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Plants Protected
As the ED of an environmental charity, I’m always looking for ways to “green up” the holidays and reduce some of the seasonal hypocrisies that come with knowing a thing or two about the state of the world and the impact of our consumer choices. So this weekend, my daughter and I went out in search of a Christmas tree.
As an Arborist and self-declared tree-hugger, I’m often asked why I insist on buying a real cut tree instead of using an artificial one. The short answer is: I just like having a real tree in my house. It’s pretty, it smells wonderful, and it makes me happy.
But the question remains—which is better for the environment: a real tree cut after 8–12 years of growth, or a reusable artificial one?
From an environmental standpoint, real trees come out ahead—with some important caveats.
Artificial trees are made from plastics that will eventually end up in landfill and take lifetimes to break down. If you already own one, keep using it for as many years as possible to offset its carbon footprint. But if you’re deciding between buying new artificial or buying real -the real tree wins.
Real Christmas trees in Ontario are an agricultural crop supporting a local industry. Compared to many other land uses, Christmas tree farms can be considered fairly sustainable. When you buy a local tree, your money stays in the local economy. And during the 8–12 years those trees are growing, they’re absorbing carbon dioxide, releasing oxygen, and providing habitat for wildlife. After the holidays, most real trees are chipped into mulch or even used in habitat restoration projects.
But where you get your real tree matters.
Over the last few years, I’ve noticed fewer charity tree lots—and I think I know why.
In 2020, Living Green Barrie attempted to run a Christmas tree fundraiser at the Georgian Mall to support our Tree Planting Program and our goal of planting 10,000 Trees for Barrie as a local climate action. It was a huge amount of work for not a lot of return. Sourcing local trees was challenging, as growers face unpredictable markets, climate impacts like this year’s summer drought, and the long timelines required for their crop.
Although supply has mostly stabilized since the pandemic, a new trend has emerged: consumers are increasingly buying their trees from big box stores instead of supporting charities.
And that shift comes at a real cost to the community.
A big box store can sell a tree for $50–$60 because they buy at high volume, likely with a steep bulk discount. A charity or service club might sell the same tree for $70–$80—but all of those proceeds would stay local to support the programs we all agree are needed. No one is getting rich on charity tree sales.
This year, when I went looking for a cut tree—hoping to buy local without doing the full “tree farm experience”—I was discouraged to find so few charity lots. So I was thrilled to come across a wonderful one in Midhurst run by the South Springwater Firefighters Association. Every tree is $80 regardless of size. I happily bought mine there.
Living Green used to sell potted, live Christmas trees, but we’re unable to run that sale this year due to supply shortages and limited staffing capacity. Instead, we’ve focused our resources on what we do best: planting more trees. This year, with the help of hundreds of volunteers, we planted 1,786 native trees and shrubs in Barrie—almost double our usual annual output.
Next year will be a big milestone for us. We’re on track to hit our target of 10,000 Trees for Barrie, a campaign launched in 2019 that has already put over 8,300 native trees and shrubs into the ground.
If you’re looking for a meaningful, clutter-free gift this holiday season, Living Green is encouraging people to donate a tree in someone’s honour. A $40 donation plants a native tree locally, comes with a charitable tax receipt, and includes a personalized Christmas e-card you can print or place under the recipient’s tree. It’s a thoughtful way to celebrate someone who doesn’t want more “stuff,” while giving Barrie a greener, healthier tomorrow.
This holiday season, I hope more people will think not just about what they buy—but who it supports.