Archive | Dec, 2011

Christmas Tree Farm Video

Trees on farms would not be planted if families were not buying real Christmas trees.

Check out this video recently shot on location at Severt’s Christmas Tree Farm.

Artificial Vs. Real

Ann Marie Ballou

Mrs. Rivers English 3

22 November 2011

Just a few decades ago, there was only one option for what type of tree you would display for the holidays. That was a real Fraser Fir or Pine tree.  This all changed when the artificial tree was created (Brown). While there are pros and cons of both types of trees, people should be buying real Christmas trees instead of artificial. This is because of the damage artificial trees have on Christmas tree growers.

            A lot of people believe that artificial trees are the better choice for Christmas because they are less expensive than real trees. They also think they are the better choice because they are more convenient. Artificial trees do not leave pine needles all over the floor, they do not need watering, and transportation from a tree farm or tree lot to the home is not necessary. People also believe that artificial trees have a better environmental impact (Brown). But what they do not know is that artificial trees are more harmful to the environment than real trees. Artificial trees are manufactured with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), metal, and lead. They are also non-recyclable and non-biodegradable (Brown). Artificial trees are dumped into landfills and contaminate the air we breathe (Taylor). This information should make people reconsider their belief in which tree is more eco-friendly.

            While artificial trees are harmful to the environment, real Christmas trees are not. Each acre of trees planted produces enough oxygen for the daily needs of eighteen people. 93% of thirty-three million trees are recycled each year. Every tree is “tree-cycled”, or returned to a renewable and natural source back to the environment instead of being disposed in a landfill. Christmas trees are recycled into mulch for landscaping and gardening, or chipped and used for playground material, hiking trails, paths, and walkways.

            Fifty years ago there was nothing known as state associations, but today they are in just about every state. State and regional Christmas tree associations have to band together and fight the selling of artificial trees (Wright). There are many Christmas tree growers in Ashe County, North Carolina who could not imagine their lives without trees, but if we do not put an end to artificial trees, this event could potentially happen. All of the tree growers would have no businesses to run, a lot of people would be out of jobs, and it would be a disaster. Christmas trees create more than 100,000 American jobs (Taylor). Growers do all they possibly can to produce the best trees in the business and deliver them fresh and on time to the consumers. They work all year long maintaining the Christmas trees people buy at lots or in shopping stores. First they have to prepare the land that they are going to use to plant the seeds. Then they have to plant in mid-February, which is not an easy job. Before planting the seeds, tree growers have to pull and destroy weeds and anything else that will harm trees. After the trees have grown some, they need to be sprayed with pesticides. Christmas tree workers have to shape and shear the trees constantly to maintain their look. When the Christmas trees have reached a certain age and size, they are cut down, sent to the warehouse, drilled, and shipped off to Christmas tree lots. Growing one Christmas tree takes 6-12 years (Artificial Trees). Has all the effort and time Christmas tree growers have put into this process gone to waste?

            Christmas trees spread rapidly throughout the world. Today some form of Christmas tree is part of every Christmas celebration (Myers). But what kind of tree is part of your Christmas celebrations; and eco-friendly Fraser Fir or a harmful artificial tree?

Resources:

Artificial Trees, “The Process of Growing a Real Christmas Tree.” Accessed November 21, 2011. http://www.artificialtrees.com/Process-Growing-Real-Christmas-Tree.htm.

Brown, Lori. Earth 911, “Real vs. Artificial Christmas Trees.” Last Modified November 29, 2010. Accessed November 16, 2011. http://earth911.com/news/2010/11/29/real-vs-artificial-christmas-trees/.

Myers, Robert J, Ed. The World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago: World Book, Inc, 2003. S.V.Christmas Celebration

Taylor, Sherrie. Severt’s Tree Farm, “Real vs. Fake”, Last Modified N.D. Accessed November 16, 2011. http://www.severtstreefarm.com/christmas-trees/real-vs-fake-debate-is-over.

Wright, Chuck “As I See It” Vol.38 (2011) Page. 32

You better watch out… Santa Claus is watching you

 Someone is trying to be sneaky and take the ornament he took off the tree to his hiding place where he hides all the pens !  Nothing like a REAL TREE