With Christmas right around the corner, more Christians this year are finding themselves faced with the difficult decision of choosing between a real and an artificial Christmas tree.
As the Christian community becomes increasingly environmentally conscious, megachurch pastors Rick Warren and Bill Hybels as well as more than 100 influential evangelical leaders, are speaking out about global warming and calling on governments and Christians to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions – the main cause of global warming. Signers of the Evangelical Climate Initiative (ECI) agree that global warming is real and mainly caused by humans.
“Christians, noting the fact that most of the climate change problem is human induced, are reminded that when God made humanity he commissioned us to exercise stewardship over the earth and its creatures,” the ECI statement reads. “Climate change is the latest evidence of our failure to exercise proper stewardship, and constitutes a critical opportunity for us to do better.”
During this holiday season, some Christians are making the decision to take what they believe to be a small but important step toward slowing global warming by buying a natural Christmas tree.
“When you buy a real Christmas tree, you’re buying a tree where the environmental impact of growing and harvesting that tree is positive,” says Paul Krebs, owner of Oregon-based Coyote Hills Tree Farm.
According to the Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Association, each acre of Christmas trees provides the daily oxygen for 18 people. With 1 million acres of Christmas tree farms nationwide, this translates into oxygen for 18 million people each day or the equivalent daily oxygen use by twice as many people as the population of Los Angeles County.
Meanwhile, artificial Christmas trees are typically made of various plastics which end up in landfills after their usefulness is over. Plastic trees are not easily recyclable or reusable after their average 4-5 year life span.
Also, 85 percent of the artificial trees bought in the United States each year comes from China, where the environmental and employment standards are below U.S. standards – thus increasing the potential negative environmental impact.
Natural trees, on the other hand, are entirely a U.S. product and are grown as a sustainable crop which takes many years of culturing and work to bring to the market.
Oregon, for instance, supplies roughly 25 percent of the nation’s Christmas trees.
Krebs explains that most trees are removed from the fields by helicopter so tractors and equipment do not disturb the west ground during harvest.
“It also reduces time, getting fresher trees to the market,” he adds. “Sustainable agriculture practice and conservative methods are important to virtually all tree farms.”
Coyote Hills Tree Farm offers to send trees directly to the customer, cutting the tree just prior to shipping.
“We mechanically shake all trees to remove loose debris before boxing and shipping by UPS. We call these trees ‘the pick of the field,’” Krebs says. “All boxes have a moisture control seal to preserve freshness.”
Meanwhile, on the east coast a former World War II veteran, John Cooper, created an idyllic Christmas tree farm in West Virginia which he calls Santa’s Forest. Cooper, who was the president of the West Virginia Christmas Tree Association and representative to the National Christmas Tree Association, was invited to the White House during the Carter administration to present a Christmas tree to the first lady on behalf of his state. Continue >>
Comments
That's a great idea.
Grow your own tree, keep it in a pot, bring it inside for Christmas and keep it outside for the rest of the year. That would be the best contribution to the Global Warming battle. When it gets too big plant it somewhere and start again
Oh for cryin out loud. Christian (ear scratching) post. Someone pass the Qtips.
Yes jester -- the CP posts a lot of 'liberal' or 'socialist' so-called 'christian' stories.
I think real trees are a hassle, but fun. Either is fine.
jester_in_the_Kings_court, thanks, my bad. ;)
wiccan,
I hope you didnt think i was making fun of you. I was just being goofy. I'm sorry if you thought that.
LOL! Well, I guess I'll remember next time not to pass along medical concerns. Lead can be absorbed through the skin, by casual handling. My advice is to check out the manufacturer before purchase.
well, she always liked my brother better...lol
I'm shocked to discover that your mother let you chew on thermometers TOO!!!
If it makes you feel any better, there are times when I sure feel like letting loose too. But, with God all things are possible, so take a deep breath, commit your thoughts to God, and let Him have your keyboard. And remember Peter, it's a process........God bless you.
GMG...
Gee thanks! ;-)
I know i'm a little off, but i've got to find an excuse for why I'm the way I am. so lead paint and playing with mercury...that's as good as anything else.
I know i get a little rude and opinionated sometimes. I have to much of Peter in me. Thank you for your grace when dealing with me. i need to change. God, i need to change.
O-o-o-o-o-h-h, PAINT chips, now THAT explains a lot of things....... ;) Yeah, pretty silly "news" item.
O no! Not lead! I'm still feeling the effects of eating paint chips as a child. Besides...i'm not prone to sucking on pine tree needles....much.....
I can't believe they even have this article on the Christian Post. Has CP gone secularized commercial?
Here's a crazy idea - Why not go treeless this year? Is a tree REALLY necessary? Maybe donate the money that would have been spent on a tree to World Vision or something...
If you must have a tree lest you be disowned by the in-laws, buy a potted tree that can live for years outside. Does everything have to be disposed of or disposable?
If people are REALLY concerned about the environmental impact of Christmas trees, there are many options available other than cut vs. artificial.
This is silly. Reading this article makes me wonder what we worship at Christmas. Based on the importance in so many homes, it seems that the tree is the center of worship at Christmas. "O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree..." Hmm... Time for a rethink, methinks! Lets put our efforts into giving to the poor and needy, and bringing restoration to the world, instead of decoration to our homes.
Yeh,...yah ,...Yah , yeh,....whatever you say Wiccan,.......