(Written For LogHomesJournal)

AAAAANNNNDDD That’s it!! Christmas 2007 is gone in the blink of an eye. Those stockings that were hung with care were ripped to shreds in seconds leaving nothing but empty cardboard boxes and scraps of wrapping paper in their wake. The tree in the corner everyone couldn’t wait to decorate now becomes a task nobody is looking forward to dealing with. Which begs the question what exactly do we do with the skeletal remains of our tree now that all the Christmas cheer has left the building? For those that opted for plastic, taking the tree down is just a matter of bending branches and putting it back in its box. But what about the 35 million real deal trees that are sold each year? Do you simply haul it to the curb and let the G-man do what he does or is there a way to prolong the life of your Christmas tree by giving it another purpose? The answer of course is recycling.

Tips On Treecycling:

• Trees can be used as shelter for animals. By putting your tree in the backyard, you are giving birds, squirrels, and other animals some shelter from the harsh winter. If you have left over food such as popcorn, nuts, or even cranberries poor them over the tree so that they can be sure to get a good meal.
• For those lucky enough to have a pond, how about sinking your tree? The tree will provide shelter and good feeding grounds for the fish living in it.
• Turn that tree into mulch!! Shred your tree and sprinkle it around your flower beds. This way the tree mulch can help reduce weeds while at the same time keeping the ground moist.
• Make some potpourri. Mix the needles with some cinnamon sticks, cloves, and other natural aromas. Throw them all in a pot with ¼ cup of water, sit them on low heat on the stove, and enjoy the fantastic smells.
• If none of the above works for you, call around to different city offices and inquire as to if your city has a Treecycling program.

The point is instead of just dumping your Christmas tree remains on the side of the road; find a way to put back in the Earth what was taken away. And don’t just stop with Treecycling, start a new tradition of planting a tree once a year so that you are essentially replacing the one you will be proudly displaying in your home.