As we count down to the last couple of days before Christmas, we thought we’d share a little bit of our experience getting ready for the holidays.
Just like everything else in our lives, one of our goals this Christmas was to “green” it up a bit. Of course, the first thing we had to consider was our choice of tree. In years past, this was simple… it only had to be the perfect tree. A subjective decision, to be sure, but we usually had quite a few candidates to pick from since we typically take the time to visit more than one lot. This year, the heat was really on. In our initial conversations, Maggie and I contemplated the chopping down of trees and the alternative of going with artificial trees that could be re-used for years to come. I had never considered buying an artificial tree, but maybe this was the year – after all this was turning out to be a year of many “firsts.”
To Be (Real), Or Not to Be
While we flipped back and forth on the decision to go artificial, none of that mattered until we actually stopped by a Home Depot store to take a look at some options. We walked past the natural trees in the Nursery, inhaling their fresh, just-cut-from-a-faraway-forest scent. Inside, the artificial trees were displayed on raised platforms. These trees didn’t look as attractive – something about the perfect spacing of the “branches” and predetermined “needle” density just doesn’t feel quite right.
However, these trees, like the lawnmowers two aisles down, do come with something no natural tree can match: a tag with a bullet list of features. We quickly learned that there are bare trees and pre-lit trees, and the pre-lit were divided into two categories, those with standard incandescent mini lights, and those with the newer, energy-efficient LED lights. And the difference was huge. The LED trees claimed to use 80-85% less energy to illuminate.
That sounded pretty green! However, not wanting to rush a decision, we searched Google for information on the eco-friendliness of real v. artificial trees.
Keeping it Real..Confusing
The first study we ran across looked like it might be just a bit biased. It was featured on the web site for the National Christmas Tree Association. Presented in chart format, it offers a side by side comparison touting the benefits of going with a natural tree. The information looked good, but we had to keep looking.
The next web site suddenly took us on a 180-degree turn. The American Christmas Tree Association offers a similar list of reasons for why artificial is better. OK, two rival groups going after the same market segment, matching up point for point in a marketing war. Once again, there would be no black and white – this would be a personal decision.
So we drilled down further into the search results, exploring deeper. We came to find that natural trees are not contributing to deforestation, since most of them are now raised on tree farms located in places where other types of plants have difficulty growing. The young trees are able to generate oxygen and capture carbon, and if recycled after their use, can be converted into mulch or composted. Not bad. But most tree farms use pesticides and chemical fertilizers just like other conventional farms. That means groundwater contamination and exposure at our end.
Artificial trees are usually produced in other countries. We confirmed that several boxes had that infamous “Made in China” fine print. These trees are also usually made of PVC (a petroleum product), which is reported to release toxic dioxins and is often stabilized with lead. Proponents of artificial trees debate this, saying the levels are too low to have any harmful effects on humans. By this time, we were feeling outside of our comfort zone.
We skipped Home Depot and Lowe’s altogether, and made the drive to Houston Garden Center, where we asked about organically grown trees. A salesperson walked us to a handful of rows, where we were surprised to see tags on natural trees. The tags informed us that these trees were grown sustainably, based on factors of air, water and land use and certified by a third party. Within minutes, Katerina found a tall, robust tree that we were all excited about.
Back home, that pine scent has never been sweeter! We trimmed the tree together, and are looking forward to next year, when we will make the switch to LED light strands.
Here are a couple of ideas that we ran across on other sites, which you may wish to consider as you green up your Christmas:
- Live Christmas Tree – You buy a live, potted tree which you can keep indoors during the season and move out to your deck or yard until the following year.
- Non-traditional Tree – Start with a natural tree. At the end of the season, strip away all needles, so that all you have left is the skeletal branch structure. Then spray paint it a shiny color (candy apple red?). For years to come you’ll be able to trim a rather eccentric, home-made tree.
Happy holidays to everyone!
Adrian, Maggie and Katerina
P.S. The tree and lighting options are not the only ones to consider. We also bought some garland decorations from Target this year. Just before hanging them, we took a look at the tags and saw that the label indicated the product contained lead. Once again, they were made in China. We piled them into the car and returned them that afternoon. We’re used to scrutinizing what we put in our bodies, but it’s important to also know what we’re bringing into our homes.
