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Bundled up and braving the cold, my family headed out to the Christmas tree farm bright and early on Saturday morning. As we were cutting down a Christmas tree, I couldn't help but ponder the environmental and health benefits of a real Christmas tree. Was I hurting the environment by cutting down a tree? Was I helping the environment by supporting an organic Christmas tree farm?
The type A neat-freak that I am tends to gravitate towards the artificial Christmas tree. It isn't messy, the branches are perfectly arranged and clean-up is a breeze. The science teacher part of me favors the real Christmas tree. Even if you don't celebrate Christmas, for Friday, I would like you to evaluate the age-old debate: Which is better a real or fake Christmas tree? You may use the following sites to support your position or give examples from real life.
Here are a couple of sites to help you with your post:
The Weather Channel:
http://www.weather.com/news/science/real-vs-fake-christmas-trees-which-better-environment-20131206
About.com:
http://environment.about.com/od/greenchristmas/a/christmas_trees.htm
American Christmas Tree Association:
http://www.christmastreeassociation.org/Article%20Pages/environmental-carbon-footprint-study-on-christmas-trees
National Christmas Tree Association:
http://www.realchristmastrees.org/dnn/Education/EnvironmentalBenefits.aspx
Christmas is "the most wonderful time of the year", but this saying only goes for humans. For the trees, we often forget to think about what toll we are taking on the environment with our traditions. The question is, which will hurt our environment less: the use of real or artificial trees? Personally, the use of artificial trees from an environmental standpoint is much more 'green'. Although the production of the many plastic needles, rods, and parts may promote pollution and not give that nice pine smell to your household, these "trees" can save million of other real trees. Logistically, a family that will purchase farm grown trees is killing one tree per year. That is at least a good 30 or so trees from each family dead. Now, this is only one household, a neighborhood may chew up as much a thousand, a city: ten thousand or more, and this is only for one generation of families cutting down trees. Sooner or later, the number of trees cut down for Christmas per generation will exceed the amount of people that live on our planet. Although these are just estimates, it is crazy to think about how many trees are wasted just for the "nice pine smell" and "family tradition" these trees provide. Conifers sometimes will not grow at fast rates, and they will not be able to catch up with our constant cutting down of them. Although this is an extreme issue, the production of artificial trees is an equal concern, which is why we should not ban either. Making artificial trees provides carbon dioxide in pollution, while trees need carbon dioxide to live, and they produce oxygen. If we maintain this equal cycle with a close to equal amount of artificial and fake trees, it may just be a "green" Christmas after all.
ReplyDeleteDrew: I love your idea about having a balance between the usage of real and fake trees. That never even crossed my mind, and it makes perfect sense. If too many households have fake Christmas trees, there will be excess pollution. In contrast, if too many households have real Christmas trees, extra conifers will be cut down.
DeleteIt really is a good concept. With a balance of each we are maintaining a stable line. But would it really be that bad to have an overwhelming majority of real tree owners? Local tree farmers and business would be benefited. Christmas tree's are just like an edible crop. They are replanted when they are sold. Just an idea.
DeleteSurprisingly, the debate of using a real tree versus a fake tree sparks a huge discussion within my family. Ever since I can remember, my Christmas has always been spent with our fake, plastic tree due to my brother's allergies...that he had when he was 3 (he is now 16.) So, with much persuading, my family went out and picked out a perfect, real tree. Although they smell like pure Christmas spirit and in my opinion, look nicer than fake trees, they come with some problems. Until they're ready to be picked, real trees are covered with pesticides which aren't the best for your health. Studies show that the most common tree pesticide, Roundup, can cause major nervous system problems. Do you really want to spend your Christmas eve stuck in a hospital because your nervous system is destroyed? But don't think that fake trees are any better. Many artificial trees have been reported to contain lead, which is extremely harmful on humans. Doesn't it lift your Christmas spirits knowing that you're ingesting a brain-damaging metal? Not to mention, most artificial trees aren't recyclable. So, once you decide to upgrade to a bigger plastic spruce, you're old one will be sitting in a landfill virtually forever. Not to ruin your Christmas tree experience completely, there are positive to both types of trees. Plastic trees for example, are a no-mess solution. They keep all their needles intact and cleanup is a breeze. But if cleaning up needles isn't a problem for you, real trees can be re-planted in your yard and used for next Christmas. Plus, every little kid loves to go out in the snow and pick out the perfect tree for Christmas. From examining both sides of the story, I believe that real trees are better to use for both your health, and for the environment. Even if you don't replant your tree after each Christmas, real trees are biodegradable and don't add waste to our landfills. Also, there is something special about using a real tree instead of the same, artificial spruce.
ReplyDeleteBrooke I agree with you. Both types of trees have strengths and weaknesses. In the end, I believe it matters on people's preference. Wether they like real of fake trees more.
DeleteIt is really saddening to know that even in our Christmas trees we find cheap materials such as lead. I do agree about the experience families have when they go out together to pick their own tree. It is a bonding experience that all families should get to enjoy.
DeleteWhile supporting local businesses is a good idea, the fact that the trees are being used solely to be cut down and stuck up inside a house might not be the most eco-friendly. That being said, plastic trees are still made of plastic and that high amount of plastic is certainly not too healthy for our earth. While the trees at the farm are being grown just to be cut down, they're still being grown rather than using up resources. Then again, I have had the same plastic tree for almost seven years. This can not be said for my friends who must buy a new natural tree every year or so. This killing of trees is possibly just a bit excessive and that is why I think that a plastic tree is the way to go: they can be reused and reused while the natural tree has to go.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with this person, because I don't know your name, but I agree that the plastic trees are not healthy, but I still think instead real trees is the way to go.
DeleteWe are chopping down millions of trees, but isn't that why they are dedicated farms for Christmas trees? My cousins in Ohio have their own tree farm that people chop down trees from. We are killing trees, but it is not as if we are cutting down trees in our communities.
DeleteBased on reading The Weather Channel's perspective about this debate, realistically, neither a artificial tree nor a real tree truly makes so much of an environmental impact that we must choose either one or the other. However, the true source of where harm to our environment comes from is exactly how much work we put into getting our Christmas trees. From driving out to the farm to get the tree, all the way down to storing it away for next year, all of these factors play a part. Out of my own experience, I would say that artificial trees are better than real trees due to economical reasons and durability. When my parents had bought our 9 foot Christmas tree, they had gotten it on sale for $100 in 1995, and we still use this exact same tree 18 years later for the holidays. In addition to its age, our tree has also survived a flood. When our basement had flooded in 2008-2009, our tree was able to stand up tall for another year with only a few rusty marks tainting its sides. If an artificial tree can be used for over a decade, get subjected to water damage, and still have the ability to stand firm afterwards, then for what this tree was sold for, my family has most definitely gotten their money's worth. Despite artificial trees having a bit of a pricier tag of $300-$400 when you first purchase them, their work really pays off in the end. Juxtaposed to a real tree, for the amount of money total that you would have to spend for 18 years -or even 10 years- on one is a lot in the long run. Even though we may not think of the small stuff on the surface, those factors can really add up if we look beyond what we see. At the end of the day, it truly doesn't matter if you vote for a real tree or an artificial one, as for they both do their role perfectly. However, out of my family's own experience, I will always lean towards an artificial tree as being better. From impeding my mother's allergies, all the way to being just an old tree, it has been through a lot, and I am grateful that our tree has been able to come back for another year of holiday celebration.
ReplyDeleteFake trees are definitely the way to go financially, but don't you ever wonder what its like to pick your own family tree that is just right for you? Its a bonding chance for families.
DeleteOur family has four Christmas trees (3 feet, 6.5 feet, 7 feet, and 12 feet), all of which are fake. I would love to have a real Christmas tree, considering my love of nature, but the fake trees do not disappoint me in the least bit – they look identical to the real ones. In addition, we have spruce scented ornaments to give our Christmas trees their "true smell". With a fake tree, we can also call it "our tree", keeping it year after year after year. Again, I have nothing against real Christmas trees – I would actually love to try one one of these years. Overall, however, I would support the fake Christmas tree option. According to the Weather Channel's article, there are environmental pros and cons to each option. The deciding factor, according to Thomas Harman, however, is how long a family uses a fake Christmas tree for. Seven years of use of a fake tree is better for the environment than using a real tree every year. According to this fact, my family is actually supporting the environment considering we've never replaced one of our trees. Either way, both the real and fake have equal pros and cons – environmental, looks, and work-load (all of these factors cancel each other out in some way). Therefore, if one is undecided on which tree type to choose, they should judge it based on how long they would use a fake Christmas tree for. If they are anything like my family, a fake tree would be the better option. Again, the fake Christmas tree is what I support, mainly due to the fact that most people will use a tree for more than seven years, and the fact that I have grown up with fake trees in my house year after year.
ReplyDeleteMy family, also, has been using our christmas tree for at least 7 years, and I totally agree when you say that both the trees have their pros and cons. It's definitely not in black-and-white, and that's why this topic is so controversial.
DeleteIs a fake Christmas tree really environmentally friendly? Your family reuses them yearly which does support your case, but the cheap materials that companies use in the production of fake trees are plastics that are not necessarily "environmentally friendly".
DeleteMy family has had the same fake tree for longer than I've been alive. It still looks fine and is as good as a real tree in my opinion.I have the only thing I have against real trees is the huge fire hazard and with all the cooking going on and if there are candles near it, there is a high possibility that your tree could light on fire. With a fake tree you don't have to worry about this, or at least not as much. Also if you want a real tree so much you could just plant a few saplings outside you house and decorate them with lights. This is what my family has been doing for about 3 years now. The real trees also only last a few months after they have been cut down and Christmas trees are one of the few trees that have leafs in the winter. Which means they are one of the few trees that produce oxygen in the winter. So I believe that a fake tree is both better for the environment and more cost efficient.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with everything you just said. My family has also been using a fake tree since before I was born, and there have been no complaints! Sure it will eventually need to be disposed of, but it's still better than cutting down a real tree every single year.
DeleteHow does a tree have a fire hazard unless its next to the kitchen or a fire place? Maybe in your house that is where it is located. Incidents such as your scenario are usually intentional. People normally burn trees as pranks or for pure entertainment
DeletePreviously, I had thought that fake Christmas trees were far better than the real ones-- I mean, it makes sense: the fake ones are reusable but the real ones are only used for a month and then are disposed of. But, considering that my family has had the same fake Christmas tree for as long as I could remember, perhaps I was a little biased. After reading the articles that you have linked for us, I think my opinion is leaning more to the other side that supports the real trees. Yet, I still believe that both of them have a negative impact on the environment. It’s just that, one type has less of an impact than the other. Fake trees can be “green” if they are used for at least a decade, but if they’re used for less, it’s just a non-biodegradable waste that sits in landfills for centuries. On the other hand, real trees are used for only one month, and then are thrown out. At least they can be decomposed. Yet, factor in the distance traveled to obtain a real tree and the unhealthy plastics of the fake trees, I would say it’s mostly a tie. The only thing that throws me over the edge to the side that’s rooting for the real trees is the idea of buying a real tree with it’s roots, and eventually planting it. In the future, though, perhaps there will be some super cool reusable tree that’s also made from biodegradable material. That, I think, would be our best solution.
ReplyDeleteIts nice to see somebodies opinion changed. I agree that real trees are better (at this point in time) than fake trees.
DeleteHonestly, I used to think that for the environment, a fake tree is better. It’s reusable, and it means one less tree being cut down each year. Also, most real trees just end up in the garbage, so it seems like such a waste to just chop one down so it can stand around looking pretty for two weeks. However, after reading several sources, I discovered that a fake tree and a real tree have about the same effect on the environment. With this knowledge, I would definitely go with a real tree. In my opinion, it’s more authentic and adds to the Christmas spirit. It’s your own unique tree that just belongs to your family, and you know that thousands of other families don’t have the exact same tree as you do. Even though it seems like many buy real trees for Christmas, there are also several others out there who reuse their tree every year. It’s been said that if you use an artificial tree for about ten years, it will have a smaller carbon footprint than cutting down a real tree. However, many families don’t keep their trees for so long, which means they’re not helping the environment that much. Our family has been using an artificial tree for a while, so I’m happy to see that we’ve been somewhat been helping the environment around the holiday season. Despite the facts and statistics, I’ve always wanted and believed that a “true” Christmas tree is one that’s real.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. The point of an artificial tree is diminished when people are constantly replacing them with new ones. 10 years is a good number for the use of an artificial tree.
DeleteI think that using an artificial Christmas tree is better for the environment than using a real tree. If you buy a Christmas tree every year, you are using up gas and supporting the use of pesticides to preserve the trees throughout the year. However, if you buy an artificial tree you save money and the environment. Some might say that it is better to buy a real tree than a fake one because when it comes to disposal time plastic is not compostable. Studies show that if you buy an artificial tree and use it for at least a decade, then the environmental impact of the tree going to a landfill is tempered by the cost and use of gas and buying a fresh tree every year. My family uses an artificial tree, and we've had it for about 15 years. We'll probably continue to use it until the "needles" are completely falling off and it is so much easier to set it up than going out, finding the perfect tree, lugging it back home, and setting it up in a bowl of water. We just take the stand out of the box, put the branches on, and voila, a beautiful full-branched Christmas tree. Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy, and gentle on the environment (and our wallets) too.
ReplyDeleteHas your family ever gotten a real tree? In my opinion every family needs to have the experience of getting a real tree at least once in their lifetime. It is a bonding chance for families as well as the opportunity to find the "perfect" tree.
DeleteBefore I read those articles I had always thought that a fake Christmas tree was better than a real Christmas tree. But after reading those articles i soon realized that a real Christmas tree was better than a fake tree any day. There are many reasons why this is true such as what the fake trees are made of, and even it basically goes against the tradition of getting a Christmas tree. A fake Christmas tree is made of polyvinyl chloride, which pollutes areas around where the Christmas tree is made. That really goes against being the "better tree" if you pollute the environment around you. Another thing that makes a real Christmas tree better than a fake Christmas tree is that the tradition is going out to cut down a Christmas tree. As we probably seen in every Christmas movie out there, the family goes out and buys and cuts down their own Christmas tree. It's a tradition and we all know that. why wreck it just to buy a fake version of a Christmas tree? Those reasons are why I personally believe a real Christmas tree is better than a fake Christmas tree.
ReplyDeleteIt really opens your eyes when you see what they use to make fake Christmas trees. At this point I also think real trees are better. If fake trees could be produced with more environmentally friendly materials, I would support the use of them.
DeleteDespite the fact that they are messy, and could fall over at any moment and potentially crush you, the Christmas tree is a staple of the holiday season. With how much we love them, you would think that by now there would be a straight answer on which kind of Christmas trees are better, and though many have tried to figure it out, neither the fake nor the real tree has had an obvious advantage. While you may think that cutting down a tree harms the environment. that small amount of damage caused by removing a single tree is nowhere near the amount of devastation the manufacturing of the fake trees causes in the surrounding areas of the factories. That being said, The Organic tree is not superior to the Fake one due to the fact that the Organic tree is a larger fire hazard, an incredible mess, and if added up, the amount of ecological damage done by the millions of people cutting down trees each year is just about even with that of the manufacturing of fake trees. As i previously stated there is no clear advantage to either side of this ongoing argument. Each tree has its ups and downs but we can all agree that when it comes to this holiday tradition neither of these festive foliage are clearly superior.
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU!!! Its about time somebody understands my P.O.V on getting a tree that is real. I completely agree.
DeleteIn my opinion I think both kinds of trees are not going to make a large impact on our environment, but if you had to choose one I would think it would be better to buy real trees. I think this because our need for real Christmas trees is actually making people plant trees. If we didn't want real Christmas trees, nobody would even bother planting these entire fields with pine trees, making oxygen. It would be better to leave them in the ground, buy at least they are making oxygen for a few years rather than no time. Although I think that artificial trees are also fine. You don't need to keep buying trees, so people don't need to make as many. I think that either way you chose to go you will be okay.
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely a topic that choosing to be neutral is fairly justifiable. Both options really have their pro's and con's but I do agree that real trees are the way to go.
DeleteHonestly, I don't have much of an opinion for this topic. But since I have to write a response, I'm leaning more towards a fake tree. There really isn't a whole lot of difference between the looks of the trees, except the fake ones are generally a lighter green and are more symmetrical. We've had a fake tree for as long as I can remember, and it's been doing fine for us. A few years we've left the fake one in the basement and gone out to get a real tree, which was pretty fun, until the week after Christmas when you have to clean it up. I don't really think getting a real tree is that dangerous for the environment, because they get replanted anyway so there's not really much of a loss. Although the fake trees are made up of harmful materials, they last longer, and most people keep them for a long time. So if I had to pick, I'd pick a fake tree, just because it's easier to handle and reusable for quite a long time.
ReplyDeleteSo you understand that they are made of harmful materials, but how much information do you have?
Deletehttp://usatoday30.usatoday.com/yourlife/parenting-family/2010-12-06-ToxicXmas06ONLINE_va_N.htm
DeleteI also agree with your statement about how the plastic trees don't decompose, while real trees do.
DeleteAlthough it may seem better to have an artificial tree, the long term affects are the more important and if you look at the big picture, the effect of a real on the environment is not as bad as it may seem. Even though thousands of trees are cut down every year for people to have in there homes for a mere month, the environmental toll the environment takes is not as bad as it seems. According to the National Christmas Association, for every Christmas tree cut down one to three more are planted, so more trees will be there than there was before. A fake tree not only is a petroleum-based product, but once being owned for about six years, they just sit in a landfill for centuries. Centuries! That is making a much worse environmental impact than cutting a biodegradable tree down that will be replaced with more than enough trees in the long run, or at least that's what the National Christmas Association claims which seems to be accurate. In the long run, a real live Christmas tree is better for the environment since it leaves a smaller carbon foot print than a fake tree does, and it is a nice tradition to go get a tree rather than put up the same boring decoration every year!
ReplyDeleteI agree that it would be nice to get a real tree for Christmas, but I disagree that you say if you have a fake tree you use the same old boring decoration each year! You can decorate you artificial tree totally different every year if you wanted too! That's the glory of ANY Christmas tree, you can make it your own.
DeleteI find you argument very logical. Fake trees just take up space in our landfills as people discard them. Real trees can at east be burned or naturally destroyed unlike their fake counterparts
DeleteI'm an organic girl. I love everything natural and real from the outdoors. So personally, I've never been a fan of fake trees- they remind me of the Lorax movie with all the fake plants and animals. Ick. I always thought it was better to buy a real tree for the sentiments of a real Christmas in addition to being eco-friendly, but after reading the Weather Article I thought otherwise. It DOES make sense to get a fake tree and have that for a handful of years, and it's also smart to go out and get a real tree for natural decomposition. A fact that was brought up was how it takes many years to grow a tree induced with pesticides and other things. However there are always new trees being grown! And there are farms out there who don't use those pesticides (like we are doing right now on our farm). So I think the way to go would be to use a real tree every year.
ReplyDeleteThe connection to the Lorax really fits in to the whole argument. That really helps open our own eyes to what we could do to our own world.
DeleteMy opinion is that a artificial tree is best for the environment and for your health. Most people can use a good tree for over 10 years and according to the Weather Channel report 7 years is as long as it takes for an artificial tree to be more environmentally friendly than a real tree. Many people are allergic to real trees including my brother and I making it bad for our health. A real tree also has had pesticides that are linked to nerve damage, sprayed on it thought its life time. Then the tree along with the pesticides are being brought into your house.
ReplyDeleteAre artificial trees really best for the environment? We can dispose of real trees naturally, but our fake trees sit in landfills without decomposing.
DeleteI can see why either is preferred. When I'm older I want a real Christmas Tree because of how nice it would be, look, and smell. I prefer the natural look to I honestly don't have much else to say except that for the time being I'm stuck with an artificial.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Aside from all the arguing, the smell and feeling of a real tree in your house is a leading reason for the support of real trees in my argument. It is as much of a "presence" as it is better for the enviorment.
DeletePreviously before reading the article on The Weather Channel's website my family have always stuck to using the artifical tree. They are too lazy to go saw down the perfect tree that smells delicious. Rather they use a fake tree and put scents on the tree that look like ornaments but are supposed to smell like an actual tree, but comes no where near the actual smell. They light a candle thats pine tree scented and say "its the memories that count". In my opinoin I've always wanted a real tree because I have never had one before! Which is unhumain. I can see both sides of the story when it comes to which tree is better for the environment, fake or real. Fake is better because it will last 10 or more years, but then its worse because when you go to recycle it the tree is not decomposable. Therefore it will not go away and the tree will sit there in the landfill forever. On the other side of the story a real tree is better because it does decompose, it smells delcious, different looking tree every year, and starting a family tradition of tree picking. But for the people that buy the white Christmas trees what are they thinking? Its illogical thinking. Not that there is anything wrong with that if you do.
ReplyDeleteI can see where your coming from. People are more worried about money (which is completely justifiable) but you really miss out on having a real tree. Don't get me started on colored trees.
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ReplyDeleteAccording to a survey taken by the American Christmas Tree Association, more than 94 million American households, or 79 percent of all households, will display a Christmas Tree in their home this holiday season. In my opinion it is better to purchase a real tree rather than a fake tree. Fake trees are made with polyvinyl chloride which is one of the most toxic plastics. Not only is the tree itself toxic, but the entire process of making the tree creates a mess of environmental pollution.
Before reaching your home, real trees create oxygen for you to breathe, while artificial trees create pollution. When the holiday season is over, instead of getting rid of your real tree, it can be recycled it into mulch or used to fabricate wood products.Some people even chose to use real trees that can be planted after being used for Christmas. Artificial trees may last a decade in your home, but they last for centuries in a landfill. Purchasing real trees is less harmful for the environment. In addition, they have a nice smell, they don’t have to be assembled and dismantled, and purchasing them every year supports a local Christmas tree businesses in your area.
Completely true. The plastics and materials in fake trees are non-decomposable. They are harmful to our environment and pose a threat to their owners.
DeleteFor many years I have had a fake Christmas Tree, until just recently ( 2 years ago) we have started to go to a farm and get a real one ! Why you ask? My family and I think this is a great way to celebrate the holiday! Though, I also believe it's great for the environment. When I went to the Christmas Farm 2 weeks ago, I saw BIG, ENORMOUS trees. But I also saw baby trees that were freshly planted and were beginning to grow! Without people coming to cut down the big trees, there would be no place for the baby trees to grow and they would eventually die.(Making cutting down trees for the holiday not so bad.) It's also great for the environment because when the holiday is over, you can put it into a community compost pile, and have it decompose and turned it into new soil for new trees! Trees are GREAT for a family;they bring joy and holly and everything else you can think of. Have a nice Christmas!!!!
ReplyDeleteExactly the idea. Half of the holiday experience is being able to pick out your own tree, and enjoy doing so with your family. Well said.
DeleteI think that fake trees are better. My family has always had a fake tree and it is great. Fake trees aren't messy and they are easier to set up and take down. Plus you don't have to go out, cut down a tree that took years to grow just for a couple weeks to look pretty inside your house to then by thrown out. Just because you have a fake tree doesn't make Christmas any less authentic than it would be with a real tree.
ReplyDeleteThe argument doesn't say that it makes your tree "less-authentic". It does not, and I agree with you. It does however pose many more threats to us and our environment than a real tree.
DeleteAlmost anything that someone does will play an affect on the environment. Some are negative and some are positive. With the Christmas trees, I tried to figure out what one, artificial or real, would be worse for the environment. In my opinion, the real tree is worse for the environment. Some people say, well it's just once a year but millions of people cut down those trees for Christmas. With an artificial tree you can buy one and use it for many years in a row while you can only use the real tree once. Artificial trees have to be made and that could cause pollution but each family doesn't kill one each year. They can be reused unlike the real trees. I think that the better way to go on Christmas is the artificial tree.
ReplyDeleteIs a real tree really better for the environment? When families discard their fake trees they sit in landfills and pile up, due to their inability to decompose. Real trees can be naturally burned, or disposed of in other environmentally friendly manners. So which is better? The decision is yours.
DeleteOn the topic of real or fake, my family switched to a fake tree after I turned eight. We haven't had to buy a new one since then. While it isn't "real" once everything is on it you can't really tell a difference. The main reason I think people switch to fake trees is because they won't catch fire as easily and the tree doesn't need to be replaced yearly. But also if you have a real tree after Christmas is over then it gets re purposed. They each have there pros and cons but personally I think a fake tree is better for long term use.
ReplyDeleteI agree but it depends how you want to define long-term use. Some families use their trees for 10 years and more. Many people replace their fake trees in a smaller amount of time however. This causes a buildup of non-composble materials in our landfills, while real trees can be burned and naturally disposed of
DeleteI think only a few times in my life my family has actually gotten a real Christmas tree, I think but because its not a huge, messy job. To me, it's not a big deal if my family has an artificial tree or real tree. Besides, like you wrote before, you are killing a tree just to have it sit in your home for a few weeks. Is it really worth it? An artificial tree you can use over and over and over. It's kind of like recycling, but you're not getting rid of anything. And it's helpful towards the environment too. Also, real tree's can also be sprayed with pesticides and other substances that you are letting into your house. Lastly, I just think a real Christmas tree is a ton of work and it's not even worth it! Fake tree's are more green and 'alive' than the real ones and they look better too! Why would you go to all the mess and trouble when there's an easier solution? So I think the way to go is getting an artificial tree for Christmas this year.
ReplyDeleteMany people don't have an opinion on the subject either. Both have their pros and cons, but which is really better? Pesticides are slowly being outlawed for use on Christmas trees, and the large majority of tree farms do not use pesticides.
Deletehttp://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_3548.cfm
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DeleteWith my luck, I have horrible allergies to tree pollen, so getting a real Christmas tree is not an option for my family (unless they want to put up with constant sniffling and tissues everywhere). But if i did have a say in the matter, I would get a real tree, over the artificial. Artificial trees are made of non-biodegradable plastic, which is non-recyclable. If you buy a fake tree, no matter how many years used, it is going to end up in a landfill, somewhere. Also, in the making of artificial trees, cancer-causing carcinogens are generated during the production. The trees also contain lead and other additives that have been linked to liver, kidney, neurological and reproductive system damage in lab studies on animals. Getting real tree, I feel, is part of the Christmas spirit. Too bad all I don't have the opportunity to feel this spirit! Oh well ... At least I have Baby Jesus.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I absolutely love going out in the cold and picking out my dream tree. In China, when the perfect tree is being made in the factory nearby neighborhoods are being polluted, but the health effects don stop in China, dust laced with lead is being put into our homes and falling on the presents. I used to think real trees had no drawbacks. When i lived in North Carolina it wasn't so cold and the rivers wouldn't freeze over so when Christmas was over we would just throw the tree in the river in my back yard the tree went full circle, produced some oxygen was really pretty for a couple of weeks and then was a nice home for the fishes, but the pesticides on the trees can pollute local water ways. I think real trees are still the way to go, they make your house smell amazing and if you do it the right way you can keep the trees alive for next year too!
ReplyDeleteI can connect with your illusion to the feelings of choosing your own tree, that is just right for you. The amount of pesticides in real trees has been greatly reduced in recent years, but many large chains continue to put them in their trees. In my opinion this is the only problem with them.
DeleteI would love to have a real true one of these days but as long as I can remember is us always having a fake tree. I personally like having a fake tree it still looks as good as a real one. There is really no difference between a real or fake true besides the little color difference and the smell but you can always get a candle of tree smell if u really want to. I don't really think getting a real tree is that dangerous for the environment, because they get replanted anyway so there's not really much of a loss. Although the fake trees are made up of harmful materials, they last longer, and most people keep them for a long time. I still would pick a fake tree over the real tree.
ReplyDeleteI must disagree on the fact that they look the same. Real trees are much wider, and the pure natural green color is unbeatable. Fake trees will last longer but what happens when it breaks or you get a new one? Into the landfill it goes, thus a continuing process happening everywhere. Real trees pose no threat to the environment, and can easily be disposed of.
DeleteWhen I think of Christmas I think of the smell of a real tree with presents lying under it. The smell of a real tree is unmistakeable. The fake trees are just plastic pieces of green put together as a supplement for saving money. Christmas without a real tree would seem so foreign to me. Going out to the tree farms looking for the perfect tree, searching for hours, and when you find your tree it is just like getting a new pet. Not only is it something that I love, it is something that the environment loves. Getting these plastic trees to the US takes gas. Almost all of the plastic trees are manufactured in China. The real trees are made within our country, usually in the same state. While we are getting these trees we are also making more trees, repopulating the slowly shrinking tree population. The amount of trees that are neglected from people are making a bigger impact than a decoration. They are giving us oxygen. Unlike the plastic trees which are just wasting space on Earth. Going into landfills once they are broken or owners toss them away. Just to sit there for years and years while real trees break down into soil and help a new start for the ecosystem. Even though chemicals are being used on these trees to make them more appealing, more chemicals are being used on the fake trees and the impact is just as large there. Real trees have some issues but what they off is much greater. Just imagine New York City or Chicago with a 50 foot plastic tree just to be thrown out right after. I do not know many people who would go to see the tree if it was fake.
ReplyDeleteInteresting opinion Brandon. I know I wouldn't go see a 50 foot plastic tree. Great response. #realtrees
DeleteI agree with you Brandon, real trees are much better for the environment because people are growing trees that make oxygen for Christmas. However i think that it would be really cool to see a 50 foot plastic tree, but that is probably just me.
DeleteI couldn't agree more. Its an experience that is like no other.
DeleteFor the record, pine trees in Oregon reach over 250ft. How about that for a tree.
http://blogs.usda.gov/2011/12/08/oregon-forest-home-for-world%E2%80%99s-tallest-living-pine-tree/
DeleteMy family uses an artificial tree. We used to use real trees, but that came with a lot of work. First our curious dog would eat the needles that fell off the trees. Soon my little brother would try to eat them also, so my mom thought it was time to switch to a fake tree. With the fake tree we don't have to string the lights, or worry about clean up. But we don't get to enjoy having a real tree in the house. Our family friends have high ceilings, so their tree is about nine feet high. It is so pretty. But when the holiday season is over they have a big task of cleaning it up. I personally would love to have a real tree in the house and would enjoy it much more than a fake tree. But sadly I don't think I will be able to convince my mom. My dad likes real trees also, but what mom says goes in my house, so it will be a fake tree until she changes her mind.
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame mom always gets the final say, but real trees do require a little more work, but in the end it really is worth it.
DeleteI believe that this is a matter related to my mother. My health directly relates to whether or not she is happy with our tree. This is because of the fact that if she does not get her Charlie Brown Christmas tree she will not be a happy camper. I love my mother, but she is the kind of person that no one likes to see disappointed or sad. My mom is sort of like a puppy that's just whining for you to pet it, it is impossible to ignore and really sad. That being said, I hate to see her sad. This year we have a real tree because she wanted one, even though we have a fake one in our basement. I can see the benefits of a real tree, more oxygen less carbon dioxide and all but it does get tiresome to have to water it to keep it alive.
ReplyDeleteIn my experience pine trees can last with their water for a while. It depends on the tree I guess.
DeleteOh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree...but which type? The issue has obviously been at hand for a while now whether or not a fake or a real Christmas tree is better for our environment . Personally, as a part of a family who has had a fake Christmas tree for longer than I've been in the family, I have to say that I've always wanted the experience of having a real tree to put in our living room. Not that I don't enjoy arguing with my siblings each year whether or not "this branch goes on that level" or "stop hitting me with the plastic trunk", but I think having a fresh tree that surrounds the air with the smell of outdoors would be great for the holiday season! But, unfortunately, due to my mom's allergies, that dream will never come true. However, after researching which tree is better, it seems that my family is helping our environment out. Normally the effect of cutting down a tree each year doesn't leave quite an impact on our planet as buying a fake one each year, but it's said that if you keep a fake tree for about 10 years, then overall, it's about the same effect of cutting one down. So for the sake of our environment, especially around the holiday season, I guess I will endure the pains of being whacked with a plastic pole for another 16 years.
ReplyDeleteI find that the majority of people with no real tree are influenced by the allergies of a family member. They are slowly selling hypoallergenic trees that are real for retail.
DeleteEvery year my family and I set up our christmas decorations, and my favorite part is helping setup the christmas tree. My family uses a fake tree that we've had for a long time. I don't mind the fake tree because it's super easy, looks crisp, and doesn't supposedly hurt the environment. But on the other hand when I think about it, i've always liked the real christmas trees. I thought it sounded so fun as a kid being able to pick out your very own tree that you can name and call your own. I always loved walking into my neighbor's house and smelling the fresh pine needles. The only problem I ever saw was the fact that they can be a little messy and the fact that you have to throw it out every year. But it's probably well worth it. When it comes to the environment and christmas trees theres a big debate whether having a fake tree or real tree is best. In my opinion, they're both great. In other opinions, real trees hurt the environment because we're cutting down trees, and that's a bad thing in their eyes. But they are only seeing one side of that because to me it's not a bad thing. These trees that are being cut down aren't out in the wilderness, they're grown on some sort of farm for the single purpose of christmas trees! And we're re-planting new trees so they can grow for next year and the next year and so on. Now about the fake trees. People have said that they're bad for the environment because they're made of plastic and they would be harmful. But like it said in the Real vs Fake Christmas Trees article “If you purchase a farm-grown Christmas tree and use it for a year and throw it away, and purchase an artificial and use it for a year and throw it away, then the farm-grown is going to be better." But when you think about it no one throws away fake christmas trees until they're are extremely old, so in the long run the fake tree isn't bad. So basically, I don't think either tree is more harmful to the environment than the other.
ReplyDeleteIs it really harmful to use real trees? They can be naturally disposed of when the holiday season is over. Artificial trees sit in landfills, piling up.
DeleteThere is not a right answer to this question. There is also not a wrong answer. If you buy a fake tree and only use it for a couple years then yes its going to be worse for the environment. If you have to drive far to get a real tree you are also hurting the environment. However, around here we don't really have to drive too far to get either type of tree. Also if you buy a fake tree you don't have to use it every year. If you buy one and one year you decide to get a real tree then get one, just don't throw out the fake one you could use it next year and you wouldn't have to buy a new one. Either way, real or fake tree your choice of tree will not have a significant effect on the environment. Unless the real one catches on fire and burn your house to the ground, but I cant say i've known anyone who has had that happen. Choose whatever tree your heart desires.
ReplyDeleteThere really isn't a "right answer" in the matter. It depends on how you were raised, and what opinion you have.
DeleteTIMBER! I am definitely a real-tree type of gal. I love choosing a new tree each year and imagining how all the ornaments will look on it. It's smell of pine cones and how it brings the outdoors inside, really makes it fill like the holidays. But after reading an article on the Weather Channel made me ask a question. Is a fake tree better? According to the article, a fake tree is better. People who buy real trees are chopping them down and only using them for that year. While people who use artificial trees can reuse them of a minimum of seven years. But keep in mind there is always being more trees planted on tree farms, because if there weren't tree farms wouldn't exist. Yes, some tree farms just care about money and will do anything to get their hands on a dime. For example, they use pesticides that increase the speed a tree grows. But there are tree farms that care for the environment and the trees, not the money. Trees bring around joy and happiness. My family finds happiness through a real tree, others through fake. At the end of the day, the trees gets decorated and spreads joy throughout each house, no matter if it is real or fake.
ReplyDeleteI agree. The feeling of getting your own tree is unrivaled.
DeleteMany farms are like the way you describe. They are more worried about getting their customers good quality trees, rather than selling pesticide laced trees for large prices.
DeleteChristmas trees seem to cause more trouble than they're worth. Whether real or fake, the vacuum is out every day to suck up shedding needles, and in a house with lots of kids, one or two ornaments a year always seem to just show up shattered on the floor with no one to blame but the dog. Why do we even put up with this? In the joy of the Season? However, I have to admit, the scent of fresh pine needles drifting the the air (if it's just a Yankee candle, it still counts), and the shimmer of reflected lights bouncing off onto the walls does give a certain spirit to the day. Growing up with a real tree and fake garlands does give me a bit of experience in both fields I suppose, and as it turns out, I am a strong supporter of real Christmas trees. Perhaps they aren't as perfectly green and round as preferred, but they are bio-degradable, and in a season of gifts between friends and family, why not give back to the earth? Even though (as the weather channel states) fake Christmas trees used for more than 7 years won't have much affect on the environment, won't they all go to waste eventually? Plastic won't be absorbed into the Earth. A real Christmas tree will be loved, then tossed out to rot away into the ground and become the nutrients needed for new pine trees to grow. Christmas trees are better real, since they are the best way for us to give back to the Earth while still honoring this age-old tradition.
ReplyDeleteBut is getting a fake tree worth all the trouble for others? They contain harmful chemicals, that cannot decompose.
DeleteI think fake trees are probably better the for environment because you aren't cutting down as many real trees. Type A personalities tend to want to clean all the time vacuuming needles using unnecessary energy whereas if you have a fake tree you never have to clean up after the tree. Trees take a very long time to grow and you need a new tree every Christmas while fake trees can be used over and over for years. Fake trees do use plastic and people do throw them out over time which takes up space in landfills, but I think this impact is less than cutting down all the trees every year. I feel fake trees are better, but our family has gotten a real one my entire life.
ReplyDeleteThe trees that are cut down are replaced right away, for the next year. These trees are grown for one purpose and one purpose only.
DeleteA real Christmas tree provides a more "authentic" Christmas experience. The smell of pine wafting through the home and the annual family voyage to go and find the perfect tree marks the beginning of the true Christmas season. A real tree is the only way to make Christmas, Christmas! But in a practical sense, the real tree is rather unreasonable. Maintaining the tree in the home and cleanup after the season is over is a nightmare. On top of that, it's more harmful to the environment than an artificial tree. In a study conducted by a the leading international sustainability firm PE Americas, it was discovered that the most environmental damage came not from artificial tree production, but the transportation of real Christmas trees from the farm to the customers' homes. By the time all those families have driven from home to the lot, then back home with the tree, they’ve consumed copious amounts of fossil fuels. Plus, they just cut down a perfectly healthy tree that was just producing oxygen. The practice of getting a real Christmas tree is essentially just cutting down a healthy tree for no reason, then bringing home only to throw it away a month later. Finding a quality artificial tree and using it for multiple years is much less harmful to to the environment than wasting the resources that Earth cannot reproduce. So despite not having the genuine scent of pine in the home, an artificial Christmas tree is ultimately a wiser and easier choice.
ReplyDeleteIt is a one of a kind experience. But is a fake tree really better?
Deletehttp://environment.about.com/od/greenchristmas/a/christmas_trees.htm
DeleteBoth real and fake trees have their pros and cons, so it is hard to decide which one is more beneficial. If I had to chose, I would go for a fake tree, because all my life my parents have been putting up a fake tree. I believe that this is beneficial to the environment because it saves many trees from being cut. Trees provide us with oxygen and it is not good if we go and cut them down. Also, if you choose to get a real tree, you need to get one every year, but with artificial trees, you only need to get them once or twice because they are reusable. My family just got a new artificial tree last year, as the one we had previously started to break. The old tree served us for a very long time though.
ReplyDeleteFake trees are really not environmentally friendly. They contain toxic cancer linked chemicals that are harmful to those who use them. Real trees can be naturally disposed of. Cutting down real trees does not hurt the environment. These trees are grown such as a food crop for use, and they are then replanted for the next season.
DeleteEven though I love neat trees too, i have to go with the real trees. I love everything about them, especialy the smell. I love how the smell just reminds me of Christmas time, and the outdoors. Even if it isn't the winter time, my mom stil burns pine-scented candles. Aso, I think that of everyone bought a fake tree, where would we put all the big ones? we woud run out of room to grow them, and worst of all, some people miht even forget what Cristmas feels like. wihout a real tree, I don't know what Christmas is. It is possible to find the perfect tree and once you get it, it is a great chance for learning! counting the rings in the tree at the stump say how old it is, and any more cool facts! Not everyone needs to throw the tree on the curb once they have tripped it of its lights and ornaments, but insteada, keep it to use as firewood r those summer bonfires. The let over tree branches can also be used to ire indoors, on those cold snowy nights, instead of thoe duraflame fake wooden logs. So, I think it is best to go with a natural tree for obvious reasons!
ReplyDeleteI also support using real trees. It gives a true ,refreshing holiday feeling.
DeleteWhen the articles say that an artificial tree may be just as bad as a real tree I can completely understand why. Both have their benefits, for example, the artificial trees save from cutting trees down every year and the real trees provide oxygen and often homes for the 10 years they spend growing. However they also both have their cons. The Artificial trees are bound to end up in a landfill and the real trees are cut down and killed every year. For my family at least, I believe the artificial is better. We've had the same tree for about 5 years now, and we got it second hand from a friend who decided they want to go back to real trees. It works perfectly, is easy to set up and we don't spend hours driving around trying to find the perfect tree. (Before our artificial tree days, my family would often wait until pretty last minute to find a tree and by that time all the trees that met my picky parents standards of a "good tree" were taken. I remeber driving around to at least 3 different places to find out tree.) Having an artificial tree saves the gas polution, saves us from cutting trees down every year, and doesn't need pesticides or water. On the other hand, as the articles said, it really doen't make that much of a difference. So I feel that Artificial vs. Real is going to be one of those things that people can argue about for years, however there's no real, true, answer. It all depends on your life style and what your're willing to do to maxamize eco-friendliness for either choice.
ReplyDeleteWhen the real trees are cut down they are replanted. They are grown to be cut down so that new ones can be planted for the next season.
DeleteI can only remember using artificial trees for Christmas. Since it's just my mother and myself, we simply spend the time together building the tree and decorating it ourselves, it's fun mother-daughter time. Even though an artificial tree defiantly is not organic, it is reusable if you properly care for it. It also doesn't create a mess underneath the tree and you do not need to water it like a natural tree. I only see two down sides of having an artificial tree. One, its not to eco-friendly, but neither is cutting down a tree. Two, it doesn't have a lovely tree smell, that is so hard to define. I'm alright with either type of tree, whatever a person prefers. The artificial tree just seems much easier if you are in a time crunch most of the time.
ReplyDeleteCutting down a tree IS Eco-friendly. The trees are grown to be cut down. Its not like natural trees in the forest are being massively cut down.
DeleteHonestly I have has the same tree for 12 years. My entire childhood was filled with putting it up, taking it down, and then putting it away in a storage box for next year. Though sometimes I wish it was a real tree (Less assembly time) im very happy with our tree. The amount of memories resting on its branches make the christmas season come alive. As for the smell, my mom puts a Christmas febreze plug in behind the tree.... Were pretty creative. But it never occurred to me that fake trees could be a health risk! Cancer? Its christmas time! And I don't think anyone ever thinks about the side affects of your christmas tree. But I don't think real trees are that amazing either. Im all for the "Save the trees" Act, and i would hate to have to cut down a new tree every year, just to throw it out less than a month later. Threes are habitats for animals, that they lose every year. So beside the health risks, I think i will stay with my childhood tree.
ReplyDeleteEvery family has its own traditions. If you were raised on a fake tree, nobody is taking that away from you.
DeletePerhaps I'm tuned in to consistency, but I believe a fake Christmas tree would ultimately build up to be the best choice. My family has been using the same tree since before I was born. That's a long time! Now compare that to killing a tree year after year. It takes far longer than a year for each conifer to grow up to size. This means that there will never be enough trees if a generation is taken out each year, requiring at least a decade to replace them again. A fake tree, yes, it will have to be disposed of eventually. But the key is it lasts far longer than a real tree. The world is already in a lack of clean air for all of the pollution produced. Why don't we use fake trees and plant a ton of real ones simply to help clean up the environment? We're already in trouble and it makes no sense at all to worsen the problem. This would kill two birds with one stone by not only reducing the amount of trees cut down, but also, replenishing the number of trees cleansing the earth. That would be a far better use of our time than what we are currently doing that's destroying the earth. We need to start making better decisions before this planet is hopeless. It doesn't take much at all to make a huge difference. The reward will be astounding, I promise.
ReplyDeleteIs it really helping the environment by using a fake tree? Chopping down real trees is no effect on our environment. They are grown to cut down and replace in a continuous process.
DeleteFor most of my childhood, my family has spent Christmas time at my cabin in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Each year, our tree situation has stayed the same. Since we travel across the country at this time of year, it would be nearly impossible to have a real Christmas tree at either my cabin or at home. We wouldn't be able to provide the proper care for the tree at either of the two houses, so, for most of my life, I have had a fake Christmas tree. I think both of the two tree types are good options, depending on your situation. My mom would love to have a Christmas tree. It makes the house smell nice, it looks pretty, and more than that, the disposal of it is better for the environment. However, my mom also likes to put up lots of Christmas decorations... We usually have 3 trees up in our house around Christmas time, so fake is definitely a better option for us. Cutting down one Christmas tree won't do too much harm, but if each family cut down three or four it probably would take its toll on the environment. So, depending on how involved your family gets with Christmas, I really think it depends on the situation.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Your situation affects your choice of tree.
DeleteI believe that using a fake tree is a lot better than using a real one. First off, real trees give off gases that we need to survive and were already killing off way to many trees around the world each year. Also, if real trees make more of a mess. they leave pine needles all over the ground in house and you have to clean them up. and in the long run, fake trees are cheaper. you buy them and then you can use them as many times as you want. unlike a real tree. you pay for it and then you have to get rid of it once Christmas is over. overall i think the fake Christmas tree is better.
ReplyDeleteCutting down real trees is no problem. They are grown to be cut down in a continuous process.
DeleteI think it is just matters on your personal opinion. I personally like the fake trees because they are not messy, you don't really have to care for them and you can still manage to make it look just as pretty as a real tree! If you keep a fake tree for a year, throw it away and buy a real tree and throw it away after a year, the real tree is the better option, but we don't do that. We keep them for longer, therefore, I think that the fake trees are better.
ReplyDeleteWhen you "throw away" a real tree they are naturally disposed of mostly by burning them.
DeleteIt really does come down to a personal opinion. I definitely agree with you. But it does come down to the kind of tree you grew up with.
DeleteFor all my life I have had an artificial Christmas tree, but this year my family got a real tree this year. Intrigued I went to go investigate it, and compare it to the plastic tree I have always known. It wasn’t as green as the fake plastic bristles, and was not so friendly to the touch either. It smelled fairly nice, though that wasn’t enough to sway me from my opinion that I liked artificial trees better. This was a purely aesthetical opinion though. Through further research I have decided that I prefer artificial Christmas trees from an environmental standpoint as well. Both an artificial and real christmas tree “have the same carbon footprint” as each other (Berger and Mann). This is only if both trees are only used one year and then disposed of, but most people keep their artificial tree for decades while artificial trees only have one round in them. In the long run, by buying an artificial tree you are make less of a dent in both the environment and your pocket because it will leave a smaller carbon footprint, and you won’t have to spend more money each year for a new tree.
ReplyDeleteBut what about the massive amount of toxic chemicals found in fake trees? If they have the same carbon footprint, wouldn't you prefer the one more safe to you and your family?
DeleteEver since my first Christmas there’s always been a real tree in my living room. It had nothing to do with helping the environment, but because of my family’s Christmas spirit. This blog has made me realize though that buying a real Christmas Tree is another way to help the environment. Unlike fake trees, real trees are biodegradable. This means that they can be recycled instead of sitting in a landfill for thousands of years like a fake tree would. Also, fake Christmas Trees are mostly made of PVC. PVC is one of the most toxic plastics. It can be hazardous to your healthy, especially our organs. Who wants toxins in their house, I sure don't! A real Christmas Tree is the best way to ensure winter is the most wonderful time of the year!
ReplyDeleteVery true, i couldn't have said it better myself.
DeleteThis year was the first time my family ever got a real tree. But did we do harm buying the tree, or are people doing more harm buying a fake tree. When you buy a real tree, they are pre-planted. The farm or place has previously prepared and planted these christmas trees before. They aren't just cutting down random trees. Well, maybe some are, I just don't know. But, most trees for christmas are pre-planted, and even though your cutting down a tree, the tree was planted to be cut down, and they are planting even more trees for next year. So the trees being cut down are automatically being replaced. But when you buy a fake tree, even though it may be less of a handle and less of a mess, what does that fake tree consist of? I don't think they are made out of recycled materials, I think they are making more materials needed to be recycled. Overall, even though you might reuse fake trees, I don't think there is too much harm in buying a real tree, since they are going to be replaced again.
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely true that real trees are replanted for the use of being chopped down.
DeleteI have had both fake and real Christmas trees. I believe that fake trees are better for the environment and yourself. I feel this way because fake Christmas trees can be stored and used every year, decreasing the cutting of trees, and increasing your money. Even though there are Christmas tree farms that grow trees specifically for chopping, fake trees are better. Fake trees do not leave a mess nor do they need water. Cutting down trees still impact the oxygen and environment. Therefore, I think fake trees are better in both for a family and the environment.
ReplyDeleteFake trees are NOT better for our environment! They pile up in our landfills because they cannot compose. Real trees can be naturally disposed of.
DeleteIn my household we fluctuate between fake and real trees yearly. Fake trees offer us a cheaper and cleaner, alternative to using a real tree. Real trees provide us financial and maintenance benefits, but we are losing something. Picking out our tree on a crisp December morning is a bonding experience for those who pick out their own tree. By choosing a tree you can truly say " This is our tree". While fake trees help our checkbooks, they are not helping our hearts, and love of the holidays.
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays!
No way you sound alot like me!.
DeletePersonally I prefer to use a fake Christmas tree over a real one, but however, I kind of get to use both. At my house we use a fake Christmas tree because they are way simpler and easy to handle than a real one, plus you can bend the branches to make it easier to hang the ornaments. But every year my aunt and uncle take me and my sister (maybe my cousins) out to a tree farm to find a Christmas tree for their house. We have to cut it down, carry it to the entrance, buy it, get it shook, and then after Christmas you throw it away because it dies and that could get messy with all the dead pine needles on the floor. With a fake Christmas tree you can use the same one every year, I know we've had our since before I was born. So, in conclusion, I prefer a fake Christmas tree over a real one.
ReplyDeleteIt depends how you were brought up. The same goes for many aspects in life.
DeleteAfter growing up my entire life with a real tree I would never want to get a fake tree. The effect of a real tree brings the Christmas experience to the next level, getting a fake tree would only make a fake Christmas. However, if using a real tree during the holiday season impacted our environment, without a doubt I would switch over to the fake tree in order to save our plant. Yet, surprisingly, they don't make that much of a difference compared to the fake tree. Therefore, the holiday season should definitely be spent with a real tree, if there isn't any environmental concerns standing in your way. Even though every year you have to pay for a new tree that isn't going to last that long, you still should participate in the spending time of year, to give yourself a true Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteTh experience of getting a real tree is one of a kind. I'm glad somebody else understands this.
DeleteEvery year for Christmas my family has used the same fake tree. It's not a matter of "what's better for the environment", it's a matter of my family's opinion. With real Christmas trees there's always that chance of bringing unwanted pests in and by using a fake tree it saves money because we can just reuse it every year. To be honest to my family just hates the smell of evergreens, but that doesn't mean using real trees are bad. There are farms out there that plan out and grow Christmas trees just for people's homes, such as Richardson' farm in Illinois. They grow the trees planning on the fact that people will buy them, therefore they realize that they'll be cutting down a tree and later plant a tree to replace it. The down side of using a real tree though is that it can be a possible fire hazard inside the house. Overall there's up and down sides to using either a real or fake tree, but it all depends on what you're comfortable with.
ReplyDeleteAnd you are entitled to your own opinion. Is it so much of a fire hazard though? They are very flammable but the majority of Christmas tree fires in the U.S are intentional.
DeleteI personally think that fake trees are better for the enviorment because you can reuse them over and over and are not killing trees. Through out research i have found that a lot of the trees that get cut down are a resault of christmas. While i think i would rather have a real christmas tree, i think fake are better for the enviorment.
ReplyDeleteThe trees getting killed are not lost in vain. They are grown for the purpose of being cut down and sold.
DeleteMy family has always used the fake trees as we are normally very busy during Christmas Time, and have no reason to go to get a live tree from somewhere else. I think that chopping down real trees is not that big of a problem. If you buy from the Eco-Friendly tree farms, they normally plant 2-3 pines for every 1 they chop down, and this really helps the environment recover from Christmas. I myself have never seen the point of chopping down a live tree just for the tradition, and I think I'll also look up why the tradition of bringing a large coniferous tree into your house every year on the day that Jesus was supposedly born even relate to each other, respectively. But all in all, you're only going to really buy one fake tree in the long run, and it would be much more costly to buy a new tree every year. This is why I think that fake trees are better, and who cares about the pine smell, I would just burn incense near the tree.
ReplyDeleteYou have to go out and get a real tree with your family in order to understand what it means for the tradition of Christmas.
DeleteDue to my sever allergy to real Christmas trees, I have never been able to celebrate Christmas with a real tree without developing into a watery-eyed, sniveling mess. Regardless of my experience with real Christmas trees, I'm willing to testify that real Christmas trees look better than artificial trees. We can't just go around chopping down whole forests to find "The Perfect Tree:" though, we have to balance pollution from artificial and real trees. Artificial trees create pollution and can contain harmful chemical during their creation - a hazard to both humans and the environment. On the other hand, Real trees require hour of labor, gasoline, and tons of special equipment making them a costly purchase every year. Not to mention the hardships that come with disposing of and cleaning up after a real tree. Overall, I believe that an artificial tree is better in the long run, but splurging on a real tree once and a while isn't going to kill anyone, unless they manage to trudge through the snow for hours after combating a Chevy with a lift kit.
ReplyDelete(National Lampoon's Christmas vacation, anyone?)
This is my last comment of 92! I do understand the effects of allergies on many people. It is a shame to be allergic to something such as a tree, but it really is a tradition all by itself.
DeleteO Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree. According to the weather channel, real trees are better for the environment because they are biodegradable. Personally, I would have thought that a fake tree would be better for the environment because they can be used year after year. For example, our fake tree is 13 years old, that means we have killed 12 less trees than we would if we had real trees. I also learned that real trees are better for your health (not your sanity:)). Fake trees have all sorts of dangerous chemicals on them and the paint that is use to paint the trees green has lead in it, so if you accidently inhale or swallow the needles it can lead to serious illnesses. So, if you still like fake trees, even though real trees are better for the environment and your health, if you don't eat your tree you'll be just fine.
ReplyDeleteEvery year my family goes to the tree orchard to pick out a perfect Christmas tree for our house. I never thought about how cutting down a tree every year could be bad for our environment. Its bad for our environment in a way because using our car to go get a tree every year pollutes the air, also Christmas trees can be the cause of house fires which are very bad. On the other hand fake trees could also be bad for the environment. They are bad because when you do not want to use it anymore you throw it away, guess what, Fake trees are not biodegradable. Imagine all the fake Christmas being made in factories every year all that pollution to the air is not good for the environment. Comparing the pros and cons of a real Christmas tree to a fake christmas tree I believe the cons of getting a fake Christmas are worse than the cons of getting a real Christmas tree. Real Christmas trees are made by the Earth and are biodegradable, I believe they are healthier for the environment.
ReplyDeleteEverything has some good and bad, and deciding whether to get a fake or real christmas is no different. The thing is whether you decide to get a fake christmas tree or a real christmas you are both helping and hurting the environment, depending on how you do it. By buying a real christmas, you hurt the environment by driving there to get it and depending on how long the drive is, shouldn’t be that harmful. While with fake christmas trees, the harmful gases that the factory gives off also hurts the environment. By buying a fake christmas tree and keep it for at least a decade you are helping the environment greatly, however. Either way you can happily celebrate your Christmas traditions in the way that fits your family without having to worry about hurting the environment.
ReplyDeleteEver since I can remember my dad has either taken me or my sister to go cut down a christmas tree. Sometimes we could spend hours looking for the right one. I think it kind of helps and harms the environment, since you are cutting down trees but also supporting someones business. I have always loved having a real christmas tree just by the smell and look of it. Some could say a fake tree looks nicer because it is already perfectly made and never loses needles and you don't have to water it. Although for me going and getting the christmas tree from the farm is almost a neccesity to kick off the christmas season
ReplyDeleteThe debate of real vs. fake Christmas trees can be argued from both sides. When thinking about it, the pros and cons of each have to be taken into account. As far as pollution goes, we all know that the real tree would seemingly be the better choice. After all, fake trees can have lead, and their factories have been known to emit cancer- causing carcinogens. None of that can be good. These fake trees are not biodegradable, but on the plus side, people can reuse them year after year. At my house, we have a fake tree and have had the same one for as long as I remember. Every year at Christmastime, we take it out of its box and put on some ornaments, and once Christmas has passed, it is a breeze to just take it back down- no hassle. There are benefits to a real tree too though. Having all of those trees planted is good for the environment, and most of the trees that are "chopped down" in preparation for the holidays were grown for that purpose, so it's not as if we are taking part in the deforestation of our planet. Best case scenario, after Christmas is done, simply take the tree right back outside and replant it. Real trees are not all good though. They are sprayed with harmful pesticides that no one would want in their home. On top of that, they are messy! Pine needles everywhere! (the smell is nice though) Overall, I think that there are good and bad things about each type of tree, and it just depends on what you prefer. Personally, I like the convenience of a fake tree, even if it isn't as beneficial to our environment as I would like it to be. In this case, personal preference is key to what type of tree your presents will be sitting under on Christmas day.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion I prefer a fake tree whether than a real one. Even though the weather channel says that a real tree is better for the environment because it is biodegradable. I thought fake ones would be better for the environment because you can use them year after year. Also, I would think that keeping a real tree alive would be a lot harder. I had a Christmas tree for over ten years until it died on us. You can only use the real tree for one Christmas when you can use the fake one for a long time. Also by going out every year and getting a real tree is adding pollution to the air. Whereas if you have a fake tree you only have to go out like every ten years to buy a new tree.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, I believe plastic trees are actually better for the environment. Yes you would be buying plastic which does cause the environment harm but you would be able to use them again and again. While every year people chop down thousands of christmas trees just to throw them out in a week or two. I personally like the way a real tree looks and smells in a house but I do think that having a fake one in your home would be way better for the environment than a real one. Not only does a real tree create a huge mess in the house but when you get rid of it huge trucks take it away and they create a lot of exhaust that gets released into the air. Why go through all that trouble when you can just buy a fake one for around $100? I believe fake trees are better than real ones.
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