by Jen
Yes, where will you get your Christmas tree?
December 14, 2008 in Ballard by Jen
I know it’s a little late in the month to be writing about this, and believe me, I wish I would have looked into what I had been thinking about much earlier.
The main reason we don’t have a Christmas tree in our home is because we don’t agree with killing a tree for the purpose of a holiday, or supporting it. We as well don’t feel comfortable buying unrecyclable synthetic-made trees. For those who have them, great; it’s just not personally for us.
However, it would be nice to have a Christmas tree. The only way we imagined this happening though, would be to find a place where we could rent a live tree and return it after the holiday. Even though we live in this wonderful, environmentally-friendly Seattle bubble, we still thought that this would only be possible by traveling a long ways to some charming, idealic nursery far, far away from the city.
Not the case!!!
I recently learned that Ballard’s own Swanson Nursery, located at 9701 15th Ave NW, offers live trees. They even offer exotic live trees (shown above). And since 1999, They have partnered up with Carkeek’s salmon restoration project in an effort called Trees for Salmon, to help restore Piper’s Creek salmon habitat.
Even though I am sure these live trees can get pretty pricey (one was quoted at $125), this sounds like a great program! We probably won’t be able to do it this year, as we are leaving town for most of the month, but next year it will be on the list, and I hope that anyone else interested will keep it in mind.
To check out all the different varieties of live trees offered look on their website, www.swansonsnursery.com, they’re all unique and beautiful.
And even if you don’t donate your live tree to the salmon restoration project, what would be a better holiday keepsake than a potted tree on your patio or as a part of your landscaping? The prices may be steep, but this is a gift that actually does last a lifetime. And the best thing about it, is knowing you are making that much more of a difference. Yet another reason why I love Seattle!
That is great information. Its too late for me this time, but next year I’m definately going to check it out.
Jen I agree that this looks like a great project but you are wrong in thinking that we are ‘killing a tree for the purpose of a holiday.’ Christmas trees are planted by Christmas tree farmers with the intent of farming and selling them as Christmas trees. To say you do not wish to purchase a tree and kill it for Christmas is like saying I don’t wish to make a salad because I would be killing the lettuce. All across the United States there are tree recycling programs designed to recycle Christmas trees, recycled trees can be used for for many things:
* Chipping (chippings are used for various things from mulch to hiking trails)
* Beachfront erosion prevention
* Lake and river shoreline stabilization
* Fish habitat
* River delta sedimentation management
You can find out more about what to do with your old tree at
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/homegarden/2002712417_treerecycle31.html
Hey Jen. I agree with the no christmas tree ideal. I don’t care if it’s from a christmas tree `farm’…it’s still killing a tree, and that’s a bit twisted to me.
Regardless, I wanted to let you know that I also wanted to get a live tree…but then found out that the trees cannot withstand the climates of our homes, and that even if they are re-planted, they invariably die. So, it was a nice idea…but just doesn’t work.
Oh well. If these christmas tree farms are to be anything but sad killing fields, I think it would be great for each family to adopt one of the trees and maybe have a decoration ceremony LEAVING THE TREE AT THE FARM, and that’s that. For those who don’t believe trees feel pain, or are okay with it regardless, cut some of the arms off and make a makeshift little tree-thing at your home to honor your new `adoptee’. Yay for the environment, yay for cleaner air, yay for the tree that’s still alive. Win-win for all, no?
Yes, I’m idealistic and extreme, but I still think it’s a beautiful idea.
Hari