Myths vs Facts for an Eco Friendly Holiday Season Part 1...

Can you believe there are 45 days until Christmas? 22 days until Hanukkah, 46 days until Kwanzaa, and 41 days until Winter Solstice (and if I am missing anyone here and your celebrations please comment and let me know because the kids and I are studying different cultures, religions and their religious observations! Heather and I would LOVE to know what you and your family do to celebrate, so don't be shy. :D)

This is the time of year when some of the biggest amounts of waste are created, and quite often so unnecessarily. It has me thinking of ways that I can still be festive but in the most environmentally ways possible.

I am trying to find a balance too though...I have a son addicted to Bey Blades and a daughter who is collecting Moxie Girl dolls whenever she can. As much I try and steer my kids towards fair trade, wooden and non plastic toys, while shielding them as much as I can from mass consumerism, I realize that I have to try and find a bit of a compromise too with what is on their wish list. Instead of outright banning things, I use the opportunity to discuss the origins of the toy, how it was made, who might have made it (including a talk about child labour, sweat shops, the chemicals involved and the impact it all has from start to finish on the environment etc). I hopefully have them growing up thinking and questioning things more and being aware.

But, there are sooooooooooo many other ways to celebrate the upcoming holidays and be eco-friendly as well!

Let's start with the most obvious one: Christmas trees.

Myth:  Fake trees are more environmentally responsible because you are not cutting down a live tree.

Not true! 

Artificial trees use up a ridiculous amount of energy and petroleum products during their manufacturing and transport. Fake trees are also made of PVC plastic and are required by law in California to carry a warning label because they are potentially that toxic. Yuck.

Here is a fabulous little site from a cute little tree farm in Virginia called Pruitt's Little Farm that will give you the "Dirt on Fake Trees". Totally off topic I know, but check out their place! It is so cute! I wanna go! :D

Nothing really smells better than waking up in the morning to that wonderful aroma of pine or fir wafting through the house. For me, the smell of a pine or fir tree combined with mandarin oranges and coffee brewing in the morning is what December is all about.

Potted trees are a better idea, but often potted trees don't do so well in dry, heated homes. I would think if you are in a mild, humid climate at this time of year (i.e. like my old stomping grounds back on the West Coast) you might have better luck, especially when it comes to planting it outside afterward. Those of us in the dry, cold prairies might be disappointed with the outcome. But give it a try and see how it goes!

Then there is the debate over the live cut tree.

Let me be clear here...You are not doing any damage by getting a live tree. Getting a live tree is the greenest thing you can do if you want a tree in your house! (Pun *totally* intended of course! :Þ)

Live trees are now grown on tree farms specifically for the December season. In fact, if you think about it, live Christmas trees can take up to 10 years or more to grow. Trees clean the air. So trees grown on tree farms for 10+ years are helping our earth, even though they will eventually be cut down.

Let's look at the rest of the process here....

Like I mentioned and it is worth repeating again: you are NOT harming any forests or the earth by getting a live tree, unless of course you go out into the forest and start chopping all the trees down for yourself and your neighbours, but I know you won't do that. ;o) In fact, find a tree farm in your area and support a local business! Less money spent on transporting the tree and going local (as opposed to say a fake tree that has been shipped from China full of potentially toxic chemicals and probably made under slave labour conditions). As Martha would say, it's a good thing! At the end of your celebrations, often most cities and municipalities will offer free tree pick up/drop off and then grind the trees up to use at a later date outdoors as mulch.

So the live tree from the tree farm grows for 10+ years, cleaning the air as it goes. Win! You buy the tree from a local tree farm, thus supporting a local business. Win! The farm is local, so you spend less money and less energy transporting the tree home. Win! The tree is either planted outside after you are done (if it is potted) or mulched up and used a later date for a garden or compost. Win! It's just a win win situation all around!

Now, if you want to be totally green, you can skip getting a tree all together and take the time to decorate a tree in your yard. A fellow 'Eco Diva' and one of my best friends here in town decorates a tree in her backyard with great little treats for the birds that look beautiful and help out the wildlife in the area as well during the cold winter months. Think taking pine cones and smearing peanut butter on them and then rolling them in birdseed. Use a glue gun to stick a beautiful red ribbon on the top and hang it from the tree! Birds love bagels and suet cakes as well. Cut citrus fruits in slices the shapes of circles and hang up them around the trees outside. Get creative with a few touches of colour, some natural wildlife friendly edibles and you have a beautifully decorated tree outside that will make for some lovely winter sights when the birds and the squirrels start popping by for a nibble!

As we say in this house, GO GREEN! (Me because I am a total Eco Diva and my hubby because he is a die hard Saskatchewan RoughRider fan, but I digress... :D )

A live tree is the best and most environmentally friendly option when it comes to the "tree part" of December celebrations. Whether it is already planted in your yard, comes from a local tree farm or is potted, live really is the best choice.

We always put up our tree on December 21st and celebrate the Winter Solstice. What do you do to celebrate and observe the upcoming holidays?

Stay tuned for more Tree Hugging Tuesday's Myths vs Facts for an Eco Friendly Holiday Season!

With love and light,