UBC January 2025 - 727 Christmas Trees

I came across this story that I want to share with you:

Barbara Hardesty was diagnosed with cancer over a decade ago. In order to keep her spirits high, she started decorating her house with Christmas trees - lots of 'em. Like 100. In the following years she kept adding more to her collection. Currently it's over 700, and she starts getting them from her basement as early as in August! 

We don't know whether it's her positive attitude or the actual medical treatment, but she is cancer-free today and opens her house for visitors every season. There is no entrance fee but a donation is appreciated. The proceeds go to a local homeless shelter.

Is this woman an inspiration or what?

You can see a video of her home here.

I'd like to talk about Christmas trees some more.

Natural vs artificial ones

I put together some Pros and Cons, first about Artificial Christmas Trees

Pros:

• Reusable: Can be used year after year, saving money over time.
• Convenient: No need for watering or cleaning up fallen needles.
• Durable: You can set it up as early as November and keep it up until January 
• Variety: Available in a range of styles, colors, and pre-lit options.
• Allergy-friendly: No allergens or pests hiding in the tree.

Cons:

• Environmental impact: Made from non-biodegradable materials and often manufactured overseas, increasing carbon footprint.
• Storage required: Even though they can be taken apart, they take up space when not in use.
• Less authentic: Lacks the natural smell and may look overly uniform.
• Finite lifespan: Eventually wears out and is not recyclable.

So what about Natural Christmas Trees, such as pine, fir or spruce?

Pros:

• Authentic look and smell: Adds a classic holiday ambiance with a fresh pine scent.
• Environmentally friendly: Biodegradable and often grown on farms that replant trees.
• Supports local economy: Buying locally-grown trees supports farmers and communities.

Cons:

• Maintenance: Need regular watering to avoid needle shedding and fire hazards.
• Limited lifespan: Must be disposed of after the season (though composting is an option).
• Not sustainable: It takes 8 - 12 years for a Nordmann fir (which are popular in Europe) and a Douglas fir (more known in the US) 7 - 10 years to reach 180cm (almost 6 feet)
• Not entirely environmentally friendly since many supermarket Christmas trees are not from local farmers but cheaply imported and transported by trucks from Eastern Europe countries.
• Mess: Needles can scatter, and sap can stick to surfaces.
• Allergies: May trigger allergies for some people.

There's one more con that makes for a good story - in hindsight...

One of the first years my husband (then boyfriend) and I lived together, we made it a point to “celebrate Christmas the right way” and, unlike many other working couples, put up a beautiful, real Christmas tree.

So we bought the base and a blanket to put it on. We went into town one evening after work and spent a fortune on unique Christmas baubles and real candles. Another evening we drove to a Christmas tree sale and squeezed the big Christmas tree into the trunk of our car. 

One evening later, we decorated it with all the beautiful ornaments we had bought. We were happy with how our tree looked and went to sleep.

We were startled out of our sleep in the middle of the night. The sound of loud clattering came from the lower floor. I was convinced that burglars were in the house and had stumbled over something. When it was quiet again, our heart rate dropped a little. We switched on the light and carefully climbed down the stairs. 

In the living room, we saw the culprit: our huge Christmas tree with all the beautiful decorations had fallen over. Apparently, the tree had soaked up all the water from the base and the base was no longer heavy enough to support the weight of the tree. 

From then on we made sure to refill the maximum amount of water before we went to sleep and again in the morning before we went to work. 

It was a time before smart phones, so there is no picture to share, but I think most of you had a similar experience at some point? Wait, I do have another picture that fits the bill. Poor Colin wanted to help undecorate the tree and look what happened! Good thing we only used unbreakable ornaments back then.

These were the good old times when hubby was able to take the time to participate in the festive preparations. 

Later everything was up to me. 

My parents had been telling me about the Christmas tree farm about half an hour from here, where an old friend of my Dad's volunteers. 

I loved it there! 

Busy but friendly people were buzzing around, wrapping Christmas trees, heaving them onto a little carriage, pulling it to our car, serving hot beverages and yummy gingerbread in a heated room and selling crafts. 

So for a few times little Colin and I went there with my parents.

One time Colin climbed into the "tree wrapping machine" for fun:

Hannes, my father's old schoolmate, played along and wrapped my son:

It was a good thing we got to visit a few times, because shortly after, this friend passed away. 

After a couple of years of being in charge of acquiring, setting up, decorating and getting rid of a natural Christmas tree by myself, I converted. A friend gifted me her outdates artificial tree that we kept for a few years. Then I bought  our elf Cookie brought a  small artificial one.

This year I splurged and got the most gorgeous snow-cowered one! I was excited and immediately set it up on, let me check, November 19!!! Never before had I put up the Christmas tree so early.

So, are you team "no tree before Thanksgiving", team natural or team artificial tree? 

Or maybe you have a laundry tree ;-)

Credit: Unknown