On organic Christmas trees

19 Nov 2007

Got questions about the environment? Ask Umbra.

Dear Umbra,

Is there such a thing as an organic Christmas tree? How chemical-intensive is conventional Christmas-tree farming? If I want a Christmas tree, what's the most eco-friendly way to go?

Your fan,
Lisa
Seattle, Wash.

Dearest Lisa,

Since you are not only a fan but also my senior editor, who told me you are considering purchasing your own Christmas tree for the very first time this winter, the "Christmas spirit" has suddenly come upon me.

A whole lot of trees. But are they organic?

Photo: iStockphoto

Lisa, there is such a thing as an organic Christmas tree, and there are also Christmas-tree farms that use Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Most Christmas trees, however, are grown using conventional agricultural methods, and the growers regularly spray pesticides for various tree pests, and apply fertilizer to the plots. Why, why do they do this? It's the way they were taught, it's the way the industry works, and switching to organic involves a learning curve, potential product loss, and perhaps little financial reward if you can't find the right market for your trees.

North Carolina Extension measured the amount of active pesticide ingredient applied per tree (1/4 oz. over the tree's lifetime), while other sources point out the real damage organophosphates used on tree farms do to workers and the environment. IPM is a great system of pest management, and may be spreading as an industry practice, but it's usually hard to know if the sidewalk tree sale includes IPM trees.

A few years back I examined the artificial vs. real tree question (that column contains tidbits I will not repeat here), and came down on the side of real trees. Most artificial trees are vinyl Chinese imports (No On Vinyl!), and quite a few contain lead. Christmas party conversation fodder: Christmas décor is apparently one of the largest categories of Chinese imports.

Ask Umbra continues below

ADVERTISING POLICY

I offer two new pieces of information on the artificial-tree front: Readers joyfully taught me about vintage aluminum "trees." You can get one of those, if you like, but it must be vintage. Virgin aluminum is not better than a renewable resource. Also, polyethylene plastic "trees" are available on the internet. Years ago a salesperson assured me polyethylene was the fake tree of the future, because the branches are molded into realistic shapes. However, I just looked to be sure they had not become trees of the past and found that inner branches of polyethylene trees may be made of PVC, to create "fullness." That's just as well -- we should avoid these plastic doohickeys.

So, except for inherited or previously owned fake trees, Umbra prefers the real tree (the "no-tree" choice doesn't count as a tree). Shockingly, the National Christmas Tree Association, a growers' group, agrees with me. Feel free to read their biased side-by-side evaluation of fake vs. real trees. It's hard to argue with, even if it is biased. After all, Christmas tree farms are tree plantations, and a harvested tree is replanted. There are various serious points to quibble about, such as pesticides, whether tree farms are sequestering significant carbon, and transport, but look at the other choice: petroleum trees made and shipped from Chinese factories.

How does one find an organic or locally grown tree? See how I slip "local" in there -- I think a local, non-organic, non-IPM tree is preferable to a tree shipped to you from North Carolina or Oregon. In Seattle, check out the Puget Sound Fresh guide and look in it for Christmas tree growers. Many cities and towns now have publications such as this, which list places to find local products, U-Pick farms, markets, CSAs, and Christmas trees. Find the guides at the food co-op, natural grocery store, community bulletin board, or farmers' markets. If your area does not have such an organization or publication, the internet is your last hope. Enjoy your tree, Lisa.

Noelly,
Umbra

Yours is to wonder why, hers is to answer (or try). Please send Umbra any nagging question pertaining to the environment -- but first check out her FAQs!

The claims made in this column may not reflect the views of this magazine. Neither the magazine nor the author guarantees that any advice contained in this column is wise or safe. Please use this column at your own risk.

Umbra Fisk is Grist Research Associate II, Hardcover and Periodicals Unit, floors 2B-4B.

Comments: (19 comments)

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Cutting down a tree

For the past few years, we have cut down a tree in National Forest Service lands of Northern California. We get a permit first and pay a fee ($15), then pick out our own fresh tree from the forest. My assumption is that this is a natural "organic" (in the generic sense, not certified) tree since it's growing in a national forest. What's your assessment of this practice, Umbra?

by janetbyron at 11:09 AM on 19 Nov 2007

ecological restoration and christmas trees

For folks in some parts of North America (and perhaps elsewhere), you can get a local, organic, real christmas tree AND be doing your part for ecosystem restoration. In grasslands of parts of British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Montana, and Idaho, fire suppression is leading to in-growth and expansion of trees and loss of grasslands and grassland-dependent wildlife. Fire is a natural process - which we've interrupted - that would have maintained the grassland / forest balance.

Land conservation organisations sometimes have "cut your own Christmas tree" events to thin in-grown trees on their grassland properties - not only are these trees local and pesticide-free, removing them is part of ecosystem restoration and benefits local conservation organisations.

Talk to your local land trust about live Christmas trees from their properties (or just talk to them anyway, they're good folk doing great work)!

by katemartell at 11:22 AM on 19 Nov 2007

Organic Christmas tree list nearly completed

I'm compiling a list of nation-wide Christmas tree farms that are either organic certified or use organic methods for our next monthly Green Promise newsletter. Sign up if you want to receive the list in the coming days. http://www.greenpromise.com/subscribe.php

by greenpromise at 11:27 AM on 19 Nov 2007

Regarding cutting down National Forest trees

That's a tough one... no pesticides are being used, but does the Forest Service plant seedlings to replace what was taken? That is a benefit to the Christmas tree farms...they are sustainable in the sense that they are planting several seedlings for each harvested tree.

by greenpromise at 11:34 AM on 19 Nov 2007
[ Parent ]

re: Cutting down a tree

Trees growing in a national forest will grow to maturity (and provide habitat, oxygen, etc.) if not cut down, so it would be best to leave them be part of the forest.

Why not buy a live native tree to plant in your yard or give away afterwards? Norfolk Island pines are also nice plants that do well as houseplants, providing their needs are tended to.

by estark at 11:35 AM on 19 Nov 2007

Real Christmas Trees Online

I live in Salt Lake...so although I would love to support my "local" grower I am unable to. To solve that problem I found a website that has partnered with several growers/ tree farms across the nation.
Buy Christmas Trees Online

So I have decided to buy a tree from them this year seeing as how they only sell top quality "USDA premium" Christmas Trees.

I am much happier supporting our American economy and the environment by buying a real tree instead of a lead and pvc filled fake tree.

by catkin at 12:05 PM on 19 Nov 2007

re: cutting down National Forest trees

As katemartell pointed out, the thinning of trees in National Forest areas has actually been adopted as a practice to restore balance to forests that have become overgrown. Where I live, in Colorado, cutters are limited to specific areas in certain forests, and are instructed to look for trees that are growing in close quarters. There are also limitations as to the size of the tree, but I don't need to get into all of the specifics here. :)

Permits are $10 and are available from http://www.fs.fed.us/r2

by AmpersandRanch at 2:00 PM on 19 Nov 2007

GET BACK TO YOUR ROOTS!!

I usually proclaim my deepest love and appreciation for Umbra, but this answer may have caused irreperable harm to our relationship.

Umbra, what about a tree with roots that can be planted after the holiday? put it in a big pot keep it moist, and in the spring, have the kids help you pop it in the ground ... sorta like a "catch and release" policy for trees.

Or, change the tradition a bit. maybe plant a tree outside near your house, and in the winter, put on a coat and go outside to decorate it. maybe even visit it outside, take a deep breath of fresh winter air.

Just because a tradition exists, is NOT reason enough for it to continue to exist blindly.

There is absolutely no excuse to chop down a perfectly healthy tree, organic or not, put it in their living room for 3 weeks, then throw it into a landfill to rot with old diapers and banana peels...

santa will still come, tree or not, i promise.

by greeneerg at 9:50 PM on 19 Nov 2007

Being ecologically aware

I agree with greeneerg, there really is no ecologically justifiable reason to cut down a healthy tree, put it in one's home for a few weeks, and then dispose it in a landfill. If you think about it, it smacks of typical, mindless, consumerism. Now, I know that this is probably an emotionally charged topic for some people but there really ought to be an alternative to cutting down (killing) trees in the prime of their lives.

In a perverse way, cutting down healthy trees reminds me of the purchasing and wearing fur coats. In that case, we don't throw away the coat but we still have killed an organism in the prime of its life.

If we call ourselves "environmentalists" then we need to step up to the plate and do the right thing - every time - especially if we know right from wrong! There can be no justification for ecologically minded folks adding to the wanton destruction of the natural world.

And yes, just as greeneerg mentioned, Santa really will come - tree or no tree.

by ULC at 3:35 AM on 20 Nov 2007

A tree - any tree - for Christmas

Most people are really adamant about having a tree for Christmas and will not sacrifice tradition for environmental values. That's fine but we can easily compromise. As greeneerg and estark have mentioned, buying a live tree is a viable option. Usually though buying a live evergreen and keeping it indoors where it is too warm and will suffer, possibly loose a few feathers, or even die, doesn't seem that appealing. We have tried it at home, when we lived in Ottawa, Canada. The tree was not doing well indoors, but we had to wait until spring for the ground to thaw so we could plant it. It did not survive.
Determined not to buy a cut tree, I got a Norfolk pine. It looks roughly like an evergreen. It grows about one foot in height every 2 years. And it makes a wonderful, original, and loyal, Christmas tree. It loves being indoors all year round. For us this has been the best and by far the cheapest alternative (think of how much money you spend over the years buying a cut tree).
Norfolk pines are great indoor plants. With a little care and attention, they can thrive. Plus, it's the only plant in our household that has remained disease-free (it has been in our home for 4 years).
So, if you feel bad about buying a cut tree, why not try a live Norfolk pine?

by greennut at 9:22 AM on 20 Nov 2007

undecided

My parents bought a fake tree when I was about 13, and I remember being upset that we weren't going out each year to get our own tree, but later I understood how labor intensive buying, maintaining and disposing of a real tree can be and wasn't quite as angry at them. So I'm still undecided on what's the best choice. Thus I am tree-less.

Interesting comparison to fur coats. The fur industry also likes to promote their product as a "renewable resource" but of course they neglect to mention that the raw pelts are frequently sent to China, a country with very lax pollution regulations, for processing and dying, and then shipped back to North America or Europe for sale. So the comparison with the tree industry isn't quite accurate since the trees are cut and then taken directly home. And then there's the whole electrocution thing.

by amc89 at 9:30 AM on 20 Nov 2007

UW Forestry Club trees

In the Seattle area, there's a great, little-known source for Christmas trees. (So great and so little-known that I hesitated to publicize it.) Every year, the UW Forestry Club sells noble fir Christmas trees as a club fundraiser. The trees are locally and organically grown in power-line right-of-ways. The one I bought last year was lovely; I'd never seen such a fresh Christmas tree, and it hung onto its needles better than any other Christmas tree I've ever had.

To order one, you have to get your check in by next Thursday the 30th, then pick it up the Sunday after that. There's something of a carnival atmosphere as people line up for their trees, clutching thermoses of hot coffee. It's a bit of a production, but it's fun.

by sculpin at 10:06 AM on 21 Nov 2007

I'll second the Norfolk Island pine

I bought a Norfolk Island pine a few years back when I had my first baby because I felt like providing a Christmas tree was part of a mom's responsibilities. It was potted, and only $35, so it was good enough for me. It was a little Charlie-Brownish (ie, sparse compared to the trees of my childhood), but it worked. It lived in my bedroom all year (summering in the yard), and moved into the living room under the bay window during the month of December. As my children got older, I thought maybe they'd want a "better" tree, so I suggested getting a "real" Christmas tree last year. Both of my girls (now 4 and 7) protested, arguing for their beloved tree. Bottom line? Kids like what they're used to. If everyone were used to spending $35 for seven years of the same Christmas tree, the Norfolk Island pine would be on everyone's wish list.

by Conscious Consuming at 6:15 AM on 23 Nov 2007

Yet another alternative

You certainly can decorate the rest of your house to be very festive, and perhaps even include a live wreath (cut branches from planted tree). But, if you did want to go treeless and want an alternative for the gifts: how about stacking the gifts in the shape of a Christmas tree. Would keep the kids from snooping, too.

NoPunProductions.com ~ AmericaTheGreen.org

by Greta at 9:17 AM on 24 Nov 2007

Plant Your Live Christmas Tree in Winter

The ground might be frozen in Canada in the winter, but there are a of places in the Continental 48 where it's warm enough to plant you Christmas tree in the middle of winter -- and it will do fine. Most conifers are well adapted to cold weather. Spring isn't a good time to plan most conifers -- the hot, dry weather will be upon the poor plant before it has time to set roots.

I've had Christmas with a tree, and without. Both are fine. But if you must by a tree, get a live one.

Philip S. Wenz, Editor, Ecotecture.com

by Philip S Wenz at 10:37 PM on 24 Nov 2007

Christmas Trees

While I'm all for a live tree at Christmas, the concerns expressed by various commentators are also valid. My solution was to buy a potted tree, keep it until January and then plant it.
My reasons were twofold - I wanted to establish a snowfence of trees along the driveway of the farm I own and have soemthing besides a dead tree shedding needles all over the place.
The first Christmas was not very successful - I live in Ontario and where the farm is located the ground is usually frozen by January.
The following year was much better - a hole was dug, the soil from it piled nearby and all would have proceeded well if it hadn't been for a snowstorm that filled the hole and froze the soil! After nearly breaking a leg trying to find the hole and taking a pickaxe to the soil, the tree was successfully planted and has grown mightily.
So here's the way to do it: dig your hole before the first frost. Mark it (a broken hockey stick works well), save the soil in a bag (or two) in the house or basement, where it can't freeze. After Christmas, pop your tree out of its pot, having watered it well and place it it in the prepared hole. Backfill the tree and hole with the saved soil, making sure to leave no air pockets. Mound the snow (if there is any) around the base of the planted tree to act as insulation and as a source of moisture when it melts. My snowfence of living conifers is almost complete so I'll be starting a new site for the trees of Christmas future.
(A final note about the very first tree that taught me what to do: it was a Douglas fir and did manage to survive, despite my bumbling efforts and now towers over the others.)

by chelsea at 5:01 AM on 25 Nov 2007

boughs

We usually post Christmas boughs - branch cuttings tied up with ribbons on our front porch. Very festive looking, much less work than decorating a big tree with plastic Chinese made ornaments.

by prospect77 at 11:33 AM on 25 Nov 2007

grower coalition tagging "green" trees

Check out this story from the AP today:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/11/26/green.christma ...

Some tree growers in Oregon have banded together to try to raise the environmental standards of the industry. The trees they certify/tag, though not organic, are grown under "greener" conditions.

NJD

by ndunne at 1:56 PM on 26 Nov 2007

find local Christmas Trees

The web site for the National Christmas Tree Association that Umbra linked to (http://www.christmastree.org/debate.cfm) has a feature at the top left of the page to locate TREE FARMS and tree lots within a 60 mile radius of your zip code. I found quite a few options for locally grown trees there. Check it out.

by lmcj at 8:41 AM on 27 Nov 2007

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Bough Wow

On organic Christmas trees