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Have a Green Holiday

Make it a green Christmas and join the green holiday movement. Minimize the chance of introducing a new pest or pathogen into your neighborhood by doing one of these three things:

  • Cut your own tree from a forest within 10 to 20 miles of your house (with an appropriate permit), or visit a local Christmas Tree farm;
  • Buy pre-cut trees and natural wreaths from an established local business, not from a fly-by-night operator selling on the side of the road; and
  • Order your wreathes and garlands online from a recognized vendor–not from an unknown person on sites like Ebay or Craigslist that may not be in compliance with important quarantines or regulations.

Why are real trees better?

  • Real Christmas trees are typically grown and harvested in the USA or Canada, supporting local (or regional) farms and small businesses.
  • Fake Christmas trees are made with PVC and other materials sourced with fossil fuels, while real trees are made mostly out of sunshine, water, and healthy soils.
  • Real Christmas trees sequester carbon as they grow, doing their part to slow the process of climate change.
  • Real Christmas trees can be recycled into mulch, artificial fish reef, dune stabilizers, or municipal compost.

 More Resources on Buying Trees and Decorations: 

Real vs Fake Trees, a blog in The Nature Conservancy's Green Gift Idea archives

Christmas Tree Shopping, information on The Nature Conservancy's New York page (but applicable widely)

USDA APHIS Holiday Greenery page with Christmas tree and decoration regulations

12 tips for a Green Christmas Tree