Hey kids,
It’s that time of year when this little Daisy starts thinking about trees. Now that it’s officially December I am allowing myself to start the Yuletide preparations, having steadfastly shunned anything remotely Christmas-y up ’till now because I simply can’t stand how Christmas seems to start earlier and earlier every year. I’m not going to get into that because I might get a-rantin’, but instead I thought I would ask you, my lovely readers, for your input.
You see, I can’t decide on what to do about our Christmas tree this year. I have several options, and I thought it would be fun to open it up to the big wide world and see what y’all think.
Option 1: Buy An Artificial Tree. Part of me feels that getting a real tree every year is wasteful. The year that Mr. S and I were married, we were living in a cheap apartment in The City and we had next to no money and no Christmas tree. I went on a mission to find the least expensive artificial tree on the planet (no real trees allowed in the building), and ended up coming home with a $20 Wal-Mart special that would have made Charlie Brown proud. It was small, it was scraggly, it was made of some weird material that smelled funny when the lights warmed it up, but we loved it because it was ours. As the years went on that little tree got put into storage, and our first Christmas here at the farm I pulled it out to put it up only to find that not one but two mice had met their maker in the box. From what I could tell, they died from some sort of explosive device because bits of them were literally coating our poor little tree, and so it sadly went out the door. I could buy another artificial tree and save money not buying a real one every year, but then I run the risk of exploding mice again.
Option 2: Buy A Real Tree for Charity. There are many organizations that sell trees to raise money, and in our area it’s the Lions. Mr. S and I started doing this when we were still living in The City (after we started renting a tiny house) when we found a group selling trees to raise money for our local (at the time) hospital foundation. We both agree that if we are going to buy a tree every year the money should be going to a cause, and we really like having a real tree. We are really happy to support the Lions in particular, they do so much good in the community, most of it behind the scenes. The only drawback is that we found out last year they get the trees from a farm many hours away.
Option 3: Buy A Real Tree From the Local Farm. We have a cut-your-own farm close by, and I think the Lions must be putting the squeeze on their business because I’m seeing a lot more advertising this year. And while I like the idea of my money going to a good cause, I also like the idea of supporting a small local farmer trying to make a living growing something right here where I live.
Option 4: Buy A Potted Tree and Plant It. I heard through the grapevine of a place selling cute little potted trees that can be planted out after the holidays. I really like this idea, and the thought of having a line of trees-from-Christmases-past here on the farm makes me smile. But the place is about an hour away, and I have no real reason to drive out there other than buying the tree. And I’m told they are so small you have to put them on a table or something, and I can’t imagine them being cheap.
So, there are my options. Let me know what you think with the (drumroll, please) first ever Stone House Road Fancy-dancy Christmas Tree Poll!!
Or buy an indoor potted tree like a Norfolk Pine (I think), decorate it for Christmas this year and for many after, plus enjoy it the rest of the time, too…
That a great idea, jj! Mr. S has some definate opinions about this stuff however, so it may take some convincing. 🙂
Looks like most people think you should get the potted tree. 🙂
Since it’s the 21st, you’ve probably already got your tree, so I’ll go check other posts and see what you did.
Hey CD,
Well, long story short, we ended up buying the tree from the Lions. We tried to go cut our own, but they were charging $85. Yeah, don’t think so! I think the potted tree is a great idea and will for sure keep it in mind for next year (and not leave it till the last minute like I, um, did this year). I meant to do a post about it, and about 12 other things too, but I have literally been running for what feels like forever. Only a few more days to go, then peaceful Christmas with the family. 🙂
Is that what they’re charging these days? HOLY CRAP!! Even though I love the smell of a live conifer, I get a really nasty rash from decorating one and I HATE the constant cleaning up, watering, fire hazard… Never mind the cost involved!
Much as I’m a back-to-the-lander, we bought an artificial tree our second year together (stepped on too many needles standing straight up in the carpet after having a real tree the first year): and we’ve never looked back. We dropped a bucket of money on a really beautiful tree from White Rose Nursery (remember them?): I’ve never seen one to this day that looks as realistic and it paid for itself years ago.
Perhaps you could start to plant your own pine/spruce/personal favourite evergreen seedlings and grow your own? The province did have a pretty good “tax thing” going for tree farmers…
Good luck with your choice, whichever way you decide to go. Hope you had a very Merry Christmas. Wishing you a Happy New Year too!!
Hi Deb, I don’t know if that’s standard, but that’s what they were charging here. The one we got from the Lions was $40 and huge, and it is just starting to lose needles now. I think for next year I am going to go the potted route, but will watch during the summer and pick one up then and hang onto it. Canadian Tire always slashes the prices of their trees mid summer (which is how I have picked up most of the fruit trees on the place) so I’ll just watch for a nice spruce then. I would plant my own, but would probably hate to cut them down. 🙂
Merry Christmas to you and yours, and all the best for 2012!