Keeping it green at Christmas Part 5: O Christmas tree

There's a lot of debate over which way to go when it comes to Christmas trees. Do you cut down a fresh tree, in the prime of its life, for your own decorative pleasures? Do you purchase an artificial tree, made up of chemicals and plastics that are harmful to the environment during the manufacturing process? Let's face it -- there are pluses and minuses whichever way you go. The greenest solution is to buy a balled tree which can be replanted at the end of the season.

If you opt for a freshly cut tree, find a local farm that raises pesticide-free trees and make sure you arrange for recycling your tree. Some communities use the trees for sand and soil erosion barriers, fish feeders, bird feeders, mulch and more. Contact your local recycling company for more information.

If you already have an artificial tree and decide you no longer want it, donate it to a local thrift store or check with area community theater groups or schools to see if they have a need for one.

Whichever choice you make, let me make one suggestion. Don't buy into the 'politically correct' hype. It's a CHRISTMAS tree. Period. And you don't have to apologize to anyone for calling it what it is.

Keeping it green,

Hana