Biology Is Life !

Personally, I would get a real tree for Christmas. Real trees are fun to cut down with your family and while they are growing they provide oxygen for us. Even though artificial trees can be used over and over again after approximately 6-9 years they get thrown away and stay in a landfill for centuries. Getting a new tree year after year can be made into a fun tradition for your family and can help the environment at the same time. Currently, I don't have a tree because every year during this time my family gets really busy and we never get around to get a tree. If we actually find some time to get a tree we would get a real one even though in the past we have used artificial trees for our Christmas celebration.

Hey, Hey, Heyy!!
 

(It wouldn't let me post it to the other blog so here it is!)



Some eco-friendly tips are that $1 out of every $10 we spend is spent on packaging, each New Yorker generates over a ton of trash every year, and in NYC we collect enough garbage to fill the Empire State building daily. An eco-friendly gift is a staple free stapler. A staple free Stapler cuts out little bits of paper and stitches up to 5 pieces together.
 

At home we have an artificial tree, but after reading all of the warnings about how artificial trees are made with lead and pvc, I think that it is more eco friendly to buy a regular Christmas tree. Also when you get rid of your artificial tree it will not break down and if it is burned it will release many horrible gasses into the atmosphere. On this website I found information on the harmful affects of artificial trees, also it mentioned that the lights contain lead in the cords. When you buy a real Christmas tree you do have to be careful of pesticides but there are places where you can buy organic Christmas trees. This defiantly affects my view on this topic because know I know the harms that both types of Christmas trees cause.


Some eco-friendly Christmas gifts
recycled blown glass Christmas ornaments
organic play dough
reusable water bottles
to be a tree kit
 

I feel that a real tree is necessary. The reason for this is due to the chemicals that have to be produced to make these "long lasting" pleasures. A real tree does not need any chemicals, it gives off oxygen and helps humans breath and stay alive. Real tree's
give off a fresh scent that artificial trees cannot.
I currently have a real tree, my step father buys real tree's that he can plant in our yard. This blog does not affect my views because I feel that this blog can either just be another ordinary blog or some students will take it to heart and really change their tradtions. That is their decision. My step father is being eco-friendly just by spending that extra $90.

ECO-FRIENDLY GIFTS
Energy Savers
Nature Conservancy
Recycled Gifts
"Green" Houseware
 

Personally, and probably because i have grown up with an artificial tree... for as long as i can remember. but after reading about what is used to make a fake tree, and what is used to make them, i think i'm suddenly pro-real tree. Although your cutting down millions of trees a year for Christmas purposes, for every Christmas tree harvested, 2 to 3 seedlings are planted in its place. so its almost in a strange way "okay". Fake trees contain non-biodegradable plastics and metals, which are obviously bad for the environment. therefore, making the real tree, the smart, eco-friendly way to go ;)


Click Here


3 eco friendly gifts
toy penguin
candy wrapper clutch
recycled messenger bags
 

I personally have a real tree for Christmas. I think that real trees are more environmentally friendly than fake ones. Real Christmas trees, even though they are cut down every year, there are trees planted to replace them. When the tree is finished being used as a Christmas tree it can be used as firewood. You can also put the tree in a compost pile, and it will decompose. Fake Christmas trees are made of PVC piping which is one of the worst materials for the environment. When you are finished using a fake tree it can not be decomposed. These fake trees take more energy to make.

Click Here"
 

If I could decide whether to buy a real or fake tree, I would buy a real one. I wouldn't go chopping down a gigantic tree, but I would buy a small, locally grown pine trees. I would plant two smaller trees to replace the one that I took. Fake trees are created with PVC (vinyl) which ultimately serve no purpose occupying landfills and taking up space. The process of making fake Christmas trees uses a lot of gas, energy, and resources. A real tree, grown locally, does not need to be transported a far distance, and can be replenished. The remains of the tree can be used for compost, recycled, or turned into firewood. Not to mention that classic pinecone aroma that fills the house with the scent of the holidays!!!
This link supports my statement and provides further, in depth facts about real and fake Christmas trees.
My current tree is a fake one (sorry!) but I hope to persuade my parents to buy a real tree from MeadowBrook Farm on Myers Corners Road next year.
 

Sorry, I forgot to add eco-friendly gift ideas...

1. Eco-Drive watch
2. Hybrid car
3. Grocery shopping canvas bag
4. Manually charged flashlight
5. Small plant (bamboo, flower)
6. Bamboo serving utensils
7. A reused item that you've personally restored (vintage furniture, wooden item)
8. Buy a piece of the rainforest
9. Donate to WWF and receive a stuffed animal representing the animal that you gave aid to
10. Eco-friendly chocolates (found in Borders and other places
11. Gardening tools (made of metal)
12. Eco-friendly jewelry (found in Claire's)
13. Handmade gift from items you already have
14. Do something nice for someone in place of buying them a wasteful present that they will never use
15. Flowers
 

I personally prefer artificial trees over real trees. With artificial trees, you can practically celebrate Christmas the same way as you could with a real tree. Artificial trees also require less maintenance. You could also save money in the long run because these trees last a very long time. With real trees, you need to buy a tree every year.
Click Here
I currently have an artificial tree and although there not necessarily environmentally friendly, many people keep their trees for very long times. Also, during these economic times, the investment needed to maintain, transport, etc. a real tree outweigh an artificial tree. For these reasons, I prefer an artificial tree.

Some eco-friendly gifts:
Frog Puzzle-This is good for kids and its made from a plantation-grown rubberwood, an environmentally friendly hardwood.
Paradice Game-This board game is made from sustainable woods and non-toxic wood stains
 

I think that having a real tree is nice. The smell of pine is nice and refreshing too! I used to have a real tree 2 years ago. I now have and had last year an artificial tree. The real tree kept falling over and breaking our ornaments. You have to constantly water the real tree. You can re-use your artificial tree over and over to save real trees. Christmas trees remove dust and pollen from the air.

Info.. HeRe!
I currently have an artificial tree and it is all decorated! I like it because it is easy to set up and it doesn't fall over. But, artificial trees have many harmful chemicals. This makes me think a little..
rEaL oR fAkE?? This website gives you tips on how to green your holiday decorations.


Eco-friendly Christmas gifts:
Staple Free Stapler..!! This cuts little strips of paper and uses them to stich up 5 pieces of paper. It is kid friendly too! It is enviromentally friendly.

Puppy Love..AW! Dog beds and toys made out of recycled plastic soda bottles. This is recycling and this is helping our enviroment.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!
 

Personally, I have grown up with an artificial tree, but after I read the articles and researched a tad more, I realized that maybe REAL trees are better for the environment. Christmas trees are planted in soil where no other plant could survive. We plant these trees to protect water supplies, and for a shelter for wildlife. An acre of Christmas trees could provide oxygen for 18 people, and we nearly have 1 million acres and still counting! I think that when I move into my own house, I’ll celebrate Christmas with a real Christmas tree. After all, when a fake tree catches fire, toxic fumes will be released into the air. This dangers the environment and the people living in it.
link1

Some eco-friendly gifts:

Recycled handbags! These purses are made out of candy wrappers, newspapers, and magazines.

Reusable shopping bags Instead of using so many plastic bags at the grocery stores, take your own bag there.
 

My family has always gotten a real tree for Christmas. It has always been a great family trip even though we always argue about which tree to get. Artificial trees are made from plastic and are shipped from China. If you get a real tree there is the good smell and the feeling you picked the shape yourself. The best trees to get were local and organic trees if possible. Also if you have a fake tree in order to get the pine smell you have to use air fresheners which are also made of chemicals.
Having a real tree does effect my view. All my life the only tree we have gotten is a real one. I have many great memories with my family while picking out a tree.

Click Here


Here are some eco- friendly gifts:

Click Here
 

Personally, If I were to celebrate Christmas I would choose the artificial tree. My standpoint reasoning would be that its the smart thing to do financially. Through some various sites I learned that people have various reasons other than financial purposes to get artificial tres. Some have allergies, the real trees are more a hassle, and also the different ornaments that come with artificial trees. I dont have allergies myself against these trees, but the other two reasonings seemed more logical. The link to a website that helped me get this info was this.

Real vs artificial

Since my family doesn't celebrate Christmas we don't have a tree that we use. But, if we did I'm pretty sure we would go with artificial. The blog did make me aware of certain aspects of the controversy though, but didn't really change my opinion.

My eco facts are on the other page, so I'll go to the eco gifts.

Eco Gifts
 

I personally prefer artificial trees over real trees. With artificial trees, you can practically celebrate Christmas the same way as you could with a real tree. Artificial trees also require less maintenance. You could also save money in the long run because these trees last a very long time. With real trees, you need to buy a tree every year.
Click Here
I currently have an artificial tree and although there not necessarily environmentally friendly, many people keep their trees for very long times. Also, during these economic times, the investment needed to maintain, transport, etc. a real tree outweigh an artificial tree. For these reasons, I prefer an artificial tree.

Some eco-friendly gifts:
Frog Puzzle-This is good for kids and its made from a plantation-grown rubberwood, an environmentally friendly hardwood.
Paradice Game-This board game is made from sustainable woods and non-toxic wood stains
 

If it were up to me, I would buy a real tree over an artificial one. Most fake trees are made under terrible conditions in a factory in China by workers who roughly make $100 per month. They are typically made of PVC, which can be a hazard to good health. Also, fake trees are just as vulnerable to catch on fire as a real one.


Click Here

Some ecofriendly gifts are

a hybrid car, because they get great mileage
Plants because they clean air
and a manually charged flashlight
 

Right now, I have an artifficial christmas tree. But after researching, I fell that a real tree would be more environmentally friendly.The reason for this is because real trees, can be put in a compost pile and it will break down easily. Also, artifficial trees are made of PVC and lead which are hazardous to the environment. Artifficial trees take more energy to make than it is worth. Even though cutting down trees are horrible, I've recently learned that they are replaced soon after.
Hopefully next Christmas i can put up a REAL christmas tree!

christmas trees!

ECO friendly gifts
1. A purse made of old license plates (purchased at Mixed Greens)
 

well i personally think that people should buy what ever tree they want. now I'm sure that there are companies that just devote themselves to growing Christmas trees. now its not good for the environment to cut trees down but if you really think about it Christmas only happens ones.the tree doesn't take that long to grow back. in order to create a fair system people shouldn't be aloud to cut of a tree personally unless with a license or permission from the police or any agency that deals with environmental issues. as for me and i family we have a man made tree and its good because we can use it over and over again but i prefer a natural tree myself. this blog doesn't really effect my view but it just helps me understand different view of things. an Eco friendly gift i would to say is a electric car. first it doesn't feed the oil companies any money. it doesn't let off any green house gas or pollutions.