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Thursday, December 20, 2012

INSPIRATION THURSDAY, CHRISTMAS TREE FARM

Christmas trees growing on a farm 
OK, this might seem strange, but when we first started talking about having land, my mind wandered to being able to grow our own Christmas tree!  I know, weird, but I thought that we'd have land, it's just a tree stuck in the ground and watered and in a few years, voila, your very own Christmas tree.

I found these pictures online, randomly sourced a few years ago, of some people growing their own.  I think they are farms that grow them to sell but why couldn't you just do it yourself if you have the space?  These pictures certainly inspired me to think in that direction.

Of course, this year and next have been more about fruit trees and bushes that produce something edible, but I need to start thinking about a few varieties of pines that do best here in our climate.  It would be a few years down the road before we'd have our own ready, but it's nice to plan ahead.

Christmas tree farm

14 comments:

  1. THe best part is you can choose your favorite varieties,even variety of varieties :) and trim them the way you like. Use the trimmings each year for wreaths or garlands.

    Someday I will have some evergreen shrubs tucked away where I can do just that!

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    1. That's what I liked about the second picture, there was a variety of styles/colors. Very nice. And yes, using trimmings for other things is a great side benefit too.

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  2. We were talking about this about a week ago. How cool it would be to go up to our (future) property and cut down a Christmas tree!? Then I saw someone on facebook who DID plant some trees about 8 years ago and they are finally about ready. LOVE IT!

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    1. It's something I've always thought about too. I haven't planted anything yet, but I'll get there eventually, ha. I'll need to do some googling and more research about it. :-)

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  3. I would love my lady to grow some Christmas Tree-ts! They are so lovely to eat! I'm going to suggest that to her. They take such a long time to grow and then I eat them in only a few days! Wee hee!

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    1. I hope Santa Goat brings you some great stuff to eat! I bet you would love to have a tree growing just for you...perhaps you can work out something with your lady and get her to plant some for you. :-)

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  4. ack! i am so sorry but please leave those trees in the ground!!! i have never understood why people need to cut down living trees to put them in their house, decorate them and then chuck them out in the driveway dieing. then off to the dump! trees take a very long time to die!!! i think this practice is horrendous and cruel!

    the practice comes from certain norse and druid practices of honouring trees where they stood. what i do here at the Manor, and what i did at previous houses, was to find a tree (or group of trees) that was visible from the kitchen or living room window. then i decorate that tree.

    if people feel the need to have a "decorated" tree in the house - buy a plastic one! i am certain that this practice of killing trees to celebrate "Jesus", has caused him much turmoil...in more ways than one!!!

    sorry to be such a negative ninny but i feel very strongly about not chopping down trees for the fun of it!

    your friend,
    kymber

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    1. First of all, I don't mind at all, you are not negative, you are a very compassionate and caring person and that's what makes you my "ePenPal", ha.

      I've been torn on this issue as well. I am proudly a tree hugger from way back, ha. I kind of lean toward being ok with it if it's done on purpose, grown for that purpose, and is replanted, it's like renewable wood products. For example, much of our hardwood furniture is made of mango wood. It's a fast growing tree that creates a beautiful wood furniture piece and it is sustainable and just grows rapidly after they harvest a tree they plant more.

      I worry about a plastic one, if it's discarded after a few years of use, it will just sit in the landfill forever. We had one that broke once and had to just throw it out, no one would take it as recyclable. That made me feel guilty too, ha. I like that a real tree can be composted and returned back to where it came from, or used as mulch.

      I TOTALLY agree with the commenter below that no one should ever ever just go into the forest and just chop down a tree. That's taking something that wasn't meant for that purpose. It creates a gap in the natural ecosystem that wasn't meant to be there.

      But if I plant a tree on purpose for it to be used later, and I replant later, is that a bit better?? :-)

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  5. I used to wonder at the practice of cutting down a tree to celebrate life. Then I did some research and learned about tree farms that grow trees especially FOR use as Christmas trees.

    It's no different than growing vegetables in the garden to harvest in my opinion. I do, however, have issue with folks heading out into the forest and chopping down any old tree, but that's just me.

    Anyway! I wanted to comment and say that this really inspired me! I have an acre that I'm just living on and not really utilizing. Planting a few trees for future Christmas joy is a brilliant idea!!!! Thanks!

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    1. It does seem contradictory but like you said, I too read that tree farms plant them for that reason. As an interesting side note, I found out that about six trees account for all trees use. Scotch pine is the first and most popular with about 40 percent of the market. Then Douglas fir at about 35 percent, then Noble Fir, White Pine, Balsam Fir and White Spruce. Thanks for stopping by!!!

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  6. I think this is a great idea! I went out and trudged through my pasture in DEEP snow at the first Calamity Acres on my first Christmas there, found a cedar tree, cut it down, and dragged it (downhill, thank heavens) back to the house, where I trimmed and put it up!!! I wish I had thought to plant a few!

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    1. It takes a few years to 'plan ahead' but I think it would be a neat 'renewable' project.

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  7. We thought about growing one in the yard somewhere and running power out to it for lights...

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    1. Now THAT'S a thought too. And if you had it where you could see it from inside, that's a nice touch. Might be a good compromise huh? Thanks for that!

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