For starters, it goes against everyone's instinct to cut down a tree. Just typing those words makes me cringe a bit. Plus, when you grow trees, you need to water them, which depending on how you look at it could be a waste of water. Not to mention, some farmers use herbicides and pesticides on their Christmas tree crop. None of those things are considered positive for the environment.
So does that mean cutting down a real Christmas tree during the holiday season is bad?
I didn't want to believe it. How could a real Christmas tree be worse for the environment than an artificial Christmas tree that is shipped across the country or globe and made of PVC? It just didn't make sense. I needed to hear the Christmas tree farmer's side of the story to fully understand the "green" debate over Christmas trees. So I visited Big Tree Plantation, a Christmas tree farm located outside of Cincinnati, Ohio, to talk with the owner Frank Antenucci.
The Good and "Green" Side of Real Christmas Trees
During my walk around the Big Tree Plantation, Frank Antenucci gave me an insider's look at how Christmas tree farms operate. I had prepared myself to hear all gloom and doom, but Antenucci was full of wonderful "green" aspects of real Christmas trees.
Sustainable
While we may feel awkward about cutting Christmas trees down, there is no need, according to Antenucci.
"Most people don't realize that Christmas trees are grown on farms as a crop just like corn, beans and other things and that we replace the trees," Antenucci said. "So, we're always continually growing, cutting, planting and that cycle just continues."
After a real Christmas tree is cut down, another Christmas tree is grown in its place. Therefore, Christmas trees are a sustainable crop. So there's no need to worry that you're aiding in deforestation.
Provide Oxygen
Without plants, we would find it very hard to breathe. In fact, that's a big reason to encourage the growth of trees, because trees release oxygen that's vital to our existence.
"[Christmas trees] are one of the most favorable crops because Christmas trees take in carbon dioxide which we all give off and they give us oxygen," Antenucci said. "An acre of [Christmas] trees supplies enough oxygen for 18 people."
Recyclable
A big issue with any item we use in our homes these days is whether or not it is recyclable. Luckily, real Christmas trees are.
"We use our Christmas trees," Antenucci said. "We will use them in our lakes, our ponds, we will chip them up. Whereas, you can't do that with the plastic, the petroleum based [artificial Christmas trees]."
After the holidays, there are many places where you can recycle your tree. You can call the Christmas tree farm you bought your Christmas tree from to find spots in your area to take your tree.
While we may feel awkward about cutting Christmas trees down, there is no need, according to Antenucci.
"Most people don't realize that Christmas trees are grown on farms as a crop just like corn, beans and other things and that we replace the trees," Antenucci said. "So, we're always continually growing, cutting, planting and that cycle just continues."
After a real Christmas tree is cut down, another Christmas tree is grown in its place. Therefore, Christmas trees are a sustainable crop. So there's no need to worry that you're aiding in deforestation.
Provide Oxygen
Without plants, we would find it very hard to breathe. In fact, that's a big reason to encourage the growth of trees, because trees release oxygen that's vital to our existence.
"[Christmas trees] are one of the most favorable crops because Christmas trees take in carbon dioxide which we all give off and they give us oxygen," Antenucci said. "An acre of [Christmas] trees supplies enough oxygen for 18 people."
Recyclable
A big issue with any item we use in our homes these days is whether or not it is recyclable. Luckily, real Christmas trees are.
"We use our Christmas trees," Antenucci said. "We will use them in our lakes, our ponds, we will chip them up. Whereas, you can't do that with the plastic, the petroleum based [artificial Christmas trees]."
After the holidays, there are many places where you can recycle your tree. You can call the Christmas tree farm you bought your Christmas tree from to find spots in your area to take your tree.
The Not so "Green" Side of Real Christmas Trees
Unfortunately, real Christmas trees aren't completely environmentally friendly. But luckily, even the not so "green" aspects aren't that bad.
Real Christmas Trees do Require Water
Like most crops, Christmas trees do require water. For some this may be seen as a negative, but Antenucci assured me that Christmas trees don't require that much.
"[Christmas tree's] first couple years we have to water them because they're roots are small," Antenucci said. "But once they get up to about three feet tall, then they're on their own. Even in the severe drought that we had this year, all the [grown] trees you see here did not get any additional water than what God gave them."
Some Pesticides are Used
Not every Christmas tree farmer uses pesticides, but some do. Luckily, it's not always too much.
"We use [pesticides] very judiciously for many reasons," Antenucci said. "One, we're aware of the affects of the chemicals. We're the ones applying them and we don't want to be exposed to them any more than anyone else. They're also very expensive.
So, we have learned a lot of what they call, "integrated pest management." We use our head and we use whatever means we can short of chemicals to control the problems."
Keeping the use of pesticides down is good for the environment, but the best would be none at all. If you're worried about the use of pesticides, call the local Christmas tree farmers in your area and ask if any offer organically grown Christmas trees.
Like most crops, Christmas trees do require water. For some this may be seen as a negative, but Antenucci assured me that Christmas trees don't require that much.
"[Christmas tree's] first couple years we have to water them because they're roots are small," Antenucci said. "But once they get up to about three feet tall, then they're on their own. Even in the severe drought that we had this year, all the [grown] trees you see here did not get any additional water than what God gave them."
Some Pesticides are Used
Not every Christmas tree farmer uses pesticides, but some do. Luckily, it's not always too much.
"We use [pesticides] very judiciously for many reasons," Antenucci said. "One, we're aware of the affects of the chemicals. We're the ones applying them and we don't want to be exposed to them any more than anyone else. They're also very expensive.
So, we have learned a lot of what they call, "integrated pest management." We use our head and we use whatever means we can short of chemicals to control the problems."
Keeping the use of pesticides down is good for the environment, but the best would be none at all. If you're worried about the use of pesticides, call the local Christmas tree farmers in your area and ask if any offer organically grown Christmas trees.
The "Green" Conclusion
While there are some aspects of real Christmas tree farms that aren't quite eco-friendly, there also many "green" aspects. So in my very unscientific opinion, cutting down a fresh-cut Christmas tree isn't that bad - especially if you can find one that has been organically grown.