To tree or not to tree

The holidays are all about tradition and traditions are definitely not always sustainable. One of my favorite holiday pastimes is going to a fir farm, picking out a perfect Christmas tree, and driving it home to decorate with the whole family. 

There are no fir farms in a city. 

So where does one get a Christmas tree you might ask? Why street corners of course! This has made me wonder about the environmental impact of my prized holiday custom. Where do these mysterious street-corner-trees come from? Where do they go when they are stuck back on the curb a few weeks later? With over 33 million Christmas trees sold each season, there must be something un-green about it all…

Here are options for reversing some of the negative impacts of Christmas tree consumption:

• Go organic – most tree farms use pesticides. Do your research to see if you can find an organic Christmas tree distributor in your neighborhood. Green Promise has a list of some.
• Treecycle – think twice before you put your tree out with the rest of the trash. Find out how you can guarantee your tree will be recycled rather than put in a landfill.
• Potted trees – buy a potted tree that can be replanted after Christmas. This isn’t exactly a viable option for urban dwellers but if you live in the burbs and can access a nursery, this is a great guilt-free way to get your x-mas tree fix.

I’m not even going to mention the fake-no-pine-smell-tree option…

So, what if you can’t utilize any of these alternatives due to your location or finances? I’m of the opinion that we can reward ourselves from time to time when we make sacrifices and changes in other areas of our lives. Maybe if I compost all year long, it’s ok to have a Christmas tree. The worst crime, in my eyes, would be to hide from the facts. Educate yourself so you can have the power to make these decisions. 

Happy Holidays y'all!