To the Editor,
Re: Only a real tree will do for Christmas centrepiece, Dec.19.
I admire business owners who believe strongly in their product, while at the same time respect both their competition and consumers’ decisions, without resorting to criticizing or talking down either of these. I was disappointed when reading the story in which the owner of a tree farm pokes fun at artificial trees and essentially those who choose to purchase them.
From my own experience, I long ago purchased an artificial tree and it didn’t cost anywhere near $250. It still looks great.
It’s unfortunate that many artificial trees will also end up dumped needlessly, often in landfills once people grow tired of them, wish to upgrade or the tree deteriorates. However, if a tree is still usable, it can be donated and reused by others, or the branches can be incorporated into other decorations.
Real trees absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, can be recycled, and indeed smell lovely. However, it’s hard to deny that in the end, we are utilizing large amounts of resources to grow a tree over a 10-year period, only to cut it down and put it up in a house for about three weeks.
I have purchased both a real tree (which I believe is no longer alive once its ties are severed from the earth) and artificial tree in my lifetime, and the truth is, there are pros and cons to each. It’s no longer imperative for me to have a Christmas tree, as it doesn’t make or break Christmas, but if I feel like having a tree, I have come to prefer decorating floor plants or trees in my yard. That way, these continue to live and be enjoyed and appreciated following the Christmas season.
J. Stephensonvia e-mail