Amber and I have been debating about getting a natural Christmas tree or getting an artificial one. Originally I think we had both assumed that the artificial one was better for the environment. After all not cutting down a tree is a good thing. Is it?
The real issues were 1) cost (not ugly fake trees are really pricey) and 2) tradition. I like to cut down my own tree. Tales of trees gone wrong, stands that wouldn’t, caterpillars, room filling boughs, cold nasty weather, fights and long car rides are all part of our Christmas tradition. Memories we now view fondly even if at the time they seemed terrible. We have even gone to the forest and cut down wild trees (with a permit of course).
But I recently read this article on MSN that makes the argument that a real tree is actually better. It brakes down like this:
1) Almost every real Christmas tree is farm grown (so we aren’t clearcutting the forest here)
2) The growing trees suck CO2 and pollutants from the air as they grow
3) The artificial trees take a tremendous amount of energy to make and create a lot of pollution
4) The real trees can be recycled (mulched, etc) and do more good
5) Tree farms are usually family owned and supporting family farmers is a good thing
I am excited that we get to continue our family tradition and hack down our own tree (I even bring my own saw). I’m not sure where you get a Christmas tree in Texas. I have yet to drive by a tree farm like I often did in Washington. And I haven’t a clue as to what species of tree it will be, but I do know that it will be expensive (or so I’m told). But hopefully Jillian and Wesley will have lots of great stories to tell their kids about their memorable tree experience. Somehow “and then we took it out of the box and plugged in the pre-strung lights” just isn’t as good a story.
