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I am hearing the arguments that say Christmas tree farms generate a living and that the trees generate oxygen (until they are cut down of course) but there is a little problem here. The land that is used to grow these trees is wasted land. Land that could be used for growing a useful crop instead of something aimed at an already oversaturated, commercialized, once a year event. I wonder how much food could be generated from those acres filled with a pointless product?

Before you scream that Christmas trees aren't are useless product let me point something out. There is a perfectly acceptable, long lasting alternative to a live tree. Today's artificial trees can look just as good, if not better than a live tree. Let's face it, by the time it is covered in lights and tinsel and baubles and candy canes and chocolate and beads and all manner of decorations, there isn't much tree left to see anyway! Artificial trees don't shed needles that you are still finding come next Christmas and, with careful packing can last for twenty years or more. One tree versus twenty trees? Seems simple enough to me.

That is why the land given over to Christmas tree farms is wasted land. Wherever you turn today you can find evidence of rising food prices and people who are living on inadequate diets. I am taking people in the developed world here. Not those unfortunates who starve to death in Africa and the like. People on our own doorsteps who are living without the basic food stuffs simply because so much land is wasted, given over to commercial ventures for bio-fuels and the like when it could be generating much needed food. Instead of wasting resources on an over-hyped, once a year occasion we should be looking at the bigger picture and making attempts to do something positive for everyone instead of thinking only of ourselves.

Let's talk recycling shall we. We are all urged to recycle our trees but how many times have you driven around town after the big day' and seen abandoned trees lying on the pavement, piled on waste ground or just put out for the bin men to collect? Around six million trees are bought in the UK each year. Of that number only around 10% are recycled. The other 90% simply goes into landfills where it does no good at all. We are supposed to be so into' recycling today but I think those numbers speak for themselves.

So, you still want a real' tree? Ok, I've got an answer for that too, two in fact.
1 Buy a tree with the roots still on. After the festive season, plant it up and nurture it until the next year. Keep nurturing your tree and reusing it for as long as possible. Every little helps!
2 - Go find a few fallen branches (even cities have parks so no excuse there). Put them in a bucket of sand or earth. Paint or spray them green and spend the evening cutting out crepe paper leaves with your children (If you don't have any children, do it yourself. Working with your hands is good relaxation). Decorate your real tree with the usual array of lights and decorations and you have something you can be proud of because you made it yourself and the added bonus of not killing a tree.

Learn more about this author, Danalia.
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