The Great Debate: Real Christmas Trees Vindicated

Jule Koch Brison | Dec 15, 2011

For a long time one of the most nostalgic traditions of Christmas, celebrated in paintings, Christmas cards and stories, was the idea of heading out to the woods with the children to find and bring home a beautiful Christmas tree. With much joy and fanfare the tree would be set up and decorated, and the home would be filled with the fragrance of the forest.

But for many years now, the custom of using real Christmas trees seemed to be headed for the dustbin of history for several reasons, including the seeming wastefulness of cutting down a tree to adorn a house for a few weeks; fire safety concerns; the work of cleaning up after a live tree; and the increasing sophistication and appeal of an astonishing variety of artificial trees.

While many of those reasons will stay in place, the tide has definitely turned for at least one of them, the first one.

Just this week the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources sent out a press release about the question of using real vs. artificial trees, saying the ministry “has the answer, and it just may surprise you…”

The press release goes on to say that natural Christmas trees have a smaller ecological footprint than artificial trees do.

“In the most definitive study of the perennial real vs. fake question, an environmental consulting firm in Montreal found that an artificial tree would have to be reused for more than 20 years to be greener than buying a fresh-cut tree annually. The calculations included greenhouse gas emissions, use of resources and human health impacts.

Many people feel guilty because they are sacrificing a living tree during the holidays. They think they are helping to protect the environment.... but it’s actually greener to get a natural tree than an artificial one.

Christmas trees are generally grown as crops on farms, so cutting one is …more like harvesting Halloween pumpkins. Not only does buying a natural tree help support Christmas tree growers in northern and rural Ontario, but going out to a Christmas tree farm to cut a tree is a wonderful experience for the whole family; one that they will remember fondly for the rest of their lives!”

The Ontario Forestry Association, Master Gardeners, and many naturalists have been saying similar things for years, pointing out as well that real trees can be processed into mulch or used to provide shelter for birds and animals after the Christmas season.

But now that the MNR has also weighed in on the subject - there you have it. We can start swinging those axes with clear consciences.

Locally, there are three tree farms in our area: Crooked Hills Farm, 1560 Over the Hills Rd., Clarendon, 613-279-3214; Skootamatta Tree Farm, 2800 Old Flinton Road, 613-336-8774; and Alton’s Tree Farm, 3254 Harrowsmith Rd., Sydenham, 613-376-3717. As well, real trees are available at many retailers.