A windstorm last week broke about 15 feet off the top of a 25 foot lodgepole pine near my house. It had a canker infection where it broke which commonly weakens the trunks on lodgepoles in this area. I think the top 5 feet if this will do quite nicely as a Christmas tree. Most years I am able to fine fresh windfall trees to use, since the winds usually start back up in November here. Long term I am somewhat concerned about whether wind events are becoming more severe and blowing down more trees than average, but it does solve the Christmas tree issue.
Z On Dec 13, 2013, at 6:53 AM, Keith Addison <ke...@journeytoforever.org> wrote: > <http://livinggreenmag.com/2013/12/09/home-garden/the-great-annual-christmas-tree-debate-real-vs-artificial-aka-fake/> > > The Great Annual Christmas Tree Debate: Real vs. Artificial (aka Fake) > > December 9, 2013 > > By Richard Kujawski, Managing Editor > > Decorating for the holidays often involves a Christmas tree. Each year, > Americans buy about 30 million real trees and about 13 million fake ones. > However, since artificial trees are usually reused, the number of artificial > trees actually strung up each year is about 50 million. > > But which choice is greener-cutting down a living tree that sequesters > carbon, or buying a plastic one from China that could last 6 or more years > but still end up in a landfill? The right environmental choice may not be > clear-cut. > > Brief History of the Artificial Tree > > The first artificial tree, according to some source, is the wooden > tree-shaped pyramid with candles built by a church in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania > in 1747. But much more attention was paid to the feather trees first built > in the 1880s in Germany, where deforestation encouraged an alternative to the > traditional tannenbaum. Feather trees were made of green-dyed goose feathers > attached to wire branches around a thin wooden post that served as the tree > trunk. Candles and ornaments were also hung. > > Then in 1930 the Addis Brush Company created an artificial Christmas tree > made from the same animal-hair bristles used for their toilet brushes, but > dyed green. The bristle trees were less flammable and sturdier than feather > trees. > > Aluminum trees showed up around 1958 and were sold for about 20 years. > Ironically, they were most popular in 1965, when A Charlie Brown Christmas > aired for the first time. The negative treatment of the tree and poor > Charlie Brown changed the public's mind about their cool factor. > > Today, most artificial trees are made of petroleum-based PVC, with > carcinogens produced during production. Fake trees may also contain lead > that can be spread indoors. If pre-decorated, they can't be recycled at the > end of their lifecycle. > > What the Trade Groups That Represent Christmas Trees Have to Say > > Both trees have plusses and minuses in the eco-footprint department. And who > better to talk about each tree's strength (and point out the shortcomings of > the other) than their respective trade associations. > > The National Christmas Tree Association (www.realchristmastrees.org) > represents the farms and growers of real tree. The website doesn't say much > about artificial trees except that "Real Christmas Trees are not just > fragrant and beautiful, they are also better for the environment than fake > trees, inexpensive, safe, easy to care for, and an excellent choice for your > family's traditional Christmas celebration." > > The White House Christmas Tree is real, as the site points out, and the > nonprofit supports Trees for Troops, which will provides18,000 free, > farm-grown Christmas Trees to armed forces members and their families in the > U.S. and overseas. The selecting, caring for, and recycling of a real tree > is explained on the site. > > The American Christmas Tree Association (www.christmastreeassociation.org) > represents the interests of the artificial trees in this country-which have > about an 85 percent chance of having been made in China. Their site has lots > of "scare" content about real trees catching fire, and making sure bugs > aren't in that real tree you were just about to buy. What is not mentioned > is the fact that nearly all fake trees are made from harmful plastics that > are non-recyclable. > > (To find an artificial tree made in the USA, do an internet search for > "Artificial Christmas trees made in USA." > > Pros and Cons > > So which tree is naughty and which is nice? Many experts point out that the > carbon footprint and overall environmental impact is minimal compared to > what's caused by our daily driving. So you could do penance for a few days > by biking or carpooling and then enjoy the rest of the holiday season. > > Perhaps the real choice to make is: Which will bring more enjoyment and > happiness. For some, the guilt of cutting down a tree drives them toward > fake needles, which can also be more convenient. For others, the thought of > replacing natural with artificial is not their idea of a joyous noel. > > However, for those ruled by their head and not their heart, here are some > factoids gathered from various sources, including the New York Times, > EarthTalk, and Earth911. > > * Real trees are primarily grown on farms to minimize deforestation. These > farms are often marginal for crops but work for trees, and preserve green > spaces. However, pesticides and chemicals are used to some amount. > > * Real trees generate oxygen and absorb carbon from the air while alive. > Artificial trees create factory pollution. > > * Real trees are often recycled into mulch. They also leave a mess of > needles, and require regular watering-especially if you want to minimize > needle loss. > > * Artificial trees cost more then real trees of the same size, but tend to > cost less in the long run because they can be used for 6-10 years. And more > money is saved with a pre-decorated tree if you don't already have a tree > stand, lights, and ornaments. > > * Artificial trees are made of PVC plastic and eventually go to a landfill. > On the other hand, you save driving around each year looking for the right > tree. And an artificial tree can be left up all year, saving the time of > packing and unpacking it. > > * The environmental impact of a real tree is less than an artificial tree, > but still very small. > > Consider a Live Tree > > The most eco-friendly way to enjoy a Christmas tree is to buy a live tree > with its roots intact. Find one at your local nursery or farmer's market. > Dig your hole when you purchase the tree, and only keep it in the house for a > week so you don't wake it up. > > _______________________________________________ > Sustainablelorgbiofuel mailing list > Sustainablelorgbiofuel@lists.sustainablelists.org > http://lists.eruditium.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel _______________________________________________ Sustainablelorgbiofuel mailing list Sustainablelorgbiofuel@lists.sustainablelists.org http://lists.eruditium.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel
