Q&A: Real vs. Fake Christmas Tree?
By Jenn | December 23, 2007
Welcome to Tiny Choices Q&A, where we open the floor for discussion on questions which ya’ll have submitted (read the first list of questions here).
Amy asks:
Now that it’s winter holiday time, I always wonder: tree. Plastic or real?
We’re slipping this question in just under the Christmas wire. The vote is, hands, down: Real trees win! This is not to say that it’s a completely green (hah!) choice– most Christmas trees are grown with pesticides/herbicides, they are energy-intensive to grow and ship, and it’s a shame to cut down a living tree, even if it’s grown on a farm expressly for this purpose. But fake trees are just that–fake– and are mostly made using evil evil PVC or energy-intensive aluminium, and are imported from countries far far away where labor practices aren’t necessarily up to snuff. So between the two options, at least the real tree is real. You know?
Here’s a comparison list of environmentalists who recommend real vs. fake trees:
Real Trees:
Fake Trees:
- *crickets*
If you are going to use a real tree:
- Buy local
- Buy organic (if possible)
- Buy a potted tree, and replant it outside
- Buy a potted tree, and keep it as a houseplant (”Norfolk Pines” seem to be popular for this option)
- Decorate an actual tree (or bush) which is already living outside your home
- Compost your tree after the holidays (list of U.S. locations by state, & NYC info)
If you are going to choose a fake tree:
Alternatives to a traditional Christmas tree:
- Beer bottle tree
- Mod Plywood Tree
- Christmas Ladder
- Paper tree: I’ve heard that my friend Danielle made a paper tree, and stuck it to a wall in her apartment. If you’re reading, Danielle, send me a pic and I’ll post it here!
- Pine bough tree
Click here for the Q&A archives!
Topics: Q&A |
I must say - I love the beer bottle tree! It makes me think about alterna-trees like maybe a quilted or knit or crocheted 2d tree made of salvaged yarn/cloth…
I await your 2008 alterna-tree with baited breath. :)
i figured that’s how it would work out. Actually, I guessed vintage would be the top choice, then real (as organic and loval as possibly), with fake way down at the bottom.
My guilty purchase of the holiday season: a pink tinsel tree. I love it. It’s the tabletop fairie tree in our den (we also have a real tree in the living room, loaded down with my alarming large decoration collection).
here’s a great page at the Cornell cooperative extension about real xmas trees!
but, if you’ve already owned your fake tree for years and years and years, you should keep that one.
[…] Q&A: Real vs. Fake Christmas Tree? […]
Hand Dyed Yarn - Using Grape Juice To Make Your Own Dye…
Creating your own hand dyed yarn isn’t difficult and can be fun. With a little practice, you’ll making yarn that is beautiful and unique. Here’s a recipe using grape juice. With wool get a dusty-rose color, on cotton you’ll get soft lavender….
Bedroom lightning…
[…] you”ll learn how versatile and handy there are, especially office stackable chairs. Learning how to clean microfiber furniture is easy and stackable office chairs are a breeze. Hidden Conveniences Most offices have a specific number of […]…