Smarter Living: Stuff

When you think about it, the holidays are the only time of year we try to recreate a forest in our living rooms, from setting up a tree, to decking the mantel with fir and holly and dangling mistletoe. And even after years of practice, we may not really get some of the basics of this unique ecosystem we're experimenting with. It has its hazards, such as the neurotoxic pescticide di-syston 15-G, used on many tree farms, which can remain on trees in the home. And it needs proper care, whether your choice is a cut tree or potted one.

Cut Trees

First of all, if you haven't heard yet, avoid fake trees. Often produced with lead-bearing PVC, the production and incineration of which results in the release of carcinogenic dioxins, fake trees are no substitute for the real thing. Real trees capture carbon while alive and most U.S. cities woodchip trees left at the curbside, recycling their nutrients in mulch. You can also put them in a fish pond as an incubator for young fish. That said, ask the person selling you the tree some of the same questions you'd ask at your farmers' market, including "Do you use pesticides and, if so, which ones?" and "When were these trees cut down?" You want your money to go towards growers that you want to keep in business. GreenPromise.com provides a list of organic Christmas-tree farms around the country or you can search for farms by zip code at Local Harvest.

When selecting a tree, pick it up and give it a bounce to see if a large number of needles fall off indicating a dry tree. You'll want to find a straight tree of a diameter that will fit in your stand. At home, you can store the tree in a garage or shed, placing it in a bucket of water. Before you bring the tree inside, cut off an inch from the base to help its uptake of water.

Pet Safety: Make sure that pets cannot drink water from the tree stand. If the tree has been treated with pesticides, there is always the risk that your pets may be harmed. See our pet health section and Greenpaws.org for more ways to avoid hazards to pets.

Live Trees

If you're considering a live tree, first determine where you'll plant it .your yard, a local park (you'll need to get permission) or a wilderness area. Knowing where it will go will help in the choice of tree. Next, visit plant nurseries or check Local Harvest for live trees sales in your area. When you've selected your tree, be sure to care for it properly:

• Keep the rootball wrapped in the burlap or other material it came in
• Do not keep the tree indoors for more than seven days (five days is even better). It's best to keep the tree in your garage for a couple of days before bringing it inside and return it to the garage the day after Christmas (taking off decorations first, naturally). This will allow it to acclimatize to the change in temperature. Remember to check that the rootball remains moist but not soggy and do not allow it to freeze.
• Water minimally--a pint or two a day
• Keep the tree cool, away from vents, the fireplace, heaters or stoves and near a window if possible. An average temperature higher than 65 can damage the tree. LED lights which give off less heat than incadescents are also preferable.
• Do not use tinself or fake snow on either potted or cut trees. They are hazardous to wildlife and will prevent a cut tree from being mulched.
• Pruning is acceptable but to avoid causing trauma, remove no more than five branches
• If you can't find a spot to plant a live tree, consider a slightly off-beat alternative .decorate a larger houseplant.

If you happen to live in San Francisco, Portland or San Diego you may also take advantage of their tree rental programs.

Wreathes

While organic trees aren't easy to track down, ordering an organic wreathe is quite simple. Local Harvest lists many wreathes from many farms that both ship and sell locally in a wide array of varieties.

Lights

There are a variety of LED options that run on about a tenth of the energy of conventional lights and, since they produce no heat, don't present the fire risk of traditional bulbs. Forever Bright's traditional strawberry-shaped bulbs, round "razzberry" bulbs and mini-icicles are all festive choices. As with conventional lights, the plastic in some strings may include lead, so wash hands after use.

Decorations

Watch out for lead paint on old or imported ornaments, which can flake off on hands and be ingested by kids. Homemade garlands of popcorn and cranberries as well as gingerbread cookies, cards, and origami patterns are all traditional favorites and non-toxic to boot. You can also choose lead-free Fair Trade Federation (FTF)-certified options such as Crossroads Trade's South African beaded stars or Kenyan wool critter ornaments or Lucuma Design's lead-free gourd ornaments. Another option are the beautiful beaded animals produced for Monkey Biz by disadvantaged women in Cape Town, South Africa.

Learn More

Recycle Your Christmas Tree

last revised 11/17/2011