Bought artificial tree yesterday...and not sure how I feel about it yet.

LuvMySoldier · 11-29-2007, 10:18 AM

In my post/poll about what type of tree everyone was going to get this year, I voted "Real tree (cut)", because that's what we did last year - and I thought that's what we'd do again THIS year. Well, I wish I could change my vote, because that's NOT how it ended up working out this year. There wasn't time to go cut one down before DH left for school (with the Army) last Monday, and he won't be back for us to go get one until just days before Xmas. I, of course, wanted a tree before THEN. So I went to my local thrift store and bought a really nice, PRELIT one for 20 bucks!! It comes apart in three sections, and when you turn each section upside-down it folds down onto itself for easy packing! I really LOVE how convenient it seems, but I'm not sure how I feel about OWNING it just yet.

If it wasn't for the fact that it seems practically NEW, and therefore will probably last for a very long time, I would never have bought it. Twenty bucks, or not. Personally, we don't have problems with allergies like alot of people suffer from, and I absolutely LOVE the smell of a real pine, so that's never been an issue for us...SOOOO....we've always just got a real tree. I thought we had a new tradition started (as of last year) of cutting our OWN tree down the day after T-Giving, but that's now blown out of the water...

So, I'm conflicted here. On one hand my mind is now at ease knowing that in emergency situations, like this year, at least we'll have a tree. (Not to mention the cost to buy one every year - although we only paid $5 for ours - for the permit - plus gas to get up to the mountains.) But at the same time, I'm not sure if it's "enviro-friendly" - and that's really eating at me. Maybe by the time this tree is ready to be "retired" someone will have found a way to recycle them. Can't be TOO hard, I would think!

Anyone else conflicted about thier choice of Christmas tree this year? Or is it just me?

penelope · 11-29-2007, 10:29 AM

You didn't buy this tree brand new, so I would consider it recycling. You got a great deal, and you have a backup tree for emergencies. You can always do a real tree next year. And if you don't think you will want to use the tree again, you can donate it to a needy family. If you want the smell of pine this year, try a candle, or a real wreath.

mezzchick · 11-29-2007, 06:51 PM

Well said!

I WISH I could get a real tree! My allergies just get too out of control.

boninikids · 11-29-2007, 08:50 PM

This may sound weird but I am gonna say it anyways. In my opinion a fake tree is the way to go cause your not killing a perfectly beautiful tree and this one will last forever. So with the little bit of eco friendlyness that I have I would say a real tree is not for us even though we had them growing up I dont want one in my home for the mess and worry and the fact that it creates oxygen for me and my family so why would I kill a perfectly good tree.

Happymom · 11-29-2007, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boninikids

This may sound weird but I am gonna say it anyways. In my opinion a fake tree is the way to go cause your not killing a perfectly beautiful tree and this one will last forever. So with the little bit of eco friendlyness that I have I would say a real tree is not for us even though we had them growing up I dont want one in my home for the mess and worry and the fact that it creates oxygen for me and my family so why would I kill a perfectly good tree.

Well said !

melsb · 11-29-2007, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by penelope

You didn't buy this tree brand new, so I would consider it recycling. You got a great deal, and you have a backup tree for emergencies. You can always do a real tree next year. And if you don't think you will want to use the tree again, you can donate it to a needy family. If you want the smell of pine this year, try a candle, or a real wreath.

Beautifully said!

Denvergirlie · 11-30-2007, 07:17 AM

Fake trees are much less green than using a real tree, it's a well documented fact.

Eventually this fake tree will end up in a landfill, whereas the real tree will produce not only more trees during it's life cycle, but also oxygen, beauty and when you are done with it you can mulch it.

All that being said, you purchased it used, thus recycling in a way, and you can always sell it or donate it again next year. Just do whatever you can to keep this thing out of a landfill for as long as you can.

Fake tree facts/ stories
National Christmas Tree Association: Fake Tree Facts

Real Tree Vs. Fake Tree

Christmas Trees - Real vs Fake Christmas Trees

LuvMySoldier · 11-30-2007, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by penelope

You didn't buy this tree brand new, so I would consider it recycling. You got a great deal, and you have a backup tree for emergencies. You can always do a real tree next year. And if you don't think you will want to use the tree again, you can donate it to a needy family. If you want the smell of pine this year, try a candle, or a real wreath.

Sorry. I'm just now coming back to this thread...

You know, you're absolutely right, penelope!! I hadn't thought of it that way. I DID buy it from a thrift store, so it IS recycling. (Sorry, I've been tired lately...)

And I agree with the pine scented candles or real wreath idea. In fact, I ALSO got a beautiful, dark green, mesh Avon bag from the thrift store which included 5, unopened, still sealed, pine-scented sachet bags + a bag of pine popourri (sp?) for $1.50!! Together with the candles I already have, these sachet bags alone will provide enough "pine" to suit me.

Boninnikids: Point taken. You have very valid points. I hate the pine needle mess myself!

Thanks everyone! I feel better now!!

melsb · 12-03-2007, 08:30 PM

It is been a few days -- how are you feeling about the tree now?

LuvMySoldier · 12-06-2007, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melsb

It is been a few days -- how are you feeling about the tree now?

Thanks for asking, Mel!! You know, as much as I wish we could have gotten a real tree, having this tree just WORKED for us this year. There was no time to get a real tree before DH left, and because this tree looks so NEW I think it will last us a very long time - and for the price, you just can't beat that!!

It really is beautiful!! All decorated already. And even though I couldn't figure out how to connect all the light strings back together (the way they had it when I bought it) I added some more white lights to it, plugged them in, and they work just fine. (The very top and bottom ones are the ones I couldn't get to work...

)

As for the "green" aspect of it, I still don't know. I hate the thought that someday this tree may end up in a landfill somewhere. But, hopefully that won't be for a VERY long time. I'm still holding out hopes that one day (before this one is ready for the dump) someone will come up with a way to recycle them.