Death of Christmas Trees (holiday)

Guitar's Cry · #1 12-15-2006, 12:08 PM

I love Christmas, but one of the things that bothers me about it is seeing all those cut trees being sold everywhere.

Does this bother anyone else?

My problem with it is that I see trees as having a life just as important and valuable as our own, and seeing them die just to be decorated and tossed out seems like such a wasteful sacrifice. Especially since many of the trees that are unsold die for only the profit of the seller. They don't even get to be decorated!

Green Gaia · #2 12-15-2006, 12:14 PM

What's more harmful to the environment? Cutting down trees that were cultivated just for that purpose? Or all the fake trees that eventually end up in landfills? I don't know. If someone knows, tell me.

FatMan · #3 12-15-2006, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maize

What's more harmful to the environment? Cutting down trees that were cultivated just for that purpose? Or all the fake trees that eventually end up in landfills? I don't know. If someone knows, tell me.

That's a great point. Most Xmas trees are grown just for that purpose.

Buttercup · #4 12-15-2006, 12:18 PM

You know, when I was a lot younger this very same thing used to bother me and still does to some extent. I especially feel bad about the poor little trees left on the lot with nowhere to go. Seems like such a waste.

But, after living in Oregon for the last 20 years and driving by hundreds and hundreds of tree farms, you sort of get immune to it all. These days, I feel much worse driving by any farm that raises calves for slaughter. I'm won't go into detail but it's one reason why I won't eat veal.

GloriaPatri · #5 12-15-2006, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guitar's Cry

I love Christmas, but one of the things that bothers me about it is seeing all those cut trees being sold everywhere.

Does this bother anyone else?

My problem with it is that I see trees as having a life just as important and valuable as our own, and seeing them die just to be decorated and tossed out seems like such a wasteful sacrifice. Especially since many of the trees that are unsold die for only the profit of the seller. They don't even get to be decorated!

There are tree farms whose sole purpose is to grow trees for Christmas. Trees don't have life just as imporant and valuable as our own. They are valuable though. Be it for their beauty, their usefullness in making furniture or paper, decoration, or whatever. They are valued in different ways by different people. If you want you can buy some trees and save them from destruction. Just like if I want I can go out and buy a tree to be thrown away in thirty days.

jacquie4000 · #6 12-15-2006, 12:20 PM

You could always buy the whole tree roots and all and the replant it after the holiday my family has done this quite a few times....however you might run out of room in your back yard. Think of other areas you might be able to plant it....

Guitar's Cry · #7 12-15-2006, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maize

What's more harmful to the environment? Cutting down trees that were cultivated just for that purpose? Or all the fake trees that eventually end up in landfills? I don't know. If someone knows, tell me.

That is a great point. I know some fake trees are made from recycled materials.

Green Gaia · #8 12-15-2006, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FatMan

That's a great point. Most Xmas trees are grown just for that purpose.

Also, I know in my area, the county will recycle real trees for free and make mulch out of them to be used at the area parks.

Guitar's Cry · #9 12-15-2006, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GloriaPatri

There are tree farms whose sole purpose is to grow trees for Christmas. Trees don't have life just as imporant and valuable as our own. They are valuable though. Be it for their beauty, their usefullness in making furniture or paper, decoration, or whatever. They are valued in different ways by different people. If you want you can buy some trees and save them from destruction. Just like if I want I can go out and buy a tree to be thrown away in thirty days.

Yeah, I see what you're saying. But I think we have some differences in the way we percieve the value of the tree's life. For me, it still seems like a huge waste to grow the trees just to cut them down and decorate them for a while.

I see a tree's life as valuable beyond what it can do for me.