Should your green Christmas tree be "green"? Would you pay more for that benefit?

Question

A recent article talked about Oregon developing environmentally friendly trees that meet an impressive set of standards created by the state (see link below). Would that sway you to change your buying habits and buy a Christmas tree that did the environment good? Would you pay more for that benefit?

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004032648_greentrees24e.html?syndication=rss

Answer 1

Nope. We'll drive through the fields to a farm where there are a few fairly scraggly trees for sale, leave eight bucks in a can, and chop it down. It's not coated with pesticide or anything. No self-respecting farmer in these parts would waste good materials on Christmas trees; they plant them where the soil is not as good.

The most environmentally friendly life you can lead is the simplest one.

In these parts, dead trees are burned for fuel. In something called a fireplace.

Answer 2

For many years when the kids were little we went to a tree farm and cut down the tree they picked out. No more kids, no more pine trees. I understand that there is a movement in the UK to plant trees in Sherwood Forest. I would contribute to that.

Answer 3

In the UK folk are beginning to ask the question whether or not it is a sensible option to deplete natural resources by growing and then trashing a tree, for whatever motives. Most 'green' trees despite being sold with roots, fail in the ensuing months though lack of care. Be a sensible chap and buy a plastic one that you can get out year after year.Even the production of that burns fossil fuels so perhaps leave it alone and buy a hand drawn Christmas card.

Answer 4

Most Christmas tree farms I've been to (I've sold Christmas trees before) already practice these standards. I now work for a company that sells wood for paper and lumber at even more impressive standards, with a similar tag. But that still, is nothing out of the ordinary.

These tags are just a way of setting the public mind as ease. Most people have an uneasy conscience about using a tree for a disposable purpose. I would be more concerned about using the gasoline to get your tree than the tree itself, that is truly a disposable waste. One that can't be replanted.

Answer 5

Yes, excellent idea.

In the UK, The Forestry Commission advertise that they sell sustainably sourced trees, planting at least two for each one that is cut down, find a real tree supplier in your area in the UK by visiting

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/christmas

However, I am unsure if they mean by sustainable? Do they plant two Christmas trees for one Christmas tree?  In which case there are still all the problems associated with planting monocrops and cash crops. But still a step forwards? Perhaps?

Answer 6

My family and our neighbors jointly own a Christmas tree farm.  We've been selling trees now for more than 20 years, so we planted our first trees about 30 years ago (give or take a few years, I'm 24, so obviously I wasn't around for the first planting).  We have approximately 250,000 trees planted, with more being planted each year.  

The way we work, is to try to plant one tree for each tree we sell.  With record keeping, it's easy to know how many we sold in a year, and come spring time, we'll go out and plant new ones.  It doesn't always work out, sometimes we won't have enough room in a field to replant the 1:1 ratio, but we're fairly close.  We usually wait until a field is almost barren of trees, then we'll replant the entire field, thusly making a new crop of trees, ready for harvest in about 10 years.  

This seems to me, to be a renewable resource, and one that helps the environment as well.  Our net gain/loss of trees is fairly even, and yet each year, people can enjoy a nice tree in their homes.

We do sell trees that are live (with a root ball attached), and folks are more than welcome to buy them.  Yes, they're more expensive, for the added benefit of being able to plant it after the winter season is over. Our regular tree to live tree ratio of sale is probably close to 25:1.  For every 25 "dead" trees we sell (ones we cut down), we sell 1 live tree.  It seems to me that people don't really want the hassle of trying to keep a tree alive.  They believe that's what we're here for.  And as long as they believe that, we'll stay in business.

If you want a live tree, go ahead.  Buy one.  It's good for the environment.  However, if you don't want one, or can't have one, I suggest using a Christmas tree farm that has a firm replanting policy.  All you have to do is ask.  If they have a good policy, I'm sure they'll be more than happy to inform you about it.  

Enjoy your trees everyone!