The Great Christmas Tree Debate

LJ · 12-13-2007, 09:37 AM

Assumptions:

The fake tree is super high quality and looks real even under close visual and tactile scrutiny. It's cost is equal to buying real trees for 3 years, and it comes with a 3 warranty.....so let's eliminate cost factors and appearance from consideration.

do you go real or fake?

Griff · 12-13-2007, 09:39 AM

Real cuz it keeps some agricultural land open until they legalize pot.

lookout123 · 12-13-2007, 09:47 AM

LOL griff.

i go with the fake tree because it is so hard to keep a real tree looking good for the 3-4 weeks we like to keep the tree up. I hate having to replace the tree the week before christmas so i finally gave up 2 years ago and bought a really nice tree in the post christmas sale. I've been very happy. storing it is kind of a pain in the arse though.

***wait! election fraud! my chad stuck. or i'm an idiot and i pushed the wrong button. take your pick.***

Shawnee123 · 12-13-2007, 09:51 AM

I stopped putting up a tree after the first year I had a cat.
Before that, I used to go with my dad and brothers to cut our own, but now the 'rents go fake.

I love a real tree, but it seems kind of sad to cut one down only to throw it away later. Plus, they grow up on those "production tree farms" without room to move.

But I love the way Griff thinks.

Undertoad · 12-13-2007, 09:54 AM

Pot needs hotter, sunnier climates than the northern pines. Buy real trees because trees are a carbon sink and consuming them locks up carbon for a long time and will thus reduce greenhouse gas.

smoothmoniker · 12-13-2007, 09:58 AM

Real trees, because it's not Christmas if you don't kill some living thing.

glatt · 12-13-2007, 09:59 AM

Real, but if I lived in the South West, I'd probably go with fake.

Fake trees have come a long way. They can really look good now.

I have noticed that around here at least, it seems that the tree lots get a big shipment of real trees early in the holiday season. They put a bunch out on display to be sold, and the rest go in a pile in the back. As they sell the display trees, they pull more from the storage in the back. Some lots appear to use sprinklers to keep the stored trees out back somewhat fresh, but I don't think all do. What this means, is that as the season progresses, the real trees for sale are dryer and dryer.

We normally put our tree up in mid to late December, so what we have learned to do is buy a real tree early on, and stand it up in a big bucket of water in the back yard. It stays there in the bucket of water for a couple of weeks, until we are ready to set it up inside. They last a lot longer that way. Plus it's colder outside, so that helps too.

Griff · 12-13-2007, 09:59 AM

I'd give Pioneer Seed 5 years to develop Northern Dope (tm).

Shawnee is right though, free range trees are better for Mother.

LJ · 12-13-2007, 10:03 AM

damn....i forgot to put ours in a bucket of water!

glatt · 12-13-2007, 10:07 AM

what a noob!

SteveDallas · 12-13-2007, 10:12 AM

My family always had fakes. I wouldn't know what to do with a real one. (Maybe leave candles lit next to it overnight?)

Shawnee123 · 12-13-2007, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveDallas

My family always had fakes. I wouldn't know what to do with a real one. (Maybe leave candles lit next to it overnight?)

It will keep you toasty warm.

LabRat · 12-13-2007, 10:38 AM

As a kid, had a fake. Mom has a series of pictures with us kids standing in front of it paritally put up, showing how much taller we are every year. Eventually that one bit the dust, then we got real ones.

When Red and I were first married, we used his grandmothers old fake tree. Think wooden stick with 25-30 wire branches sticking out. You could see right through that thing no matter how hard you tried to fluff up the branches. It was so bad, it was awesome. Used that for a few years, then when we could afford it, bought a nice new fake tree that we've had for 5 or 6 years now.

Since we are gone for a significant portion of Christmas, it would be silly to have a real tree. No one to take care of it. We have and frequently use our real wood fireplace in the room where we put it up. A real tree would be an honest fire hazard. No disposal issues when we are done with it except putting it all back in the origianl box. That in itself is a great brain teaser and excuse to use duct tape. It has totally paid for itself, plus we can garage sale it when we are done with it.

Happy Monkey · 12-13-2007, 10:41 AM

My parents cut a spruce from their place in West Virginia, where they grow like weeds. They smell great, but they exact a terrible punishment on the delicate skin of whoever puts on the lights (me).

classicman · 12-13-2007, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LJ

damn....i forgot to put ours in a bucket of water!

Make sure you recut the bottom or it won't suck up any water, but will be great tinder.

Oh, and real is the best - Douglas Fir too - Love the smell!! !!

12-13-2007, 09:37 AM	#1
LJ i am myself Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: via blackberry, maybe Posts: 750	The Great Christmas Tree Debate Assumptions: The fake tree is super high quality and looks real even under close visual and tactile scrutiny. It's cost is equal to buying real trees for 3 years, and it comes with a 3 warranty.....so let's eliminate cost factors and appearance from consideration. do you go real or fake? __________________ Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show ... -C.Dickens

12-13-2007, 09:39 AM	#2
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Real cuz it keeps some agricultural land open until they legalize pot. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

12-13-2007, 09:47 AM	#3
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	LOL griff. i go with the fake tree because it is so hard to keep a real tree looking good for the 3-4 weeks we like to keep the tree up. I hate having to replace the tree the week before christmas so i finally gave up 2 years ago and bought a really nice tree in the post christmas sale. I've been very happy. storing it is kind of a pain in the arse though. *wait! election fraud! my chad stuck. or i'm an idiot and i pushed the wrong button. take your pick.* __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

12-13-2007, 09:58 AM	#6
smoothmoniker to live and die in LA Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,090	Real trees, because it's not Christmas if you don't kill some living thing. __________________ to live and die in LA

12-13-2007, 09:59 AM	#8
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	I'd give Pioneer Seed 5 years to develop Northern Dope (tm). Shawnee is right though, free range trees are better for Mother. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

View Poll Results: real or fake tree?
real	13	56.52%
fake	10	43.48%
Voters: 23. You may not vote on this poll

12-13-2007, 09:51 AM	#4
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	I stopped putting up a tree after the first year I had a cat. Before that, I used to go with my dad and brothers to cut our own, but now the 'rents go fake. I love a real tree, but it seems kind of sad to cut one down only to throw it away later. Plus, they grow up on those "production tree farms" without room to move. But I love the way Griff thinks.

12-13-2007, 09:54 AM	#5
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Pot needs hotter, sunnier climates than the northern pines. Buy real trees because trees are a carbon sink and consuming them locks up carbon for a long time and will thus reduce greenhouse gas.

12-13-2007, 09:59 AM	#7
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Real, but if I lived in the South West, I'd probably go with fake. Fake trees have come a long way. They can really look good now. I have noticed that around here at least, it seems that the tree lots get a big shipment of real trees early in the holiday season. They put a bunch out on display to be sold, and the rest go in a pile in the back. As they sell the display trees, they pull more from the storage in the back. Some lots appear to use sprinklers to keep the stored trees out back somewhat fresh, but I don't think all do. What this means, is that as the season progresses, the real trees for sale are dryer and dryer. We normally put our tree up in mid to late December, so what we have learned to do is buy a real tree early on, and stand it up in a big bucket of water in the back yard. It stays there in the bucket of water for a couple of weeks, until we are ready to set it up inside. They last a lot longer that way. Plus it's colder outside, so that helps too.

12-13-2007, 10:03 AM	#9
LJ i am myself Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: via blackberry, maybe Posts: 750	damn....i forgot to put ours in a bucket of water! __________________ Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show ... -C.Dickens

12-13-2007, 10:07 AM	#10
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	what a noob!

12-13-2007, 10:12 AM	#11
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	My family always had fakes. I wouldn't know what to do with a real one. (Maybe leave candles lit next to it overnight?)

12-13-2007, 10:38 AM	#13
LabRat twatfaced two legged bumhole Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 3,143	As a kid, had a fake. Mom has a series of pictures with us kids standing in front of it paritally put up, showing how much taller we are every year. Eventually that one bit the dust, then we got real ones. When Red and I were first married, we used his grandmothers old fake tree. Think wooden stick with 25-30 wire branches sticking out. You could see right through that thing no matter how hard you tried to fluff up the branches. It was so bad, it was awesome. Used that for a few years, then when we could afford it, bought a nice new fake tree that we've had for 5 or 6 years now. Since we are gone for a significant portion of Christmas, it would be silly to have a real tree. No one to take care of it. We have and frequently use our real wood fireplace in the room where we put it up. A real tree would be an honest fire hazard. No disposal issues when we are done with it except putting it all back in the origianl box. That in itself is a great brain teaser and excuse to use duct tape. It has totally paid for itself, plus we can garage sale it when we are done with it. __________________ Strength does not come from how much weight you can lift, or how many miles you can run. It comes from knowing that you set a goal, and rose to the challenge. Strength comes from within.

12-13-2007, 10:41 AM	#14
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	My parents cut a spruce from their place in West Virginia, where they grow like weeds. They smell great, but they exact a terrible punishment on the delicate skin of whoever puts on the lights (me). __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

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