Daily Greenz #60

If you still haven’t gone out to get your tree this year, remember that buying a Christmas tree can be life-giving. Come again? When you buy a tree (potted or otherwise) from a local, organic tree farm, the farm will essentially replace the tree by planting several seedlings in its place, which will oxygenate the air as they mature in 5-7 years. If you prefer the potted version, these perennials should be kept outside until right before the festivities, which will ensure their longevity and freshness. The New Leaf greenhouse in New York City sells them all week long, putting all its profits back into supporting its programs of teaching workplace skills to former addicts. Check out arguscommunity.org for more information. In other cities, you can locate your local farmers’ markets or organic tree farms at localharvest.org.

After you’ve picked out the perfect tree,  make sure you deck it out the eco-friendly way. Use LED lights since they only use a fraction of the energy of regular lights. Forever Bright offers some festive options, with bulbs shaped like snowflakes and strawberries, which go for $14.95 at christmas-treasures.com. As for ornaments, consider making your own out of origami and ribbons, or opt to buy Fair
Trade Federation (FTF)-certified decorations from Tara Projects in India. Their gold star ornament sells for $8 at tenthousandvillages.com .

Once the holidays are over, make sure you recycle your tree! Christmas trees are essential in providing the necessary wood chips to protect and improve park landscapes, and prevent erosion at local watersheds. To find the nearest service that will put your tree to good use, go to earth911.org.

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