DATE: 1/8/2008 4:58:00 PM
“Oh, Christmas Tree, Oh, Christmas Tree….”
It is always a sad moment when the tree comes down. You put away all the beautiful ornaments, clean up all the errant pine needles and drag the tree outside, leaving a trail of needles behind you.
Suddenly there is a big empty space in your home where the tree stood. The aroma of pine barely lingers on and somehow the house seems quieter, missing some integral part. Thoughts of next year assuage the melancholy and maybe a little bit of planning of getting new lights or more ornaments help, too.
A soft voice whispers guilt for cutting the life of that beautiful tree so short. But it had a noble cause, bringing joy and goodwill of the season if but a short time.
It doesn’t have to end there. Many towns have recycling programs that take all those trees and make rich mulch from them. Returning from whence it came, making the soil rich and fecund for the next year, continuing the goodness with which it had been endowed.
Find the nearest program to your home: CLICK HERE. or call 1-800-CLEANUP

Christmas Tree Facts:

• There are approximately 30-35 million Real Christmas Trees sold in the U.S. every year.
• An estimated 175,000 Real Christmas Trees are sold via e-commerce or catalogue and shipped mail-order.
• North American Real Christmas Trees are grown in
  all 50 states and Canada. Eighty-five percent (85%) of artificial trees
  sold in the U.S. are manufactured in China.
• Real Trees are a renewable, recyclable
  resource. Artificial trees contain non-biodegradable plastics and
  possible metal toxins such as lead..
• For every Real Christmas Tree harvested, up to 3 seedlings are planted in its place the following spring.
• There are about 500,000 acres in production for
  growing Christmas Trees in the U.S. Each acre provides the daily oxygen
  requirements of 18 people.
• There are about 21,000 Christmas Tree growers in the U.S., and over 100,000 people employed full or part-time in the industry.
• It can take as many as 15 years to grow a tree
  of average retail sale height (6 - 7 feet) or as little as 4 years, but
  the average growing time is 7 years.
• The top Christmas Tree producing states are Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Washington.
• The top selling Christmas Trees are: balsam fir, Douglas-fir, Fraser fir, noble fir, Scotch pine, Virginia pine and white pine. USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service,
  National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) and your local Christmas
  Tree professional.

Which is Better? Real Tree vs. Artificial Tree: