To add to your green living would you be willing?

Question

to NOT use a living Christmas Tree? I have used artificial trees for years. Besides, real trees cost too much and I would be taking more from the environment.

Sweetpow..thanks and I will. For I dont worship the tree...but Jesus.

Lordkelv....Bogus?....this place is all about questions. I have had the same tree for years. I will agree with some of what you said, both the overall question was to invoque(spelling) as to WHY people use live or artificle...not start an arguement. I dont have $40 every year for a live tree. Seems all the live trees I ever experienced was one we kids would go out into the woods and get that ol' cedar tree that stuck yeah with the needles. And then theres the big clean up of all thoses needles in the carpet everyday....just my thoughts people.

Answer 1

Living trees are great. Growing in a container, they can be planted outside after the holiday is over.

Cut trees from a plantation are great too. I raised christmas trees from the muddle 50's until land developers forced us out of business. e used what was called "stump culture". When a tree is cut, the lowest tier of branches is left. The following year all but the best looking branch are trimmed off, and it turns up and grows another tree from the old root twice as fast as the first tree. We could fo that 5 times before replacing with another tree. We used no chemicals to produce the trees, none are required (the crop that uses the most chemicals and does the most environmental damage is cotton). We also planted in areas that had never had anything but brush and invasive grasses, and when houses were built there, many trees were left and are now very large.

Your best bet for a natural tree, one that isn't made from oil as all plastics are, is a choose and cut tree farm. Trees from city christmastree lots were often cut prior to thanksgiving and are a fire hazard.

The fuel used to produce and transport artificial trees and farmed natural trees is probably a wash. So suit yourself, but don't kid yourself.

I try to live "green". We've been doing that since world war II, long before it was a fad. But some things are difficult choices. I know the cotton bags we use for groceries cause a lot of pollution to produce, but hope that they last long enough to end up a plus for the environment. If we get serious about the environment we will start using hemp products, but with our elected officials operating at or below a comicbook level of scientific expertise that won't happen soon.


Many things are like that. The total damage over the useful lifetime of a product needs to be looked at. That is seldom done. Just like timber companies brag that they plant 10 trees for every one they cut. What they don't tell you is that more than 9 out of 10 of those trees die, and the one that survives is the size of a toothpick.

So even "green" businesses are still about greed and rely on your ignorance to thrive.

I wonder how a hemp plant would look with lights??? 8-)

Answer 2

X'mas trees aren't that bad, there are some transportation costs involved, but the trees don't take too many chemicals in thier growth, other than that they are carbon nuetral. Their growing conditions are also alot more environmentally friendly than most non organic crops.

Have you considered getting a tree with roots? Then you can use it year on year. It is only worth it if you can get a reaaly decent root system. make sure it was grown in the soil it comes in, the rootball should come out with the tree, as opposed to a bit of root shoved into a pot of soil.

Answer 3

Actually I haven't put up a Christmas tree in years... not against it, just haven't done it. But your argument is bogus in any case. Artificial trees have to be manufactured and use up resources. And eventually end up in a land fill. On the other hand, real trees are a renewable resource that are farmed. When their useful season is over, being a natural product, they can easily be recycled as mulch or other products. In addition there is the option of buying live trees which can be replanted in ones yard. So real trees remove carbon from the atmosphere while artificial trees add carbon. (through the manufacturing process.) So you see it isn't that simple. None of the so called "green living" ever is... there are things that need to be weighed into the equation that complicate maters.

Answer 4

I think that a real Christmas tree really adds to the feeling of Christmas. The smell and the texture of the tree when you brush against it has always brought me back to memories of when I was a child. Also, I don't really have a problem with the fact that these trees are cut, because of the fact that they are primarily grown on tree farms. These farms are in business for money, and to make money you need more trees. As soon as one area is chopped down, it is plowed and prepared for more trees to be planted in the same area. It is a cycle and is probably better for the environment than many other types of business that could consume the same landscape. It's really not like foresters and their clear cutting. All and all, they do cost more than artificial trees, but the experience of the season and contributing to primarily local business and tree farms is worth it.....in my own opinion :o)

Answer 5

I use a live tree that I transplant outside in the spring. No chopping trees for me, no plastic production for me.
If you get a small tree it will usually last a while before it grows too big for inside use. After it's too big you can have a nice evergreen to shade your back/front yard or you can even donate it to a natural reserve/national park.
Cutting down on plastic production is one way to help preserve the environment as the manufacturing of plastics often creates large quantities of chemical pollutants.

Answer 6

Yes we too use a artificial tree, but mainly for the economics and safety rather than the environmental aspects of it, because most Christmas trees are grown specifically for Christmas. The down side is that industry uses a lot of chemicals to grow the trees.

Answer 7

I use an artificial tree. It's a cute 4ft tree with a base and lights that I put on a table because I don't have the room for a tree anyway. I miss that pine smell though :(

Answer 8

Hmmm...to use a big plastic tree that will never degrade in the land fill or try to find a real tree that has been treated with a bunch of chemicals. Tough choice.

Good question. I think I'll try to find a local farm that grows organic or chemical-free trees this year.

Answer 9

Christmas tree farms grow trees explicitly to use for decoration, just as florists grow flowers to use in centerpieces. When I put a live tree in my living room, the air changes to a fresh, crisp and clean environment. I have pondered this and figure there's probably a lot of other things I can put my thinking to, such as eliminating household garbage and waste.

Answer 10

Christmas holidays did not dictate green trees for sure............Xmas trees may come in real or artificial..of course I must say that natural looks better and you feel Xmas better....but the spirit of xmas is not only through the xmas tree, it is more on the spirit of togetherness ..after all xmas doesnt only require green color, but since it is all about green living, so you can maximize the green color more, and especially the xmas tree.................so have a greenand merry xmas dear!!!