I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas....

[Heather]

More tips from Simplify and Celebrate, Embracing the Soul of Christmas:

~consider purchasing a live tree that can be planted in the yard
~use an artificial tree. Even though it may seem unnatural you save the life of a tree every time you use it.
~if you buy a cut tree, recycle it after the holidays. Place it near a bird feeder where birds can use it as cover. Or use dried branches and needles for mulch or compost and use the trunk for firewood (don't burn the branches as the resins can cause chimney fires)
~use bits of nature to hang on the tree:pine cones, acorns, shells, dried flowers, unique small sticks or driftwood etc.
~use discarded toys, scrap materials, cardboard, bits of ribbon and some imagination to create a myriad of ornaments.
~make dough ornament: Use 4 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1.5 cups water and food colouring. Mix everything together and roll out with a rolling pin. Use a knife, cookie cutters or container lids to make shapes. Press an ornament hook or loop of string into the dough for hanging. Bake at 150 degrees until shapes become hard. Paint the ornaments if you wish.
~make compostable wreaths. Dried fruits and vegetables make colorful additions to vine or evergreen wreaths. Use a wire hanger to shape. You can also use bits of nature, acorns or other nuts, dried leaves, pine cones, shells, sand dollars, dried flowers.
~decorate outside trees with things the birds and squirrels will enjoy; popcorn and cranberry strings, pine cones covered with peanut butter/corn meal mixture or birdseed(plain pb can cause birds to choke), corn on the cob or cracked corn

[homesteadmamma]

Great tips Heather.

I always wondered about purchasing an imitation tree, and although I don't like them, it means I don't ever have to cut down a tree. I would prefer having a real tree though!!

[QuilterMom]

[Ellise]

We have an artifical tree, I'd love to have real but, I also want my grandbabies to have a healthy green enviroment as well. The lats real tree we bought we planted at MIL's house and every year we make "treats" for the birds during the winter months.