Get ‘real’ during the holidays

  • Published
  • By Deborah Silliman Wolfe
  • Thunderbolt Staff Writer
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. - --  There is nothing that puts this writer in a holiday mood more than the scent of a newly cut Christmas tree. Members of the Luke Air Force Base family will have the opportunity to take home a freshly cut tree Saturday when the holiday staples are given away by 56th Services Squadron.

The trees are courtesy of the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation and the Trees for Troops Program, which honors our military families by providing them with a real tree for the holidays.

All active-duty military, reservists, retirees and Defense Department civilians wanting a free tree need to get a voucher, which will be handed out at Holiday Magic 5 to 8 p.m. today. The vouchers can be exchanged for a tree between 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at Outdoor Rec. Assistance in tying the trees down will be available, as well as coffee and hot cocoa.

Other than the fact that the trees are free to servicemembers, here are some additional facts from the Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Association on why getting a fresh Christmas tree instead of an artificial one is so appealing.

Real Christmas trees are "green"
· While growing, real trees produce significant amounts of oxygen that is released into the environment, protect soil from erosion and provide refuge for wildlife.
· Real Christmas trees are the best environmental option for consumers, according to former Greenpeace President Patrick Moore, Ph.D.
· Pacific Northwest Christmas trees are grown on sustainable farms in the U.S. just like produce, nuts and other crops, so they do not threaten natural forests.
· Real Christmas trees reduce carbon emissions by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen, which people, plants and the environment need to survive.
· Real Christmas trees are renewable, and growers plant one or more trees to replace every tree they harvest.
· Many times, Christmas trees are grown in soil that won't support other crops.

Growing real Christmas trees
· A majority of the Christmas trees sold in Arizona were grown in the Pacific Northwest.
· The Pacific Northwest is home to more than 1,000 individual Christmas-tree growers and farmers. Acreages range from four to five acres to more than 10,000 acres.
· The Pacific Northwest is the world's largest producer of Douglas Fir Christmas trees, and is also known for its Noble and Grand fir varieties. In fact, the Pacific Northwest is the only region in the world that produces Noble Firs.
· While the end product appears only briefly, growing the trees - planting, fertilizing, pruning, shearing, etc. - is a task that takes years before the trees ever reach homes.
· Freshness is key, so some growers use helicopters to lift fresh-cut trees from the fields. Others use refrigerated trucks to keep trees at the right temperature while they travel to the final destination.
· Continuing to care for your real Christmas tree at home ensures it will remain the focal point of your holiday celebrations throughout the season.
· Buying real Christmas trees helps support U.S.-based growers and businesses.

Recycling real Christmas trees
· Real Christmas trees are recyclable and can be used throughout the community.
· Recycled trees can be used as mulch along park trails, turned into corrugated packaging, underwater habitats for fish, and mulch and compost for gardens.