Eco-Friendly Alternatives for the Traditional Christmas Tree

Cutting down a Christmas tree is a very environmentally harmful way to celebrate the holiday season. In order to protect nature and keep our forests living and growing, there are several ways to have your own Christmas tree alternatives and still celebrate the holidays. Here are a few ways to do just that.

Eco-Friendly Christmas Tree Alternative #1: Grow Your Own Tree
Grow a fir, pine, or spruce tree in your yard. You can decorate it each year and still have a Christmas tree without cutting down any trees. Make sure to ask the mature size of the tree when you go looking. This will help to grow the perfect tree for your family and not accidentally grow a 120 foot tall tree. It is a great activity for the whole family to plant a Christmas tree. If you plant it while they are young, it will be a great memory they can grow up with and hopefully a tradition to pass on to their own families when they are older. If you grow it in the front yard, it could bring Christmas cheer to the whole block!

Eco-Friendly Christmas Tree Alternative #2: Potted Dwarf Tree
A potted dwarf tree can be a great addition to any home. We have one at our house, and it is truly the perfect size to not be an eyesore. A potted Christmas tree not only helps to celebrate the holidays during Christmas, but is also working to help you. By absorbing CO₂ and lasting more than just the holiday season, it will allow you to enjoy a more oxygenated environment. Your local Home Depot is sure to have dwarf conifers just about all year round.

Eco-Friendly Christmas Tree Alternative #3: Cloth Trees
A cloth tree can be a fun arts and crafts activity for the whole family. You can use your imagination to find recycled clothing, paper, wood scraps, or anything else that may come to mind. Using fabric from favorite clothing items adds a personal touch. A cloth tree can be a great way to teach your children about recycling and to start a new tradition that may be passed down through generations.

Eco-Friendly Christmas Tree Alternative #4: Inflatable or Wall Hanging Trees
For a more modern take on an eco-friendly alternative to the Christmas tree, you can try using inflatable trees and decorations. They are portable and can be placed or moved to wherever you may want and are also easy to pick up when you're done. Another idea is to use a wall hanging of a tree complete with small lights. They are easy to store and great for apartments that may make having a real tree impossible.

Whatever decision you make, stay safe, think of the Earth, and have a happy holiday season!

Sources:
www.envirowarrior.com/have-an-ecofriendly-christmas