by Kade Agan
If you’ve put off getting your Christmas tree until now, don’t worry. Instead of coming across as a disorganized procrastinator or quasi-Grinch you may have the chance to appear as an eco-aware merrymaker thanks to the replantable, or “living” tree option.
Replantable trees have grown in popularity every year. The trees are exactly what the name suggests: a fir tree that isn’t chopped down for the holidays and then later disposed of, bypassing consumer dumping. The tree continues to live, producing oxygen and filtering carbon dioxide. Replantable trees simply have the root ball still attached, so after the holiday season they can be returned to the nursery, donated to a local park or planted on your property as a way of keeping holiday memories alive for years to come.
If you’re in Seattle, check out Swanson’s Nursery for their living Christmas tree program which works to support local area salmon. Swanson’s will allow you to return your living tree after the holidays are over so it can be replanted along the banks of streams in order to reduce surface water runoff and lower water temperature.
The Original Living Christmas Tree Company, in Portland, Oregon offers a comprehensive tree program that includes tree-pick up. Unfortunately they’ve sold out of tannenbaums this year but web visitors should start planning for next year. Otherwise this outside Portland link has tips on how to source and plant a tree of your own without the aid of a pre-established living tree program. Regardless of where you get it from, a living tree is just one of many ways to make your holiday season a little greener.
About Eco Encore
Eco Encore raises finds for environmental causes around the Pacific Northwest through online reselling of donated used books, CDs, DVDs and software. Since 2002 Eco Encore has shipped over 26,000 items to 51 countries, diverting about 25 tons of paper and plastic from local landfills.
It's easy to join the Eco Encore mission by donating or buying used media through our online bookstore.
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