[RedStateGreen]

We've bought potted trees at Christmas and planted them after the holidays for many years. Our old house has six or seven that made it, including one that's about twenty feet tall now.

[Pops]

In Nirvana perhaps, but trees grown to be harvested are no different than anything else you have partaken of today.

Well, except the things harvested that were not intended for your use.

[eastbay]

Anagami you certainly are right about that.

Nearby we have farms devoted to Christmas trees all of which will be cut down and eventually shredded.

What a waste of farmland. This is one recent custom that can just go away.

[IslandCrow]

We plan to use one that is growing in the wrong place (ie it is a small tree growing in the shade of a big tree that we want to keep). In other years, unless I can find some other trees in an unwanted space, I might take to building a nativity scene as the centre point. Maybe I will start this year to work on the Bethleham Tax Office (I seem to recall that the story had something to do with paying tax to the occupying force) - as the idea of taxes seems to be very topical now.

[vtsnowedin]

Christmas trees are a crop. They take from seven to ten years to reach harvestable size and they grow best in swampy northern forrest ground ill suited to any other crop. They are sustainable and collect CO2 from the air while growing. And the customer enjoys the product and when finished with it can chip it and use it for mulch or compost. Much better than a tree made from plastic made from oil.

[mos6507]

If we want to maximize soil use for food then there is a huge laundry list of stuff we should ban, not just christmas trees.

[frankthetank]

Golf courses anyone?

Christmas trees can be made into mulch...

[bodigami]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pops', 'I')n Nirvana perhaps, but trees grown to be harvested are no different than anything else you have partaken of today.

Well, except the things harvested that were not intended for your use.

[bodigami]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vtsnowedin', '8')) Christmas trees are a crop. They take from seven to ten years to reach harvestable size and they grow best in swampy northern forrest ground ill suited to any other crop. They are sustainable and collect CO2 from the air while growing. And the customer enjoys the product and when finished with it can chip it and use it for mulch or compost. Much better than a tree made from plastic made from oil.

[bodigami]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mos6507', 'I')f we want to maximize soil use for food then there is a huge laundry list of stuff we should ban, not just christmas trees.

[Ludi]

Living trees used to be decorated (in Spring) by people who venerated them.

Cutting down a living tree was probably a sacrificial gesture, the symbolic killing of the god (harvest), who would then be reborn (seeding).

It's my personal belief (not sure if it is born out by anthropology) that killing things in order for them to be reborn is a gesture of agricultural (grain-based) societies, not hunter-gatherers or horticulturists. So possibly linked to some other not particularly sustainable practices.

[Pops]

Here is some part of what Susan is doing:



I think some of the aprons, coats and stuff she has been working on are already packed. These are just stocking stuffers....

I'll show you what I'm making for this Christmas around next Easter.

Show us what you are making.

[Ludi]

I'm going to make a lot of cozy hats.

[dinopello]

I grew up with a Bubble Light tree. History of Bubble Lights



Then we switched to a cut tree. Since I've been on my own I don't think I ever had a cut tree. I have this fibre optic tree thing that makes trippy light patterns. I do like the pine smell though so I get the clippings from trees and make them into something to put around the house around christmas and make sure to mull some wine etc.

[JustaGirl]

7 layer cookies.

[Zel]

I'm making crocheted dishcloths and towel toppers for the cute snowman towels I found (on sale even). I'm also making cinnamon bread bears a few days before Christmas.

*sorry, no pictures. I'm technology impaired.

[bodigami]

What about the tree in Rockefeller Center, Madison Square, New York (or w-e). That is a HUGE tree and it is CUTTED!

This type of traditions is what makes me conclude that humanity is still insane as a whole.

[Pops]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('bodinagamin', '.')..It takes resources away from food production.