Renting your Christmas tree
More than 95 million American households deck the halls with a Christmas tree, according to the American Christmas Tree Association. About 80% of those homes opt for reusable fake trees, which leaves about 17 million trees sold live in the States. Those trees are cut and have limited use life span. Luckily, there’s a new option, you can rent a Christmas tree, which offers an environmentally-friendly solution for families hoping to savor the scent and experience of going green. While this trend has been slowly growing in the States, it shot up in popularity in 2012. Christmas tree rentals are only available in pockets of the U.S. via companies like The Living Christmas Company and Rent Xmas Tree (both of which serve California). Other vendors, such as Rent-A-Christmas, offer rentals of real and artificial spruces in the New York City metro area. If you’re outside those two areas, you may have luck with your local Christmas tree farm—check to see if they offer rental options. You’re able to select your Christmas tree type and size online—currently, they offer Monterrey Pine, Aleppo Pine, and Blue Spruce. The company transfers your tree to a pot and delivers it directly to your door. While the tree is in your care, you’re responsible for watering, feeding, and nurturing it, as outlined in the care instructions that are enclosed. Come December 26—or your desired pick-up date—someone from the nursery returns to pick up the tree. It’s then replanted and cared for until it’s available for rental again next year. Each tree can be rented again for up to seven years, which is about the time it’ll grow too large for in-home use and is planted in its forever home in the local community or nearby forests through a reforestation project.
According to the companies, “Our clients tend to be families and young couples looking to celebrate Christmas in a way that is in line with their values. Most identify as being conscious consumers and caring about the environment.” Since this is a fairly new and labor-intensive process, costs start at $155 per tree rental, including delivery and pick-up. “Our living trees take a lot longer to grow, so they’re more expensive than tree farm-grown trees. We do our best to keep the costs down, and even offer an assortment of ‘Misfit Trees’ at a lower cost,” Martin says. While it’ll likely be more expensive than buying a tree from your local nursery, by renting, you can consider it a gift to Mother Nature for years to come. If renting isn’t available in your area quite yet, you can also consider buying a Christmas tree to plant.
Greening the world
A lumberjack once told me he’s cut down 27,572 trees.
“How do ya know exactly how many?” I inquired.
“Easy. I keep a log.”
Just saw two birds stuck together in a tree.
I think they’re velcrows.
I was approached by a member of Greenpeace in the street the other day and he told me that if I don’t pledge $20 a month then people in Africa will die.
I can’t believe Greenpeace employs such violent people.
What’s the best thing about having Environmentalist friends?
They worship the ground you walk on!
How do you feel about live Christmas trees?
Personally, I think they’re more festive than dead ones.
December 15th Birthdays
1982 – Michelle Dockery, 1980 – Alexandra Stevenson, 1984 – Camilla Luddington
1922 – Alan Freed, 1933 – Tim Conway, 1980 – Adam Brody, 1950 – Don Johnson