Real Trees are “Green”…
That might sound like a silly line, but every year as a Christmas tree farmer I have well intentioned people tell me that they are really concerned about the environment, and therefore cannot justify cutting down a real tree, preferring instead to buy artificial or fake ones. Yet, purchasing a REAL Christmas tree is a much more environmental friendly or “green” choice than buying a fake tree.
In the not so distant past, people did cut their Christmas trees from the wild, sometimes illegally, and usually with little thought or concern for the continuation of the forest. But now, Christmas trees are grown on farms, mostly small family farms like ours, and are an INCREDIBLE BENEFIT TO OUR ENVIRONMENT.
In the 7 to 15 years it takes a Christmas tree to grow, they clean the air by taking in carbon dioxide, a significant cause of global warming, then give off the oxygen we need to breathe. Every acre of Christmas trees produces enough oxygen for about 18 people each day. Trees not only produce oxygen, but reduce air pollution, lower air temperature and transpire moisture into the air.
All trees prevent erosion by holding soil in place with their roots, while their branches help lessen the impact of rain on the soil. This reduces runoff from storms, keeps our waterways cleaner, and allows rainfall to permeate the soil helping to protect our water supplies. Trees also absorb nitrogen and phosphorus from their roots, two major pollutants to our waterways, such as the
Real Christmas trees help preserve “Green Spaces”, and are often grown on soil that does not sustain other crops, other than development. Christmas tree fields serve as a great buffer zone that shield surrounding ecosystems and inhabitants…including insects, animals and people.
Not only do Christmas trees safeguard neighboring ecosystems, but they themselves provide shelter to a variety of birds and other wildlife. For instance, this spring our trees became a birthing center and nursery for hundreds of birds. It’s a perfect place for shelter in our trees, for water (we have a small pond), and food (worms thrive in decomposing mulch that we collect). On an endearing note, Christmas trees have to be shaped starting in early June, which I do by hand with manual clippers and shears (no dangerous or noisy machines). It takes a
Speaking of little ones, real Christmas trees are renewable. To ensure a lasting supply of this long-term crop, several new seedlings are planted for every tree harvested. We replant wherever there’s a space each year. On the other hand, artificial trees are a petroleum-based product manufactured primarily in Chinese factories (hello safety standards). The average family uses an artificial tree for only four to nine years before throwing it away, even less if they’re the pre-lit kind, where it will remain in a landfill for a gazillion years. If incinerated, the gases emitted are extremely toxic (PVC plastic, lead, etc.).
Lastly, real Christmas trees are recyclable. While fake trees are made of non-biodegradable plastics and possibly metal toxins such as lead, real Christmas trees are biodegradable. Used Christmas trees can be chipped into wonderful mulch, and most municipalities offer Christmas tree pick up for this type of recycling, and the resulting mulch for free. When placed around other trees and gardens, mulch promotes healthy growth by keeping soil warm, retaining moisture during dry periods, retarding weed growth and, as it breaks down, providing valuable nutrients. Again, we use piles in our garden, around trees and even to make a parking area.
So, real or fake? I hope you’re convinced that in simply choosing a real Christmas tree each year, you are also supporting natural air and water filters, as well as conservation area for your entire community...truly a lasting gift to your family, neighbors and the environment.
