Post your comments about how to have a “green” holiday - what are the best options to get that wonderful pine scent and Christmas-y feeling and still be mindful of the environment? Is there an organic tree farm near you? What are your favorite “live” Xmas tree/ holiday decoration options? Have you found an environmentally friendly artificial tree or a menorah made from sustainably farmed wood? Here’s the answer from our green team:
There are a few problems with artificial trees. These include:
•   Non-renewable fossil fuel chemistry, including PVC and other plastic formulations that can off-gas chemical residues
•   Shipping from abroad which uses additional fuel
•   The half-life of usage is not what it should be to even out the score over the lifespan – somehow, people just don’t seem to keep these trees – however we definitely appreciate and support the folks who wrote in to tell us about how they’ve kept their artificial trees for 10+ years or who put second-hand artificial trees to good use and kept them out of the landfill!
Thanks for everyone who wrote in to tell us their creative non-tree strategies - there are some alternatives to the binary – real or fake plastic tree debate! The best and most complete list of alternative suggestions was provided by Andrea Lee including bonsais, wall-hangings, make-your-own, etc. (http://www.joytotheplanet.com/3/bonus.html).
Real trees are not a perfect option: there are several common species of Christmas trees here in the United States – balsam fir, Douglas-fir, Fraser fir, noble fir, Scotch pine, Virginia pine and white pine. Douglas firs, for example, are planted as 2-4 year-old saplings and require about 1 year of growth for each foot. The impact from the tree planting is similar to industrial agriculture: fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation, run-off, and shipping. Another impact is tree disposal – keep it out of the landfill!
You can minimize the impact from your real tree by:
•   Buying a sustainably-farmed or an organic tree
•   Buying a local tree
•   Disposing of the tree with a local composting or recycling program
•   Buying a living tree that you eventually plant outdoors (preferably a species native to your region!)
You may be able to find a “sustainably farmed” tree in many areas of the country. Or check Local Harvest - a directory of local farms and farmers selling sustainable wreaths, plants, and other holiday items and gifts – visit them here: http://www.localharvest.org/features/christmas.jsp
Many large cities have tree collection or drop-off and composting services – check with your local public works or sanitation department, and be sure to avoid any decorations or flocking (more on that below) that would prevent composting of the tree – these restrictions vary by program. The National Christmas Tree Association provides tree recycling info with earth911.org – but I had better luck with Google to find the service in my area. You can visit the association to learn more about where trees are grown and how - http://www.christmastree.org/home.cfm, but keep in mind that it is an industry group.
Now, back to flocking, or, that snow-like frosting applied to some trees. You can find relatively benign recipes on the web for making your own out of starch, soap flakes, and hot water. That seems pretty harmless. What is in the stuff you find at your local tree lot? – it may be some type of organic cellulose and/or a fire retardant- be sure to ask.
Other ideas and general holiday greening tips (and look for more in the comments below!):
•   Avoid packaging! Use reusable bags or silk wrapping scarves or fabric – a few have gotten attention here: http://shop.posch.ca/pages/biota
•   Optimize the energy saving of your holiday lighting with LED or solar-powered lights and timers
•   When in doubt about additional purchases, remember, you can always get it next year, building your collection of decorations slowly over time.
Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays!
Josh S
Live Earth Green Team
December 7th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
The wrapping paper dilemma:
One of the biggest wastes during the holiday season is wrapping gifts since the paper is used once and usually thrown away. While it is festive it is also very wasteful. While I don’t necessarily want people to give gifts that aren’t concealed I was thinking about alternatives.
One alternative is to place gifts in a re-usable tote bag or inside of a canvas shopping bag (which will also encourage the gift recipient to use it instead of plastic/paper bags) I would love to hear other people’s suggestions on wrapping paper.
December 7th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
We have a real plant in a pot that normally lives by the dining room window, but on Chritmas time it assumes a different personality and becomes our “live” christmas tree. This year we are using soda bottles and beer caps, old CDs and pop-corn on a string to decorate it… our Christmas will have a reduce-reuse-recycle feeling. Happy holidays to all!!!
December 10th, 2007 at 11:51 am
Wrapping Ideas
Back in the 60s and 70s the Sunday’s funnies section from the newspaper always made fun wrapping paper. It was great getting a gift with Spiderman or Peanuts as the wrapping. Now the newspaper is made from recycled paper and can be placed out in the recycle bins.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
When I was a kid and my parents didn’t have much money, my mom used to save up all the Sunday (color) comics for several months leading up to Christmas. She then used them as wrapping paper on at least my larger gifts. For small children in particular, I can’t think of a better eco-friendly alternative to standard wrapping paper–it’s easier to rip open anyway!
And of course, she *always* saved and re-used the bows.
Incidentally, I’m starting to see lots of LED Christmas tree lights in the stores here in Washington, D.C. From here on out, I’m not buying anything else.
At one hardware store, they even have those candles you place in your window, with an LED bulb instead of an incandescent one. Still looking for an LED menorah, however.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
Oh–I forgot to answer the initial question posed, which had to do with eco-friendly Christmas trees, not wrapping paper. Here’s my suggestion: Get a rosemary bush. It looks like a mini Christmas tree, smells great, and when the holidays are over you can break off twigs and use them for cooking!
December 10th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
(i think)Buying ‘real’ trees would support x-mas tree companies. Thats good, perhaps they would grow more in demand for the consumers. Some consideration is in thought for transportation and disposal, but in result the trees grown would balance it out with some levity. Wasted Trees? I’ve heard of pick and chop farms so that only the trees consumers want gets chopped down (Isn’t that cool?).
My family gets kinda picky of decorations each year, usually we choose to do decorations thats friendly and safe (anti-fire whatever) for the family. So since we have animals and children we buy ornaments that are shatter proof so it would last a particularly long time. Also using x-mas cards to decorate the tree (avoiding the lights of course). Usually a announcement on our local news sponsors a tree-pick up thing (thingy) to do away for trees that do not fit into our green waste bins.
Wrapping Paper? My suggestion is holiday bags, easy to wrap (almost effortless), and is easy to reuse when recieved.
December 11th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Christmas trees: it depends on the way you handle it. Fake trees *that are reused* every year are good. Real trees *that you plant* in the yard are great, but can be a pain to get them used to indoor temp then outdoor temp w/o them dying. Rosemary is a cute idea, i’ve never heard of that.
December 12th, 2007 at 6:12 am
when deciding on which type of xmas tree will be more env. friendly, there are manything things to consider. location, type of fake tree and even the type of farming practices on the tree farm where you will be obtaining a real tree. if the tree farm is a organic/sustainable tree farm i would hands down recomend obtaining a tree from that location, especially if it is close by. however if you are located in florida for example where trees are farmed and shipped then you have a larger footprint per tree. the truth is an organic, long lasting, env. friendly xmas tree could be produced, however america is not that green yet to create a organic xmas tree market. so for now, think less fuel, less material, least harmful chemicals and farming practices. its really the best you can do unless you are really a green friendly person and have other ways of obtaining your xmas tree.
December 12th, 2007 at 5:56 pm
i think that we should choose none because artifical trees need factory’s to make million of trees.and factories make air,land,water pollutions.together it makes global warming.if we need real one’s,we need to cut trees.and it will not help to reduce global warming.
December 13th, 2007 at 3:29 am
Instead of sending cards, why not donate $ money to reforest the earth, and send e-mail greetings explaining “NO TREES WERE HARMED IN THE SENDING OF THIS HOLIDAY CHEER”. It is a gift that will keep on giving.
December 13th, 2007 at 3:53 am
Decorate your outdoor tree with a string of popcorn interwoven with cranberries. The birds will love you for it.
December 13th, 2007 at 3:57 am
For a natural addition to your Holiday decorating…Take an orange and insert spicy smelling cloves.
December 13th, 2007 at 4:00 am
Instead of store bought decorations…fill a glass bowl with fresh water and cranberries…add paper white bulbs.
December 13th, 2007 at 4:06 am
We have used the same artificial tree for 10 years. It’s like an old friend. I can not see cutting down a beautiful tree that helps us in so many ways, just for maybe a month of Christmas.
December 13th, 2007 at 4:33 am
When I was a kid living in the country, in order to have the evergreen scent in the house during the holidays we just cut branches from evergreen trees and placed them over the inside doors and windows for decoration.
December 13th, 2007 at 4:34 am
We decided to go with a wonderful “real” looking artificial tree this year. That saves another tree from being cut down. We also use ornaments over and over each year, as well as decided to start a tradition of doing Christmas themed puzzles made from recycled paper. We can use them year after year for our holiday decorations.
I also use the comics sometimes to wrap gifts, keep a recycle bag near to put paper in, save bows to use over again, and have a small tree that uses fiber optics which saves on lights. The puzzles are simply incredible, and will be a wonderful added tradition each year to be put up for the holidays. I would love to add in the LED’s as the years go by since I already use the long lasting new “twisted” looking bulbs around my home. Also it so happens we had a complete weatherization of our home done this week. We had walls insulated with recycled paper, and the attic, and are adding storm windows. So we really are having a “green” holiday season this year.
Rhia from TX
December 13th, 2007 at 4:39 am
If you want to wean yourself off of live Christmas trees forever, search the words “NIST Christmas Tree Fire” on youtube. This video was made by the National Institute of Standards and Technologies and it shows exactly how much of a fire hazard real Christmas trees are. After watching this video you will run out to find an alternative to live Christmas trees, guaranteed. Also remember, a great sustainable Christmas gift is making a donation to your favorite charity on behalf of the gift recipient. No resources are consumed while making the gift and the money goes to something more worthwhile than someone’s bank account.
December 13th, 2007 at 4:52 am
I’m using the same 4′ tall artificial tree that I’ve had for many years and will never buy another tree, real or fake. If this one ‘dies’, I’ll simply do what friends of mine do… they decorate a sturdy dead branch from a tree! Because of it’s sturdiness, they are able to hang heavy things from it you wouldn’t ordinarily hang from a tree, such as birdhouses and stuffed zoo animals. It is precious and they always get many compliments.
Wrapping gifts in reusable, recycled cloth gift bags is my favorite choice, but lately, I’ve been putting larger gifts in reusable shopping bags, so the recipient is getting 2 gifts in one, and it sends a clear message to the giftee of the intent.
LED lights are not so expensive-simply one less dinner out or one less bottle of wine or one less pair of shoes. They will probably last decades if properly stored and handled.
And finally, make the emphasis on food, family and fun, not gifts. Burn a new Christmas CD’s, light some soy candles, bake some cookies with your favorite child or spouse, go caroling with friends-there are so many opportunities to celebrate the season without buying stuff. Merry Christmas Ya’ll!
December 13th, 2007 at 5:57 am
Here is a great new niche market for recycled plastic; those Christmas trees in question and the various other wreath-like decorations. Our large ficus tree gets a couple of strings of small lights and small decorations to turn it into a holiday tree. If you use live trees with lights remember to extra water them. For everyone who is consciously contributing to the re-greening of our planet, many thanks, and here’s to even more in 2008!
December 13th, 2007 at 6:10 am
I have been using a fake tree which have lights already on it but I dont know if they are led
December 13th, 2007 at 6:21 am
The most effective way to go green is to stop buying newly manufactured products, stop buying anything made in China, stop spending your money at big box stores which usually trash the environment and basic workers rights.
Instead, give a service (massage, car wash, child care, yard work, tech support, catered meal, etc.), a hand-made gift by you, or a local craftsperson, something recycled and refurbished. Resolve to only purchase locally made food, products.
This will deprive the big multinationals of their huge profits, which controls our elected leaders. Then maybe they will enact laws that are good for the earth, not the corporate giants.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:22 am
For gifts this year, I am giving LED light bulbs to everyone, plus a little letter on how to save energy costs in your home. My mother has decided to do this also. We have noticed many people have not converted over yet, and they say because of cost, so we decided to buy the package deals at Costco so they can have atleast 10 lightbulbs each to change out and get them started. Even showing them the cost difference might help also. I encourage everyone to do this this holiday season. It might help get more people motivated!
December 13th, 2007 at 6:43 am
My family is doing the eco-friendly Christmas this year. We went to a pick and cut organic tree farm for our tree, we combibned the trip to get our tree with a trip to visit my sister. My kids love their aunt and they had a blast picking out a tree in what they deemed Chnristmas Tree Forest. We used only LED lights this year and we dramatically cut back on the amount of light strands we used. We also ditched out electric blinking Christmas tree star in favor of a glass finial to top our tree (it looks like a christmas ball with a point attacehd to it.) Luckily our city has a Christmas tree recycling pick-up day after the new year. We’re having the most eco-friendly, far less guilty Christmas that we’ve ever had. We hope you do too!
December 13th, 2007 at 6:44 am
I personally go to a local nursery that focuses on native plants. Redwood trees and cedars make nice live Christmas trees, but you have to let them adjust from inside to outside temps before planting, or they can die from shock.
Fabric is a great, reusable material for wrapping presents.
Ship USPS Priority Mail: Their packaging is cradle to cradle.
More ideas at:
http://ecochildsplay.com/2007/12/04/5-ways-to-green-your-christmas-and-reduce-waste/
December 13th, 2007 at 6:53 am
what my family does–
tree: cut evergreen branches and stick them in a tub of wet sand. Solves the “fake from China versus driven-a-long-way-in-a-big-truck choice which is between two crummy choices.
lights: led all the way.
giftwrap: pretty cloth, scarves, or paper bags cut open and decorated with potato stencils (remember those?)dipped in tempera paint.
Christmas used to be a simply a solemn religious day with a special meal. Very small presents–more like Hanukah presents–were given to children on St.Nicholas’ Day (which precedes it) or Twelfth Night (english Boxing Day).
December 13th, 2007 at 6:53 am
MY GREEN HOLIDAY IS SUPPORTING WILDLIFE DIRECT WHO THROUGH DONATIONS, IS BUYING FIREWOOD FOR THE REFUGEES SO THAT THEY DON’T DESTROY THE RAINFORESTS WHERE THE HIGHLY ENDANGERED MOUNTAIN GORILLA LIVES AND IS HANGING BY A THIN THREAD FOR SURVIVAL! I WOULD CALL SAVING THE RAINFOREST A PRETTY GREEN IDEA.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:14 am
My #1 solution is: Don’t buy anything at all until I use up what I already have. We bought an artificial tree years ago, and we’ll use it until it dies. I’m wondering if I can change out the bulbs for LED bulbs, though. Does anyone know if that’s a safe thing to do?
I also have leftover wrapping paper from previous years, and I’ll use that up before implementing other solutions. I have been thinking about other solutions, though. Some ideas I’ve come up with:
1. Wrap presents in tea towels, scarves, and other useful fabric items. (Sustainable fibers, or course.)
2. Make wrapping paper out of paper grocery bags. Draw or stamp decorations on it. Or glue on cutouts from stuff that you have around the house (Christmas cards that you receive, for example).
3. There’s a webiste called wrapsacks that makes reusable fabric gift bags. Each one is numbered and can be registered on their site, so people can track the world travels of their bags. That sounds kind of fun to me.
http://wrapsacks.com/
They say their sacks are eco-friendly, but they don’t specifically say that the fabrics are organic/sustainable. I would ask them that question before actually buying any sacks.
4. Give eco-friendly gifts that don’t have to be wrapped, such as tickets to events, things that can be downloaded (audiobooks, music, software, gameware, subscriptions to online magazines), gift certificates to local organic markets, baskets of local organic products, and the like. (Another benefit: no shipping with these items!) This is my solution this year (except for gifts to my grandchildren, who are a little young to appreciate such gifts).
By the way, my local eco-guru tells me that wrapping paper is recyclable unless it’s metalic. I never knew that, and we always threw it in the trash in previous years. Not any more! Save and reuse what you can, recycle the rest!
December 13th, 2007 at 7:19 am
For tree decorations as a child we used to make popcorn chains, cranberry chains, cut pictures out of old Christmas cards to hang on the tree. Use pine cones (you can sprinkle with glitter). This, as a child, was great fun for the whole family.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:32 am
Take a look at the sustainable Christmas Candy Cane Tree Farm in Michigan. Getting lots of free PR from me for it’s realistic live pots for a midwest climate. It’s a #1 choice for those in tree farm zones. #2 is fresh cut if you aren’t getting a few more years out of an existing fake and live within reasonable distance to source. I saw that Portland OR has tree RENTAL with delivery and pick up AND then they plant for you where free trees are needed like schools and parks!!!!!!!!!
My son has an MO of wrapping his gifts year round in the comics… then decorating with old VCR tape and tying on a small plastic toy he may no longer want… or just thinks the freind may enjoy. I take the chance to show other families that being green can be FUNny. ha ha.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:38 am
In Europe the way people bought “trees” was to go to shops where real boughs were wired to a stick to imitate a small tree. I have often thought of this more sensible way of fashioning a small tree and wonder if anyone is doing this in the U.S.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:45 am
I suggest giving personal care products using non toxic ingredients in re-cycled mason jars or fancy jelly jars.
Reuse, recycle, give a gift that leaves no damaging footprint and serves a useful purpose. This will reduce the use of non-essential harmful chemicals, it will reduce the recipient’s exposure to toxins, purify the atmosphere in their home, and is a conscious selection process of what is essntial to life and what is extraneous and therefore dispensible.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:46 am
Me& Joe have a beautiful cast iron x-mas tree stand but we did not want to buy a tree that had been cut down and we are renters so it is not like we could get one with a root ball to replant on our property. We felt uncomfortable geting a plastic tree beacause we dont use plastic. We went to the woods and found a dead branch off of the ground. It is about 6 ft and has many pine cones intact on the branches. We are going to paint(enviormentaly safe) some snow on it and decorate it. It can go back where it came from when we are done!
December 13th, 2007 at 7:55 am
When I was a kid, we saved wrapping paper. If you open it carefully, most can be reused. You can even iron it on the back (just make sure the iron isn’t too hot and watch out for leftover tape, which might melt on the iron - you could use another piece of paper between the iron and wrapping paper to avoid that.)Bows can be reused - with a tape “loop” or - even better - double-sided tape to stick them on.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:59 am
what I like to do,is have a live minature tree….then replant it after christmas…..help replace the ones already cut and tossed…..
Merry Christmas everybody !!!!
December 13th, 2007 at 8:02 am
we have a 10-month old in our home, so I was looking for creative ways to baby-proof a tree. We purchased a 4″ pre-lit tree, hung it from the ceiling and decorated it with the shatter-proof ornaments I saw someone mention above. We will use this small tree for several years and the same ornaments, so we avoid waste, stay eco-friendly and baby-proof at the same time!
December 13th, 2007 at 8:11 am
I got a vintage aluminum trees from the 1960s at a thrift store. I don’t know if it is 100% environmentally friendly, but I’m reusing something that someone else got rid of. You can’t put lights on these trees, but you don’t need to because they shine in natural light.
I use a collection of old decorations, my family has been using for years. I think some of them were purchased at a garage sale. If this isn’t an option, you can buy Christmas ornaments at thrift stores. I also obtained some large decorations that use to decorate a department store. The store gave the old decorations away when they went out of business.
When I was younger my family would drive to “a chop and pick” area in the mountains (about 40 miles away from our home). I think it was organic, because these trees are natural to the environment there and the trees were not cultivated in orderly rows. Our family would pick the tree we liked and would chop it down ourselves. I have great memories of these Christmas time adventures.
If you do use a real tree, recycle it. Some cities have Christmas Tree Recycling drop-off points. They collect the trees and grind them into mulch.
On the topic of gift wrapping, I bought many people gifts small in size, that don’t require much wrapping paper.
December 13th, 2007 at 8:26 am
Hand-made ornaments–and you don’t have to be a great crafter–are great. Years ago I learned how to make “bells” with tin-can lids. {There must be some craft website that explains this.} Pop top lids make great angels; they also make good ‘frames’ for photos or designs. There are all kinds of ornaments you can make from throwaway things, and they also make nice, personal little ’stocking stuffers.’
For wrapping paper, I grab all the paper people are throwing out and reuse it the next year. The other thing I like to do is to buy that very thin tissue paper. Every charity on earth sends me return address labels, more than I’ll ever use. So I wrap the gifts in the tissue paper and then decorate it with the most colorful of the address labels. Funky, saves money, uses less paper than thicker gift wrap, and uses up the labels.
December 13th, 2007 at 8:31 am
This year we had a hurricane that took down some 40 foot spruce trees. I decide to cut the tops off and use them for Christmas trees for my self and family. They look great!
December 13th, 2007 at 8:37 am
We have a small tree in a pail that a friend gave us years ago that is all decorated with minatures from my doll house collection of old. We just pull it out of the attic, the box its stored in and viola’ its christmas. No lights, no killing trees and all the love of an old friend.
My mate has been using comics as wrap for all his days(i like bags) and the kids in the fam get a kick out of that but the “grown-up” aka the grumps, think less of him…the awareness of global warmimg in the news has changed their opinon. So glad they are finally getting it!
December 13th, 2007 at 8:55 am
Supporting your local tree farm is a great idea and part of supporting sustainable agricultural economy all over the world. It doesn’t have to be a balsam fir - as the comment about rosemary plant indicates! One year we decorated a small Norfolk Pine we had as a houseplant. However, we don’t always get to our local Christmas tree farm in time (!) and so we end up at a local greenhouse, where the trees are cut in early November much farther north and trucked down. Even a few days before Christmas, there are always some trees “left over” - consider these to be orphans needing a home for a few days. These trees have already been cut and transported - bring them home to your family until the needles drop… and then recycle!! Our community picks up all natural trees about one week after Christmas with regular recycling day. We have sufficient land to recycle in our own woods - cut up the branches and make a pile that animals and birds will use for shelter throughout the winter.
December 13th, 2007 at 8:55 am
Although i always love the smell of a live christmas tree, I have found that it is much greener to buy a fake tree. Even though it isn’t quite the same, fake trees look considerably real and add a environment to your home that says your willing to make sacrfices and change traditions in order to subtract rather than add to the climate crisis. Fake trees are very convenient, once the holidays have come and gone, instead of paying someone to drive to your place and take the dead tree away for you, all you have to do is pack your reusable tree into a box and save it for next year.
Personally, I love reusable trees! they carry so much happiness in them (to me at least), because when you think about hundreds of families cutting down trees for the holidays, it is almost like a mass murder every year. That thought can really lower the level of “jollyness”.
On wrapping paper, I find that using newspaper and reusable bags works the best. Although I do use a little bit of wrapping paper, I always make sure that I spread out the three rather evenly. And with some gifts, it works to just put a bow on them and leave them unwrapped.
December 13th, 2007 at 9:01 am
I live in Carmichael, Ca and there is a X-mas tree farm 30 minutes north of us. We cut down a tree a couple of weeks ago, but the farm doesn’t cut to the ground, rather they leave a sizable stump that promotes new growth…sustainability is what I am promoting.
We have decided to not use electric ornaments on our tree this year to cut electrical use…and use low wattage bulbs for a short period in the eve
happy holidays world!
December 13th, 2007 at 9:20 am
I think fake is better! I have reused the same, dontated (free/recycled) tree for 2 years now and had a smaller one for about 7 years prior (which I donated/recyled). I plan to take good care of the tree and use it for many more! The only thing I miss is the wonderful pine scent. I have yet to find any candle that matches it! Any ideas?
Merry Christmas!
December 13th, 2007 at 9:39 am
wrapping paper:
i like gift cards.
tree:
we always buy a baby xmas tree, then plant it after the freeze.
December 13th, 2007 at 9:51 am
Several years ago I started buying Christmas fabric and making simple bags. We tie them with ribbons. Very festive and both bags and ribbon are reusable for a very long time. Every year I end up making a few more to replace ones I have given away (with the caveat that they must be reused) or for gifts that don’t fit the current supply. For tags we use parts of used Christmas cards that my daughter and I carefully chose and cut out each year. A fresh tree that we cut ourselves, LED lights and were feeling pretty green for Christmas!
December 13th, 2007 at 9:59 am
Hi I read an article about this very question and decided a real tree is the way to go. Why you might ask? Well christmas trees are grown on christmas tree farms, if you look online you can even find one local to you. Christmas trees are a sustainable resource. As one tree is cut down they plant more to replace it.
Fake trees are made out of plastic which is not sustainable and may contain high amounts of LEAD depending on where and when it was made. Plastic is made through a process that uses oil, and then it goes through a whole process to reach a store including packaging and transport.
Ultimately that is the only problem with a real christmas tree. At least here in california, a lot of the christmas tree lots sell them from oregon and thus the transportation is a problem. Yet I wonder if the cost of transporting 100 sustainable christmas trees outweighs me driving 30 miles to a local christmas tree farm.
Ultimately it would be best to drive to a local tree farm (supporting local business) and then bring home your sustainable christmas tree in a truck run on biodiesel or an electric car. But hey we can’t all be perfect.
December 13th, 2007 at 10:21 am
FAKE TREES ARE FINE!
I’ve used the same one for years and I never have to go far to get it, water it or dispose of it and it always has perfect shape. Just this year I donated my old failthful to Goodwill and bought a new prelit one. spread the word….FAKE TREES ARE FINE
December 13th, 2007 at 10:55 am
We purchased a live tree this year. It is a Monterey Pine and is indigenous to our area. We decorated with pinecones and a few old ornaments that we have accumulated through the years. We plan on planting it in our yard after the holidays. One year when my children were still small, we decorated one of the evergreen trees in our yard instead of having an indoor tree. We used stringed cranberries and popcorn ornaments that the children helped me create. We also hung pieces of dried bread with peanut butter and birdseed spread onto each piece. To get a nice Christmas smell in our home, sometimes we decorate fresh oranges with whole cloves and place them into a bowl to use as a table decoration.
December 13th, 2007 at 11:36 am
Getting one fake tree and keeping it for an extended amount of time and reusing it year after year seems like an excellent idea. Organic/sustainable trees would be good too, with the exception that many of them will be taken to landfills anyway where they will not decompose correctly. I like the idea of getting a Rosemary bush, especially for someone who doesn’t have the money to buy a full blown christmas tree.
Also, be creative make gifts for everyone. Reuse old materials to make something new. Empty jars can be filled with sweets, herbs, jellys and jam. Cut the front of a t-shirt out that has a cool picture and stretch and frame it to make wall art. anything goes. same with decorations. get the kids involved too and make it a family thing.
December 13th, 2007 at 11:39 am
We have long been carefully opening packages to reuse and recycle wrapping paper. However, I am feeling that effort is just not enough. In the spirit of sustainability, I am reminded of those three little words: Reduce… Reuse… Recycle
My personal challenge is around the most important of the three… REDUCE! This is an especially difficult challenge during this season of giving.
Some thoughts…
Give services to loved ones (who couldn’t use a service that a real live person performs).
Give fewer and more meaningful items. If a large sized gift is given, wrap a very small box with a note inside directing the recipient to the location of the unwrapped gift.
Above all, have fun!
December 13th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
About seven years ago I purchased a 3 ft. tall St. Nicholas “doll”, beautifully dressed in a velvet cloak and holding presents, a wreath, etc. I put him on a small table, draped and then decorated, and he has been our “Christmas tree” every year ever since. I don’t believe cutting down trees of any kind, even organically grown, serves any kind of good purpose.
December 13th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
We bought a Ponsettia this year and will keep it going throught the year. Not only is it decorative, water frugal, but if you trim it throughout the year, it can grow up to 4-5 feet tall in a medium large pot. We had one for almost 10 years prior, and this time around, we’re going to try shaping it in the form of a Douglas Fir. With the bright red leaves at this time of year, it makes a lovely display without ornamentation or lights. Yet another alternative for a happy Christmas. By the way, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
December 13th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Another great idea is to get squares of cloth, hem them. They can be used to make bags of various sizes, or simply make a square and draw it up to a bundle and tie with a piece of reusable yarn. These can be reused over and over within the family, and if given to someone else, add to their gift with a reusable wrap.
Buying a tree that can be planted somewhere is a great idea. This is what my family has done since the 60’s.. We have planted over 40 trees ! Sometimes we donate the trees to someone else and don’t always use Fir trees. Different kinds of treas work just as well. They all decorate nicely. And I love the idea of using Rosemary!
December 13th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
As a teacher I am most upset with the poor examples that are often set in schools. Using up next year’s art supplies to make paper chains is an example.
I like the idea of recycling the comics. I also think we should show the chidren how wrapping paper can be carefully unwrapped, folded and stored for re-use. Keep up the good ideas!
December 13th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
The rosemary trees can be bought at the grocery stores or the big box home improvement places. They smell great! I have a good friend that has some bare branches that she decorates for each season of the year. Once Christmas is past, she makes up a Valentine’s tree, a St. Patrick’s Day tree, on and on. You get the idea. It’s always a wonderful sight, with or without lights.
Yea for the LED Christmas lights and candles.
December 13th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
Our family has had the same artificial tree for 13 years. This year I purchased an organic cotton bag filled with ground wild-harvested Fir needles. It’s hanging on the door handle in the same room as the tree, a quick sqeeze as you walk by and you have the smell of the real thing.
December 13th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Wrap gifts in recycled newspaper! funny conversation piece and above all saves you money.
December 13th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
Patagonia makes fabric bags made from leftover scraps from their garments and they sell them for a small amount. I have built up a collection of different sizes over the years and wrap all of the gifts that we exchange in our house in these fabric bags (Ultimately I should like to make them myself). They are lighter weight than canvas, and have a tie at the top. My children much prefer packing up the our fabric bags and putting them back in the closet ready to use at the next occasion. Re-used paper bags, or newspaper has been our fall back and we decorate the outside. I like the idea of the canvas bag. It’s an extra gift for the recipient in addition to what is inside.
As for the tree dilemma I am sure that the artificial tree we bought years ago (from our remote treeless location) has a much larger foot print than if we were to buy cut trees every year; it was most likely manufactured in China (need I say more?), and bought in a K-Mart. However, now that we have it, I am planning on making the most of it(even though we are no longer in a remote treeless location). My favorite option is having a live potted tree.
December 13th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Oh for the Christmas tree there are many options. There are Christmas trees that you can plant back into the ground when your done. Also if you ask around about it there are certain trees cut a certain way which is supposedly greener. We have and artificial which we have been using as long as i can remember so either way just ask be smart and Happy HOLIDAYS!
December 13th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
I have an artifical tree that is 25+ yrs old. It is still in great shape & looks wonderful when decorated. I will continue to use it rather than put it in the landfill( be so wasteful in the name of being green??). We do shred our wrapping paper to use as filler in gift bags the next year-recycling!! We also reuse bows,paper & gift bags when we are able(still in good shape). Every little bit helps.
December 13th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
I never buy wrapping paper or ribbons. I save the paper and ribbons from gifts I receive and reuse them. Everyone comments on how original and special each gift is because they all have a patchwork effect which comes from wrapping with different pieces of paper. The only thing I may buy is natural raffia if I need ribbon. I also reuse parts (usually the front)of Holiday cards as gift tags.
December 13th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
In my family we have a live little pine in a pot, which stays with us in the livin room during Christmas time. The rest of the year it´s kept outside in the garden. For me this is the best compromise to keep the real Christmas feeling and not to harm in any way..
December 13th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
Instead of buying, consuming things that you will have to wrap and that you’re not sure if the person will like it,
just pass a good moment together!
Life is going fast and we don’t always take the time to be together, so why not investing in a peaceful, joyful moment playing outside?
Take this opportunity to sensibilize your people to environmental protection!
Just one thing to be aware of: not consuming to much fuel in the way!…
Merry Christmas!
December 13th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
I too hate all the paper that is thrown away. I reuse all those paper bags. Last year I also made quick cloth bags out of left over material and some sale material. I just sewed up 3 sides, then tied with a pretty ribbon (reusable). I made everyone who received a gift in one promise to reuse them this year. They were very pretty and well received by everyone. Some people said they would make their own in the future.
December 13th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
for me deciding on a tree was easy this year as I knew I wanted to go green! I have a potted rosemary bush that I have been pruning to take the shape of a Christmas tree, its’ almost 20 inches tall and smells wonderful! Present wrapping I went to a fabric store and bought several yards of different Christmas fabric for $10.00 or less and it made great wrapping!! Another inexpensive way is to use coloured tissue paper. Merry Christmas everyone!!
December 13th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
My friends and I reuse present bags. It is always fun to see who ends up with which bag this year!
Since my town has a tree shredding program, I buy a real tree from a local grower. This also comes in handy since I live in a small space - no storage for 11 months! I use candy canes for decorations, my daughter’s frinds love being able to take one from the tree for their hot chocolate!
I think artificial trees that are old friends are definitely a good choice. No need to throw away something that works just to buy a “greener” alternative.
My daughter and I tend to give food presents to our family and friends - homemade dinners and cookies are always appreciated. For other presents,I look for gently used, local first, then local-owned store second.
December 13th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
Instead of buying a tree, we are just borrowing an old artificial tree from my parents. I think almost everyone knows someone with an extra tree just collecting dust in their basements. Sure they aren’t always very pretty, but this solves the debate between real and artificial for me!
Also, we are going to wrap our gifts in leftover wrapping paper scraps, decorated paper grocery bags, and fabric. It looks like most hobby stores are running sales on Christmas fabrics. When unwrapped, the fabric can be used year after year. NO TRASH! And it saves so much time. I used to spend hours and hours wrapping gifts. Now just a couple folds and a decorated safety pin…done.
December 13th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
Every year we buy a live pine tree and decorate it in the house. In the spring we plant it in the yard and watch it grow bigger the next year. This works for us because we have a big yard and adds to our shelter from wind and cars driving down the street.
December 13th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
This year was our first year to purchase and use LED Christmas lights out doors. It was our investment in the future. They are beautiful!
Christmas gifts to children and grandchildren this year will be money. Nothing will be bought that is unwanted and wasteful. Most of the Christmas money will be used for events and activities involving the grandchildren as the families are attempting to reduce the clutter of unneeded “stuff” that accumulates through out the year.
December 13th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
I’m fine with both kinds, but if people are to pick organic ones ,think about recycling them! Where the heck you think those trees end up after the holidays!
Spread the love
December 13th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
In the Cape Town area of South Africa, we have a lot of pines that have become alien invaders. They severely threaten our “fynbos,” which is fire-dependent for seed germination/replication. Pines burn with excessive heat during burns and thus destroy the seeds completely. I shall be encouraging all my friends to come and cut down a young pine for Christmas …we use one anually, but we could supply hundreds. They are an indoor fire hazard, but we are careful.
December 13th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
I buy Christmas fabric for wrapping gifts, and tie it around the gifts with pretty re-usable ribbon….both able to be re-used.
December 13th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
1) Shop Local - “Saturday” markets or bigger farmers markets are a great source for unique gifts.
2) Buy Fair Trade - if yoou can not find the right gift locally, http://www.giftswithhumanity.org/ is one good option.
3) Use Gift bags rather than wrapping. They are much easier to reuse.
4) Use the LED lights; they use ~80% less energy. There are both indoor and outdoor lights around.
5) Recycle what you can, for the rest, get starch based garbage bags to haul the trash out in.
Happy Holidays!
December 13th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
I live in a small apartment with no room for a Christmas tree. I used to buy those little potted pine trees, but they always died. Then, six years ago, I tried keeping the last pine tree outside in the deep window sill of one of my windows. It’s still alive. I repot it every two years or so and run a string of lights around it at Christmas. People walking by see it and smile. It hasn’t grown too big, but it’s a great tree!
December 14th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
We’ve had a fake tree for years,
Reuse gift boxes, bags and bows for years.
This year NO gifts but the gift of time together.
The most precious gift of all.
December 14th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
Since i’m 32, I already have a menorah and decorations — and I’m just careful to recycle them every year, and not add more to the mix or buy anything else. I find the best thing to do is to give green gifts. I like the recommended gift guide from GreenandMore.com - where the President recommends their top sellers:
http://www.greenandmore.com/green-gifts.html?navContext=ln_gifts
My resolution is to give more green gifts for every holiday, not just Hanukkah or Christmas. Birthdays, anniversaries, etc. I encourage my Earth-mates and Climate savers to do the same.
December 15th, 2007 at 9:27 am
Reading all these wise and creative ideas is a GIFT in itself! We get simpler each year in our Christmas decor–a 25 year-old orange tree serves well; pruned branches at the side of the driveway supply fresh evergreen scent; we have not replaced the lights that have eventually gone the way of all useless junk.
For a number of years I have tried to confine my small gift list to what I call my “4-H Club” : contributions to Heifer International, Habitat For Humanity, Heartbeats (Women’s cottage industries world-wide–their Ohio kitchen makes the BEST oatmeal pancake mix I’ve ever tasted!), and the Hunger Ministry (local food pantry). Gifts from the Rainforest site and other Fair Trade organizations support good work while they bring greater pleasure to recipients than anything they have to dust!
December 15th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Well. I have an artifical tree that I purchased for $1.00 at a yard sale 10 years ago. So we have kept it out of the land fill for all those years.
Place a few drops of organic fir/junniper oil onto a lamp/lightbulb ring for that fresh tree scent.
For gifts we are making cookbooks (from submitted recipes collected from family and friends). They will be printed on recycled paper put into 3 ring binders and because they have a color front page no wrappping is needed.
December 15th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Everyone on my gift list this year is getting one daylight compact florescent bulb. I go by Home Depot and collect greenery and cedar stumps(where they wrap and cut the Christmas trees)take it home and create arrangements so I have the smell of Christmas. I recycled a fake tree from someone’s garbage pick up pile 3 years ago and use put it outside my living room window for the holidays. The rest of the year it is in my back yard blocking my neighbors view of my yard. Old Christmas cards are this years gift tags.
December 16th, 2007 at 1:35 am
In my family, we have a tradition of a cowboy Christmas tree made up of a mesquite branch (although I use any kind of branch that I find in the park)that is stuck into a pot with some dirt or rocks to hold it in place. Stuff is hung from the tree, but not heavy stuff. We set up our Nativity scene underneath. In Spain, Christmas is all about the nativity scene, and they don’t have trees. I like them better, too. I also save wrapping paper, bags and bows, just like my granny does, and I never need to buy any.
December 16th, 2007 at 7:19 am
I am overwhelmed with how to be green. I need a green for Dummies book. Christmas has been easy for us. We are on our 3rd fake tree of my life (41 years) and if this one expires we will do a potted local tree or bush. Our decorations are mostly handmade pet toys because our pets demolish the tree each year and we enjoy their antics. Furball knocks all the decorations down to Rocky waiting below the tree.
December 17th, 2007 at 5:42 am
Make a real difference this year and have a veggie holiday. Save the planet, your own health and animals. According to the UN meat contributes more to global warming than all transportation combined. There are tons of great recipes available.
December 17th, 2007 at 8:25 am
By the way, if you can find someone to mulch your tree after Christmas (I hate to break it to you, folks, but most of those “living” Christmas trees die pretty quickly after you plant them outside), pine bark mulch is really great for any shrubbery in your garden that likes acidic soil. Blueberries, in particular, LOVE pine bark mulch. There are a number of great, native plants you can plant in your backyard that thrive in pine forests, precisely because they love what pine needles and pine mulch do to the soil composition.
December 17th, 2007 at 9:34 am
We are a a blended family of 7.We have collected special ornaments each year.Some, the kids have made at school out of recycled craft materials.They have their kid Christmas tree that they decorate with all of these things that they have saved from year to year.It becomes a tree of memiories for them.They use the umbrella tree which grows year round in our dining room.Each year,the children recieve one new ornament from Santa, that they put up as decorations thoughout the house.When they are fully grown and ready to move out, they have many Christmas memories from their past to take with them.This saves them having to buy everything when they become adults.Our tree is always a real one.After the season is over, we saw it up and burn it because we heat our house souly with wood.The ashes we use on our vegtable gardens in the spring.We cut our own firewood and plant our own trees to replace the adult ones we havest.Waste not, want not…
December 18th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
nothing says CHRISTMAS like a real tree. But i cant see killing a tree just for one month. So its a fake tree for me.
December 18th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
We purchase a tree with the root ball and then can plant it in the yard.
Neever use new wrapping paper, but rather reuse paper bags, and newspaper comics. Often we give gifts to local environmental groups in the recepient’s name. Many gifts are homemade food, preserves, granola, etc.
December 18th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
Stop using wrapping paper. Instead by gift boxes or gift bags that can be reused for next year or recyle them.
December 19th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Having a real tree is ok because it is earth friendly- it is biodegradable!!
Don’t forget to recycle- even the wrapping paper. Fake trees can be toxic. Newspaper is fun for wrapping but I didn’t like it so much when the print turned my fingers black. I look for red/green cloth bags that I can use over and over. Our family recycles so I feel good about using already recycled wrapping paper.
December 20th, 2007 at 9:20 am
Decorate a bonsai tree with small seeds and other natural jewels. Sing and pray to the tree each day.
December 20th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Just wanted to pipe in on the issue of wrapping paper … this year and for the last two years, we put gifts into our clean pillowcases. We don’t let family members keep them (cause we need them for our pillows), but it makes opening presents funny. Everyone laughs at the pillowcases and the fact that they can’t keep them! It has become a long standing joke.
December 22nd, 2007 at 4:34 am
I’m an old hippie, so many of the habits so many are (thankfully) trying to adopt have been a way of life for me and my family. First, I believe the way to get more to be environmentally responsible is start slow, educate yourselves, and with that new-found knowledge being environmentally responsible will be a choice, not a burden. Also, we need to realize that we have all have ‘guilty’ pleasures; the key is to drastically limit them. There are traditions, cultures, one’s financial limitations, etc. to be considered. We should not critize others in their ‘discovery’ of this way of life - surely, make helpful suggestions - but the best way to encourage others is to be an example to your family, neighbors, and co-workers.
An example is that I like a (once) live Christmas tree. I choose to go to Ikea, purchase one there for about $15, when I return the tree, I will get a $10 gift card from Ikea and they will put it through the ‘chipper’ and every ounce of that tree will be recycled. I use fabric bags purchased @ the grocery store and always RETURN THEM TO MY CAR so I can use them. I also take my own containers to the store and purchase in bulk whenever possible. The containers weigh hardly anything, so I don’t mind the few pennies more I pay for shopping this way. My staples are marked and ready to put away when I get home.
We only buy natural fabrics; silk, cotton, wool, hemp, sustainable bamboo, etc. I try to shop at stores like Ikea, which puts absolute PRIORITY on ‘green’ products; they practically give energy saving lightbulbs away - like $1.25 each. I buy lots at Goodwill, etc. I buy stained t-shirts, etc at garage sales and rewash and reuse them. Use unbleached products, like coffee filters. Make compost from garbage, if you don’t use it, give it to someone who does.
A fun way to start is by learning about and ‘discovering’ your town; you’ll find a lot of good uses for your stuff and a lot of nice people willing to help. Our family believes in thinking before we use anything, act locally, and know that it effects globally.
December 22nd, 2007 at 1:49 pm
when i was little i didnt remember much all i could remember is on chrstmas eve i put my lietter on the fire palce for santa but on christmas day i didnt see any thing under the tree i thought that i did somethin bad for santa that he wouldnt give me anything for chrstmas
December 22nd, 2007 at 3:32 pm
My tree is a house plant that lives in my house !
December 22nd, 2007 at 8:46 pm
I cannot tell you about my Christmas because it is not such a green one. My daugter is now being treated with the fourth type of experimental drug in 6 months for Acute Myleod Leukemia, with no remission so far. Our environment consists of so many pollutents and chemicals that can cause so many various diseases such as AML. When are we going to stand up and fight the sources? Scientists are frantically working to find cures but they are not able to get enough funds or rescources to battle such an aggression. We must do it as individuals day to day or we will all perish from this pollution that we have each created. Now I must work to find her a donor for a Bone Marrow Transplant to save her life. When all we needed to do is go green. Please make an effort to understand what can effect your health and make the changes in your life that will save it. A guilt ridden Mother!
December 29th, 2007 at 6:22 am
Start a tradition. In my family, each child gets one tree ornament a year. The tree becomes filled with wonderful memories that are passed down from generation to generation. My Christmas present bags are canvas bags. A nice reminder to friends & relatives to get green! The smiles were many & priceless & my gifts were easy to find under our 12+ year old tree.
December 29th, 2007 at 6:37 am
Work / Office Christmas giving: Last year we gave a book from our own personal home library. This year, we drew names and brought something from home. Besides saving time, gas, not running into crowds, we all received the most wonderful gifts! I got a cheese plate, dried flowers from the garden, canned tomatoes & bread & butter pickles!
January 6th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
I live in a third-floor flat. At the balcony, there are many plants, among which a yew tree in a pot. This is a tree that originally grows in the Netherlands, grows slowly and looks like a fir tree. In December, I take in in for a Christmas tree, after Christmas I put it at the balcony again. My previous yew tree lasted for six years before it became so big I had to find a garden for it.
It’s a good choice for the environment, the biodiversity and your wallet. But: it’s poison to children!
January 18th, 2008 at 1:11 am
We re-pot our Christmas tree each year and have enjoyed it’s grace and beauty for 11 Christmases by now. It looks good and feels good, too!