, feeding areas for fish ponds, and bird feeders.3

For further information on how recycled Christmas Trees are being reused in communities, see the National Christmas Tree Association’s news.

christmas tree farm

Christmas Tree Farm Photo by busymommy

Tree Farms are Educational

Tree farms are educational for kids.  Teachers and parents, visit Real Trees 4 Kids for k-12 curriculum about the science of trees farming.

Consider buying Organic

From the above discussion, it seems pretty clear that buying a locally grown tree is a good alternative for Christmas. However, an organically grown tree is the best alternative or at the very least one that was given  minimum amounts of pesticides. To get you started on your hunt for an organic Christmas tree, the New York Times’ article, “How Green Can a Christmas Tree Be?” provides a list of helpful websites.  Green Promise’ list is one of my favorites since it contains growers nationwide. If your grower is not on any of the NY Times’ lists, ask your local tree grower if they use pesticides.

Another alternative is searching for sustainable tree growers through the Coalition of Environmentally Conscious Growers. Yule Tree Farms in Aurora, Oregon teamed up with Holiday Tree Farms in Corvallis, Oregon to form this coalition to promote sustainable requirements for growing Christmas trees. Tree growers are permitted to use minimal amounts of pesticides and there are annual inspections by a third party auditor.

Selecting a sustainable Christmas tree from a member of the coalition could increase your tree’s footprint since it has to be shipped to a local nursery.

Consider Buying a Living Tree

I would characterize myself as a treehugger and although I don’t want to sound like a Scrooge, cutting down trees for the holidays has always bothered me. Last year I asked a local tree grower if it is possible to buy a living tree and replant it.  He replied that you could replant the tree in the spring provided you follow certain guidelines.  His advice was similar to the Better Homes and Garden’s article on how to Buy a Christmas Tree to Plant. In addition Garden Web Forum (one of my favorite forums) has a discussion about planting Christmas Trees. It seems that the key to success is not keeping it in the house too long and keeping the roots moist.

What happens if you don’t have a place to plant your tree?  I was frustrated because I could not find an organization on the internet that would sell you a tree and then plant it in a park or conservation area, other than the ones listed below that are geographically limited.  Prior to buying the tree, contact your city or county to see if their public works department would plant it.  If not, perhaps a local Boy Scout troop could.

Rent-A-Tree

There a few companies in the US that rent trees for the holidays:

Friends of the Urban Forest teamed up with Green Christmas program of San Francisco Environment to rent container trees for Christmas that will be planted in city streets after the holiday.  The program is sold out this year.

The Original Living Christmas Tree rents full size evergreen trees to residents of Portland, Oregon, and then the trees are planted. The Company uses hybrid Zipcars, recycles the plastic bags and pots, and works with a cloth recycler to line their pots.  When they are done with the cloths, they are given back to the recycler. You can also plant the live tree instead of returning it. Franchise opportunities are available.
family_alex-sandiego

Adopt a Christmas Tree delivers various types of Christmas trees to San Diego residents, and then the trees are donated to be planted.  Pictured above are some of the elves that deliver the trees. In addition, the Company offers holiday packages to decorate your house for the holidays. Franchise opportunities are available.

When it comes to this holiday season, living trees are beautiful and sustainable. Ask the Peanuts gang.

Sources:

1Christmas Tree Purchase Figures since 2001, Consumer Survey Results, National Christmas Tree Association

2Huber, Kathy, “Meet the Eco-Friendly Christmas Tree,” Huston Chronicle, November 21, 2007.

3 Christmas Tree Facts, The Texas Christmas Tree Growers Association

Similar Posts:

  • 10 Tips for a Green Christmas. Start with the Tree.
  • Recycled Content or Live Christmas Tree Alternatives for the Holidays
  • Green Christmas: 5 Easy Ways to Be Eco Conscious During the Holidays
  • Greener Holidays: Sage Advice to Last You Through Gift Returns
  • Wow Imports: Fair trade and Recycled Fun Household Products

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About Anna

Anna Hackman is the editor of Green Talk, and owner of The Naked Botanical and a avid (okay obsessed) gardener. She also loves video and podcasting and hosts Green Talk TV and Green Talk Radio. Her most important role is being a mother of four boys.

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Comments

  1. 1

    John says

    December 12, 2008 at 5:11 am

    I have to admit to owning a fake tree. I’ll keep using it until it falls apart (makes sense).

    After that, we’ll get a real tree we can plant in the garden after Christmas. Hiring a tree sounds like a good idea, but I’ve never seen it in out area.

    Johns last blog post..Wintry Skies

    Reply
  2. 2

    Beth Terry, aka Fake Plastic Fish says

    December 13, 2008 at 4:49 am

    What a comprehensive post, Anna! If I celebrated Christmas traditionally, I’d opt for a live tree.

    Most years, Michael and I see Christmas as a great day to see movies and eat Chinese food.

    Beth Terry, aka Fake Plastic Fishs last blog post..Caring for the planet right now.

    Reply
    • 3

      Green Talk says

      December 13, 2008 at 1:54 pm

      Beth, great tummies think alike. We don’t celebrate Christmas but love Christmas trees…okay, well love any type of tree. It is a wonderful day just to spend time with my family and go the movies and eat chinese too. Anna

      Reply
  3. 4

    Mary says

    December 13, 2008 at 4:29 pm

    I’d have to have a live tree, A) nostalgia and B) it smells like Christmas. Fake trees have no soul.

    Reply
  4. 5

    Lynn from Organicmania.com says

    December 16, 2008 at 12:17 pm

    Wow, Anna, you have a ton of great research in this post. I have to confess that even I, the OrganicManiac, have a fake tree — because….hear me out! My DH insisted after my brother’s house burned down at Christmas time…the fire was not related to their tree, but it really spooked him. At the time, I didn’t know about the PVC connection. One of the many things to “negotiate” as a Deep Green/Light Green couple!

    Reply
  5. 6

    Mother Earth says

    December 16, 2008 at 2:42 pm

    bless me winter christmas for I have sinned, my first fake tree, a small table top was purchased when no vendors here sold small, lower cost real trees – something I needed when I first divorced. Since I acquired an additional one as we outgrew the small one. I admit to not knowing the full impact you have described ever so greenly here and feel absolutely awful at how I put price, ease of decorating and what I thought was a simpler way to manage the holiday before the more sustainable choice. I continue to learn so much from you Anne. AND have new choices ahead.

    Mother Earths last blog post..Surgery Today

    Reply
  6. 7

    Diane MacEachern says

    December 16, 2008 at 10:14 pm

    Every year we buy a freshly cut tree, usually from the organic tree farmer who lives in the neighborhood. We have bought live balled trees and planted them a couple days after Xmas; one spruce at the southeast corner of our lot must be 25 feet tall now. Every time I look at it, I’m reminded of the holidays. Thanks for all your research on this.

    Reply
    • 8

      Green Talk says

      December 18, 2008 at 12:51 am

      Diane, you are a woman after my own heart! Anna

      Reply
  7. 9

    Greening Families says

    December 17, 2008 at 9:56 pm

    Thanks for the well-researched and comprehensive article!

    One other option is buying a rosemary topiary trimmed into the shape of a Christmas tree. They are smaller (tabletop size) but smell yummy and do well inside for long periods of time.

    We used these when our children were very young and had great luck with them. They also helped us discover new rosemary dishes!

    Greening Familiess last blog post..Storing Leftovers for Less

    Reply
    • 10

      Green Talk says

      December 18, 2008 at 12:50 am

      Greening Families, it is so funny that you mention the rosemary concept. I just dug mine up so it does not die and remarked it looks like a christmas tree! It is about 2 feet tall and about a foot or more wide! What is your favorite rosemary dish? Anna

      Reply
  8. 11

    Flena says

    December 18, 2008 at 1:14 am

    I too like the Christmas tree with lights that glow everywhere..Thanks for the post.

    Reply
  9. 12

    Greening Families says

    December 18, 2008 at 11:44 am

    Anna,
    My current favorite is this Lemon Rosemary Buttermilk cake – http://community.livejournal.c.....17903.html. Yum!
    Steph @ Greening Families

    Greening Familiess last blog post..Storing Leftovers for Less

    Reply
  10. 13

    Keith says

    December 30, 2008 at 6:51 pm

    My problem here is finding a *small* real tree. The smallest real tree you’re usually able to find around here is about six feet, and that’s just too overwhelming for me.

    My wife and I had a small (3ft) artificial tree from Woolworth’s when we first got married, and that’s about the size tree I like. We only got our first real one when our first daughter was seven years old. By that time our Woolworth tree was 12 years old. I had forgotten how much work went into tying it onto the car, schlepping it up the stairs to the flat, getting it just right in the stand, watering it every day, and schlepping it downstairs without being stabbed by the dry needles when the season was over. Not to mention the fact that compared to our fake “Charlie Brown” tree, this thing was HUGE.

    In the intervening years we’ve alternated between real and artificial, but I just bought the perfect 3ft artificial tree on clearance on Christmas Eve. We’ll be using that next year. But the question remains, what do you do when you want a real tree that’s not HUGE? I guess I’ll have to look into that Rosemary thing.

    Reply
    • 14

      Green Talk says

      December 30, 2008 at 8:38 pm

      Keith, did you see the container plants I featured? Also, consider buying a 5 foot tree in a container and put an ad in your local freecycle group or craig’s list for someone to come pick it up and plant it in their yard. Also, your town or county’s public works may plant it to in a park. (If you live in NJ, I would be happy to plant it in my yard!!!)

      I like the rosemary tree idea as well. I have a rosemary bush in my house right now and it smells devine. Anna

      Reply
  11. 15

    Mark Rohlfs says

    April 6, 2009 at 12:59 pm

    Santa & Sons is an Oregon family Christmas tree farm http://www.oregonchristmastree.com , and the only small farm member of the Coalition of Environmentally Conscious Growers http://www.christmastreecoalition.org.
    Real Christmas trees are farmed using sustainable farm practices and provide substantial and reliable employment in rural America. We encourage everyone to enjoy a real tree this holiday season!

    Reply
    • 16

      Green Talk says

      April 6, 2009 at 8:42 pm

      Mark, thanks for the information. Love the name. Anna

      Reply
  12. 17

    Mark Rohlfs says

    April 8, 2009 at 5:49 pm

    Thanks Anna,
    I love farming Christmas trees and have run our own Oregon tree farm and Christmas tree lot in LA since 1983. It’s a nice blend of quiet serene farming and madhouse Los Angeles at Christmastime. We have worked hard to bring the message to the public that we farm responsibly and really do care about our land. And like old time farming, growing Christmas trees is very labor intensive, so we are supporting a lot of rural employment here in Oregon . I want people to know the facts so they can let themselves be happy and feel good about bringing in a real tree at Christmas. These are lifelong memories we create for our children. I know I still remember exactly where we went as a kid to get a Christmas tree almost 60 years ago!
    Mark Rohlfs
    owner
    Santa & Sons

    Reply
  13. 18

    Rompecabezas says

    November 20, 2010 at 11:31 pm

    We have worked hard to bring the message to the public that we farm responsibly and really do care about our land.

    Reply

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