12 Days of GREEN! Choosing a Christmas Tree

Balsam Fir

Many people choose to have a Christmas tree this month and opinions about what type of tree is best are as varied as anyone can imagine.  Many people argue over whether or not a fake tree is better than a real one...and is more sustainable because you can reuse it every year.  Well, think about where the tree comes from and how it is manufactured and that will give you insight on which is better.  The fact is that most real trees sold as Christmas trees are FARMED, just like many other crops and food sources and are planted every year.  That fake tree is most likely made of plastic using petroleum, harmful chemicals and excessive energy to produce (most likely in China) and the fake tree often releases harmful toxins into your home even years after you open the box!
Here is an interesting statement from the National Christmas Tree Association:

MYTH #4: It's better to use a fake tree because you can re-use it each year.
BUSTED: That’s a very short-sighted perspective. According to research, most fake trees are only used 6 to 9 years before they’re disposed. Even if you would use one for 20 years or more, it will eventually be thrown away and end up in a landfill. And unlike Real Trees, which are biodegradable and recyclable, fake trees are always a burden to the environment.
 
For more myths and answers about Christmas trees, go to: http://www.christmastree.org/myths.cfm

Another commonly held belief is that a live, potted tree is better... well, it's a nice thought but more often than not, these trees, even when planted promptly after the holidays, do not live because they have either been exposed to drastic temperature and humidity changes or were not properly cared for.  So is it worth it to buy a potted tree instead of cutting one down?  If you keep it outside and partially bury the pot - possibly but then you miss out on having that Christmas Tree scent in your home!
More Christmas Tree Facts from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service:

• Real Trees are a renewable, recyclable resource. Artificial trees contain non-biodegradable plastics and possible metal toxins such as lead.
• There are more than 4,000 local Christmas Tree recycling programs throughout the United States.
• For every Real Christmas Tree harvested, 1 to 3 seedlings are planted the following spring. 
• There are close to 15,000 farms growing Christmas Trees in the U.S., and over 100,000 people are employed full or part-time in the industry.

So the more GREEN option seems to be purchasing a cut tree from your local tree farm or in my case, the street corner or plant store.  But now your decision is "Which type of tree do we buy?"
The following evergreen tree species or types are sold and grown in the United States for Christmas Trees and are thought of as the best for different characteristics.

Fir Trees: Common name (Botanical name)

Balsam Fir – (Abies balsamea) – Native to the northeastern United States, the Balsam Fir is named for the balsam or resin found in blisters on bark.  The needles are flat, ¾” to 1 ½” long rounded at the tip and generally last long on the branches.  The color is dark green with silvery cast.  Balsam Firs have good form and are fragrant.  Factoid: Balsam fir oil is an EPA approved nontoxic rodent repellent.

Fraser Fir

Fraser Fir – (Abies fraseri) – The combination of form, needle retention, dark blue-green color, pleasant scent and strong branches has led to Fraser fir being a most popular Christmas tree species. Fraser Fir has dark green, flattened needles with a medial groove on the upper side and two broad silvery-white bands on the lower surface and are ½ to 1 inch long. When crushed, the needles have a very pleasant woodsy scent. Factoid:  Named for the Scotish botanist, John Fraser, who explored the southern Appalachians in the late 1700’s.

Needles of White Fir

White Fir or Concolor Fir – (Abies concolor) – Commonly found in the western/northwestern US, the White Fir has  blue-green needles are ½ to ½ inches long.  They have a    nice shape, good citrus-like aroma and good needle retention. White Fir is named for its light-colored bark and the silvery or "glaucous"  color of its needles. Factoid:  In nature the White Fir can live to 350 years.

Douglas Fir branches

Douglas Fir – (Pseudotsuga menziesii) – Although not actually a fir, the Douglas Fir is one of the most popular trees for Christmas Trees. They are softer with  1” to 1 ½” flat needles and have one of the best aromas among Christmas trees when crushed. Douglas fir has a good conical shape (and often are sheared on the farm to maintain the "perfect" shape).  Named after David Douglas who studied the tree in the 1800’s;  can live for a thousand years. It is also the state tree of Oregon.

Pine Trees - Common name (Botanical name):

White Pine

White Pine – (Pinus strobus) – soft, blue-green needles, 2 to 5 inches long in bundles of five; retains needles throughout the holiday season; very full appearance; little or no fragrance; less allergic reactions as compared to more fragrant trees. Largest pine in Eastern United States; state tree of Michigan & Maine; slender branches will support fewer and smaller decorations as compared to Scotch pine. It’s wood is used in cabinets, interior finish and carving. Native Americans used the inner bark as food. Early colonists used the inner bark to make cough medicine.  Good choice for families prone to allergies or sensitivities to fragrances. Caveat: Branching can be too dense for large ornaments. Needles can be too slippery and soft for heavy ornaments but it's soft appearance takes on an elegant appearance simply with just white lights.

Scotch Pine branches

Scotch Pine – (Pinus sylvestris) – Another common Christmas tree, the Scotch Pine is native to Europe and Asia and is predominant in Scotland. It is readily identified by its combination of fairly short, blue-green leaves and orange-red bark.  It has stiff branches, stiff, dark green needles in pairs one inch long and holds needles for four weeks - needles will stay on even when dry which makes it very popular for indoor Christmas trees. It has open appearance and more room for ornaments and also keeps aroma throughout the season. The Scotch Pine was introduced into United States by European settlers. Factoid: Pinus sylvestris is the only pine native to northern England and is the National Tree of Scotland.

Spruce Trees - Common name (Botanical name):

White Spruce branches

White (or Canadian) Spruce – (Picea glauca) – Leaves (needles) are needle-shaped, and are often somewhat crowded on the upper half of the branchlets. Needles are usually 1/2 to 3/4 inch long, blunt at the tip and green to bluish-green in color.  Crushed needles have an unpleasant odor but have good needle retention. As a Christmas tree, white spruce has excellent foliage color, short stiff needles and a good natural shape. Needle retention is better than some of other spruce species.  Factoid: State tree of South Dakota.  

Blue Spruce branches

Blue Spruce – (Picea pungens) – Color is dark green to powdery blue with very stiff needles, ¾” to 1 ½” long. The needles are 4-sided and have a very sharp point on the end. It is this point which gives the species its name "pungens", from the Latin word for sharp as in puncture wound. Needles are generally dull bluish-gray to silvery blue and emit a resinous odor when crushed; good form; will drop needles in a warm room; symmetrical; but is best among species for needle retention; branches are stiff and will support many heavy decorations. Factoid: State tree of Utah & Colorado. Can live in nature 600-800 years.

12 Days of GREEN! Day 12: Reuse Holiday Cards

Day 12: Reuse the Holiday Cards!

Instead of throwing away all the paper holiday cards you received this year, reuse them to make gift tags for next year's gifts!  Cut the card cover or any portion of the decorative graphics into the shape of a gift tag (any size, shape is good) - punch a hole in one end and thread some used ribbon or string through the hole.  Check out this site for more instructions and slide show: (Thanks, Inhabitots!)
http://www.inhabitots.com/how-to-recycle-holiday-cards-into-next-years-gift-tags/

Here is another idea for reusing holiday cards and ribbon to make decorations for next year (Thanks Craftstylish.com!):
http://www.craftstylish.com/item/28902/how-to-recycle-old-holiday-cards-into-garland

And if you just want to get rid of your cards here's another idea: Donate them to St. Jude's Card Recycling Program:
http://www.stjudesranch.org/help_card.php

You send your greeting cards (for any holiday) to St. Jude's and they turn the covers into new cards available for purchase!  Just make sure there is no writing on the cover (they can only use the cover) and they cannot use cards made by Hallmark, Disney or American Greeting cards.  5" x 7" size or smaller is preferred.

You can mail your donations to: St. Jude's Ranch for Children
Recycled Card Program
100 St. Jude's Street
Boulder City, NV 89005

(Thanks, Green Kids! http://www.greenkidsusa.com/?p=618)

Got any other ideas?  List them in the comments section below.
Thanks and hope you enjoyed the 12 Days of GREEN!!

12 Days of GREEN! Day 11: Green your Table - part 2!

Day 11: Green what you put on the table!

'Tis the season for cookies, treats, casseroles and roast beast!  It's inevitable and just an integral part of great family meals and holiday parties. Try to green what you put on the table AND what you eat by balancing all the great holiday foods with some great seasonal veggies.  Maybe using a veggie or two that you don't normally serve will make it more festive.  I personally love sauteed brussel sprouts!  I hated them as a kid, but then again they were always boiled, soggy and bland!  I went to a Mario Batali restaurant several years ago and had the most amazing sauteed brussel sprouts with shaved pecorino cheese that completely changed my attitude toward the the little mini cabbages!  I recreated the dish and often serve it as a side when the sprouts are in season or on sale and also for my family during the holidays.  Everyone loves them!  Here's what I do:
Get fresh brussel sprouts - firm and clean looking and slice them 1 or 2 times to form thick slices.
Sautee them in a hot pan or wok with a tablespoon of butter or 2 Tbspns of olive oil and 1 large clove of garlic, minced.  Saute over high heat about 5 mins or so, making sure to brown the brussel sprouts (those who watch Food Network as often as I, til they are caramelized) to bring out the good nutty flavor.  Add salt and pepper to your taste.  When done, sprinkle in about 1/4 cup minced or grated pecorino cheese (more or less depending on your taste but remember that these cheeses are more salty so don't add too much salt).  You can also substitute parmesano-romano or assiago cheese.  Toss in and serve.  To add a festive touch, you can also add toasted pine nuts (my fav!) or toasted hazelnuts - this really brings out the nuttiness of the brussel sprouts!

If you have a great veggie recipe that you like to serve around the holidays, please leave a comment below to share!

Thanks and HAPPY GREEN HOLIDAYS!!!

12 Days of GREEN! Day 10: Green your Table!

Day 10: Green Your Holiday Table - Part 1

As many of us celebrate the Holidays with family and friends, there are sure to be parties and gatherings with lots of food and treats.  One way we can reduce waste is to eliminate the need for paper and plastic products that get used once and thrown away.  Set out reusable plates, cups and utensils or purchase recycled products that can be recycled again or are biodegradable.  If you don't have enough of your own dishes to use and need to buy disposable ones, Preserve makes a great line of products made from recycled materials.  They have very sturdy plates and utensils and fantastic cups that you can wash and reuse. And they also come in great bright colors to make your table look festive! You can find them at your local Whole Foods (or if your party is next week, you can order them here).  Please reuse whenever possible!

        

Enjoy your Holidays!!

12 Days of GREEN! Day 9: Clean Green!

Day 9: Clean Green for the Holidays!


Give your home and family the gift of green  by using Eco-Friendly cleaners and natural alternatives.
Using cleaning products that do not contain harmful chemicals (Chlorine, ammonia, hydrochloric acid) will leave your home free of dangerous fumes and surfaces free of chemicals that will no doubt end up on hands and in mouths.  Also - using cleaning products that are not made with petroleum products will help our environment by reducing our dependence on petroleum.  Here are a couple of the most dangerous products that you should not use (especially if you have children):

CHLORINE: Enemy #1 is Chlorine and Chlorine Bleach.  For many years bleach cleaners have been very popular because of their whitening and bacteria-killing abilities and because it is cheap. Chlorine is a leading cause of breast cancer and can be lethal. Scientists won't handle chlorine without protective gloves, face masks, and ventilation, yet it is found in many store-brand cleaners. The harmful effects are intensified when the fumes are heated, as in the shower and if you don't have strong air circulation - ever clean your bathroom with shower cleaner that contains bleach then felt light-headed?  Never mix bleach with acid toilet bowl cleaners or ammonia. These mixtures may produce fumes which can be DEADLY.
DISHWASHER DETERGENTS: Most products contain chlorine in a dry form that is highly concentrated. The #1 cause of household poisoning is dish detergent. Look out for dishwashing liquids are labeled "harmful if swallowed." Each time you wash your dishes, some residue is left on them, which accumulates with each washing. Your food picks up part of the residue -- especially if your meal is hot when you eat it.

AMMONIA: is a very volatile chemical and is very damaging to your eyes, respiratory tract and skin.
OVEN CLEANER: one of the most toxic products people use. They contain lye and ammonia, which eat the skin, and the fumes linger and affect the respiratory system. Then there ís the residue that's intensified the next time you turn your oven on. Use sea salt and baking soda instead - sprinkle these on the oven surfaces when it is still hot - then wipe away when it is cold.


SAFER - NATURAL ALTERNATIVES:
Baking soda should be your best friend!  It can be used to whiten tiles and counter tops, used to scrub because of it's gritty-ness, and it absorbs odors too!  It helps to release hard, stuck-on greasy messes on pots and pans too - sprinkle some on the pan while it is still warm, let sit a while, then scrub away.

Check out this website filled with many ways to use baking soda and vinegar: http://www.thenewhomemaker.com/bakingsoda

Many store bought brands are safer and made without harmful chemicals like Seventh Generation, Method, Mrs. Meyers and many more.  Here are some you can purchase here:




Don't forget to join in on the Green Holiday Blog Hop:



Happy Green Holidays!!!