Live Christmas Trees?
YES! Of course, the Christmas tree farm features trees by the acre, just waiting to be cut (above), while the Christmas Shop has been a more recent addition.
IF YOU VISIT WHERE: 4427 Cotton Run Road in Hamilton (between Oxford and Trenton)
HOURS: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Friday and Saturday; noon–5 p.m. Sunday
WHEN: Open Friday, Nov. 25, until Sunday, Dec. 18
MORE: www.bartelsfarm.com
Environmentally, live Christmas trees have it all over their plastic counterparts. Real trees sequester carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, and if you are a human being on the planet, those are two nice things, says Bill Cackler, president of the Ohio Christmas Tree Association. “The other thing is that it's a renewable natural resource, Cackler says. “If you cut a tree in late November or December, here in Ohio we will usually replant that tree sometime in April, so it is sustainable.” Also, many live trees are recycled — the Cacklers compost theirs. “We’re not filling a landfill after the tree is discarded,” says Cackler, a member of Consolidated Rural Electric Cooperative in Delaware County. Canaan firs are currently the favored trees in Ohio, Cackler says. "Firs probably have the best fragrances," she says. “I tell people, if you want the fragrance, just go to the back of the tree on a limb and scratch. That helps release the fragrance in the house.” Before buying a tree, size up the room where it will be displayed. A tree in the field can look smaller than it does in a room. When you bring the tree home, Cackler advises keeping it away from heat sources, and before putting it inside, cut an additional quarter- to half-inch off the bottom of the trunk; that fresh cut gives maximum water uptake. “Whatever tree stand you use, make sure it holds plenty of water, and never, I repeat never, let it run out,” Cackler says. For information on Christmas trees or to find a farm in your area, visit www.ohiochristmastree.org. — Celeste Baumgartner
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