Christmas Trees: Where do you get yours? (Durham, Boone: 2013, how much)

[leighbhe]

Originally Posted by J_Lurk

We go to Back Achers and pick a local tree (which means it is not a Fraser Fir, as they don't grow well here). We like supporting a local farmer. Back Achers

If we were closer to North Raleigh we'd go to Boyce: Boyce Farms

We go to back achers and love it! Its a whole family experience, walking the fields picking the tree, fighting about the right tree, cutting it down, watching it fall on my husband, having the kids help carry it out, cleaning up tree needles for months!

Plus the tree prices are quite reasonable.

Leigh

[aldamon]

Lowes or Home Depot. It's pathetic considering we used to cut our own in Vermont.

[mdp_az]

Another fun option is going up to the mountains and doing the 'choose and cut' thing. Ashe County has tons of tree farms and there's some beautiful countryside to take in while you're up there. The trip can be done in one long day from the Triangle, but I'd recommend spending one or two nights so its more enjoyable.

That said, and despite having a second home near Christmans tree country in the NC mountains, we opt for an artificial tree. I prefer the safety of the artificial as we usually leave home on the 26th and don't come back until after Jan. 1. I've heard too many fire stories about real trees. Also, I personally view real cut trees as wasteful. The only real tree option I'd consider is a live tree with its rootball intact so it could be planted after the holiday season.

[SunnyKayak]

North Carolina is the official tree for the White House for 2007

Here is a list of Christmas Tree Farms
North Carolina Christmas Tree Association

[PDXmom]

Thanks for all the great selections. I think we will try to check out the farms that J_Lurk and Leighbhe suggested. If that doesn’t work out time wise we will head to the Farmers Market. I had not thought about the Farmers Market for trees!!

A couple of you suggested artificial trees. I’ve considered them for years now but haven’t taken the plastic plunge. There is a lot of debate about which is considered “greener” a tree made from petroleum products that can be used year after year and eventually end up in a landfill or a cut tree that serves it’s purpose for a few weeks and then is thrown away. Personally, I always recycle my trees. And I do consider Christmas Trees a crop that supports local families and is renewable. But in the same token those trees get treated w/ some pretty nasty chemicals to keep them alive. In the states that like NC that grow Christmas Trees, I think it’s a toss up on the environmental footprint, unless you buy an Organic Tree or a tree w/ it’s root still attached.

Maybe I should start one of those rent a live tree programs that they have in Portland and San Francisco. Of course I’m going to need acreage in the Mountains here to grow my Frasers. Mdp_az want to kick in part of your Mt property for a good cause?

[welovedurham]

The TROSA trees are great, the service is superb, and it is for a great cause! And free candy canes.

Holidays By TROSA

Last year there was a $5 coupon in the Independent newspaper. This year they delivered a coupon to my house, so I haven't looked.

(For SW Durham families, there's a lot in the Kmart parking lot on the corner of MLK and University Drive.)

[welovedurham]

PDXMom, there was a live/organic Christmas tree lot across the street from Weaver Street Market in Carrboro. Not sure if it's still there.

[PDXmom]

Originally Posted by welovedurham

PDXMom, there was a live/organic Christmas tree lot across the street from Weaver Street Market in Carrboro. Not sure if it's still there.

WOW! Very cool! I might check it out. But not sure the organic ones are in my budget this year. I've read that the 6 ft organic trees go for about $200. I plan on hitting that adorable toy store in Carrmill for some Christmas shopping so if I see the organic lot I'll post info about it just in case others have a bigger tree budget.

[dansdrive]

Originally Posted by welovedurham

PDXMom, there was a live/organic Christmas tree lot across the street from Weaver Street Market in Carrboro. Not sure if it's still there.

WOW an organic Christmas tree lot. Now that is a new one from an ole NorthEastern'er. We use to just go in the woods and cut our trees down. That was organic enough for us. Never really thought about eating them when christmas was over. Are organic ones easier to recycle? What makes a Christmas tree organic? Is it the dirt its planted in or the rain that waters it? How does one know its truly organic? Is the price the same as the one I buy at the local boys scouts tree selling stand? Should theirs be organic?

I am intrigued by an organic Christmas tree?

[PDXmom]

Originally Posted by dansdrive

WOW an organic Christmas tree lot. Now that is a new one from an ole NorthEastern'er. We use to just go in the woods and cut our trees down. That was organic enough for us. Never really thought about eating them when christmas was over. Are organic ones easier to recycle? What makes a Christmas tree organic? Is it the dirt its planted in or the rain that waters it? How does one know its truly organic? Is the price the same as the one I buy at the local boys scouts tree selling stand? Should theirs be organic?

I am intrigued by an organic Christmas tree?

LOL! I thought the same thing when I heard the term. Christmas trees grown on tree farms require alot of pesticides to grow them. While most of those pesticides are gone by they time you and I get our tree home there is an impact on the soil and run off thus the streams, rivers, fish etc.

http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/117/greenery (broken link)

However, if you are chopping your tree from a non-managed forest then I'd say you have a certified organic tree. But if you buy an Organic potted tree in San Francisco it'll cost you about $200 bucks for a 6.5 footer.