Flare Sci-Fi Forums: What to do with a used Christmas tree...

This is topic What to do with a used Christmas tree... in forum Officers' Lounge at Flare Sci-Fi Forums.

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Posted by Baloo (Member # 5) on :

Once Christmas is over, there remains the problem of what to do with the tree. Some very few people use a potted tree (no snickering please) and just plant it in the yard after Christmas. End of problem, at least until you have an impenitrable grove of conifers surrounding your house.

Most folks use either an artificial tree or a "live" (more correctly "amputated, and thus dead or at least terminally ill) tree. If it's an artificial tree, the solution is rather simple: put it back in the box. The "live" tree poses a bit of a problem.

This fellow proposes one solution: Christmas Tree Disposal. While amusing, your local ordinances may not allow such an expedient disposal method.

In 1965 and 1966, my family lived in the mountains of Northern California. My dad's employer owned a tree farm and gave us a "live" tree each year. Mom was never overly sentimental about Christmas and used any ploy she could to get the tree out of the house after The Day.

Her most successful ploy was the "Bird's Christmas Tree". She would remove all the ornaments from the (now quickly) browning tree and set it outside. She would then decorate the tree with little packets of birdseed and suet. The birds flocked to the tree, eating the goodies and entertaining us kids. We willingly cooperated in the process and didn't mind sharing our tree with the birds.

Once the tree had been outside in the cold and dry air for about a week, we moved it to the fire pit in the back yard (one advantage to living in a tiny rural community) and set fire to it. A dry Christmas tree burns with almost as much vigor as fireworks, and about as quickly.

--Baloo

[This message has been edited by Baloo (edited December 07, 1999).]

Posted by Charles Capps (Member # 9) on :

Around here we cut the tree into foot-long sections, and put the sections at the curb - they're taken by the recycling people for chipping.

Personally I'd rather have a potted one... *L*

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Jubes, holding dinner: "What will you give me for the food?"
Me: "My virginity..."
-- Actual quote

Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :

I was disappointed. I had expected the "Christmas Tree Disposal" site to involve burning... :-)

IIRC, we don't even have to cut up the tree. We just put a yard waste sticker on it and leave the whole thing for the trashmen...

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"Their 'flower power' is no match for my glower power!"
-C. Montgomery Burns, The Simpsons

Posted by Baloo (Member # 5) on :

Charles: The potted trees sound more entertaining. I can imagine one leaning drunkenly against the wall, wishing everyone a "Mer *HIC!* mer *HIC!* Happy Christmas!"

Of course I suppose the surly ones find themselves sobering up on the curb, wondering just who is this "Ree Cycler" fellow is, and if he really rides a bicycle.

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That�s one of the things that bothers me about Star Trek - the faint whiff of Singapore wafts from the Federation. Clean, peaceable, industrious - with jail sentences for anti-social chewing-gum disposal.
--James Lileks
http://members.tripod.com/~Bob_Baloo/index.htm