Do you look forward to Christmas every year? I cannot wait for the Christmas season to roll around. I know Christmas has become more of a season than a day, but I can’t help but get excited about Christmas movies and songs, Starbucks holiday lattes and the smell of Christmas. Nothing can duplicate the smell of a fresh Christmas Tree.
You-pick-and-you-cut your own Christmas Tree farm is an intimate family activity that my family and I had the chance to experience this holiday season. We turned our entire day into a family Christmas Tree focused mission. The day after Thanksgiving, we drove to the tree farm and cut our tree, went to the store to buy a few lights and ornaments, and started decorating our tree that night while we had Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas
It was such a precious moment watching the excitement on my daughter’s face when she placed the star on top of our tree that we just cut a few hours earlier. For more details on our Christmas Tree Farm adventure with a real saw click here.
Now that we’ve cut our first tree, I feel like we are part of a bigger environmental movement. The past few years, I was using artificial Christmas Trees. I never really thought about the impact I was making on our environment by purchasing one. I would always ooh and aah at those cute little plastic ones in bright colors. Pink and blue Christmas trees just add some bright spunk to the holidays. But when Christmas is over, your tree goes back to storage for 11 months. And if you want a bigger and better tree, you dump the one you have and purchase a new plastic one.
Artificial Trees Are Non-Biodergadable
I used to be all about pre-lit artificial Christmas Trees. A busy mom like myself loved going into the garage and fluffing the plastic tree (unfolding branches does not sound so cool), just plug it in and Voila! Who has time to wrap lights around a tree? But now I realize the real joy comes from taking the time to pick out your own fresh and natural tree and dress her up in lights and ornaments. Especially since supporting Tree Farms are actually good for our environment.
Interesting Christmas Tree Facts
The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) and local Christmas Tree professionals share some Christmas Tree facts:
- There are close to 350 million real Christmas Trees currently growing on Christmas Tree farms in the U.S. alone, all planted by farmers.
- North American Real Christmas Trees are grown in all 50 states and Canada.
- 80% of artificial trees worldwide are manufactured in China, according to the U.S. Commerce Department.
- Real Trees are a renewable, recyclable resource.
- Artificial trees contain non-biodegradable plastics and possible metal toxins such as lead.
- There are about 350,000 acres in production for growing Christmas Trees in the U.S.; much of it preserving green space.
If you are looking for a little extra Christmas Joy this holiday season, try cutting your own Christmas Tree. Having a live Christmas tree benefits the environment because tree farms replenish the air with oxygen and provide homes for wildlife. You will be making room for a tree to sprout new branches, support local farmers and create long-lasting memories for you and your family. So join us in this eco-friendly Christmas tradition!
Speak your mind…
Will your family visit a Christmas tree farm to cut down a tree or are you planning on purchasing from a Christmas tree lot this year? Or maybe you saved a Christmas Tree from entering the landfill by buying a used one. We want to hear about it!
As a child, my favorite part of Christmas was going out with my family to find the tree! Honestly, I hadn’t thought back to that in a long time! We’ve had an artificial tree for several years now and we were just discussing that we need to get rid of it after this year. My husband said we needed to buy a new one after Christmas while they’re on sale. However, I think we’re going to discuss going with a real tree next year. Alot of the experience is going to pick out the tree and I want my kids to enjoy that too! Thank you for posting this!
If you go artificial look for a used one on Craigslist, so you can save it from the dumpster. And yes, looking for a tree to cut is such a fun tradition. I can’t imaging going back to artificial now. -Jadah
Love this post! I grew up with real trees and just adore the smell. I have never chopped my own tree, but definitely hope to start the tradition like you!