Real Christmas Tree vs Artificial Tree

Real Christmas Tree vs Artificial Tree

There is something quite magical about taking your family to a Christmas tree farm and choosing a live tree for your Christmas celebration. For many people this tradition of choosing just the right tree is the perfect beginning for the Christmas season. Other people prefer the convenience of an artificial tree. Whatever their preference many people feel adamantly about their choice and feel it is the only way to go.

Over the years I have had both live trees and artificial trees. My parents owned a choose and cut tree farm for many years and for that reason the live trees hold a certain nostalgic value for me. On the other hand now that I'm a bit holder the prelit artificial trees sure make decorating for Christmas easier.

In this lens I will give you the opportunity to weigh in on your favorite type of tree.

photo by mbgphoto

choose and cut farm

I will have to admit that one of the reasons I love a real Christmas tree is that my parents owned a choose and cut tree farm for 15 years. After they retired from their business in the city, they opened up Grandpa Erv's Christmas Tree Farm about 45 minutes from St. Louis. My dad was Grandpa Erv to all his grandchildren and the name seemed fitting for their tree farm. They did a lot of research on different types of trees and started their planting 7 years before their retirement so that when they were ready to move to the farm the trees would be ready to cut.

The farm was on 70 acres and Mom and Dad worked hard to make the Christmas tree experience special for their customers. Every year they opened up the day after Thanksgiving and they would have 4 very busy weeks. My three siblings and I each came for one of the weekends to help out and the experience was wonderful.

They had a wagon that would bring the customers out to the fields, where they would pick out that perfect tree, cut it down and then bring it to the barn to be shaken and wrapped for travel. Mom and some of the women from their church made wreaths and grave blankets that were for sale in the garage, along with ornaments and a few Christmas craft items.

I always enjoyed helping to sell the trees. Everyone is always happy when they come and it was a fun experience.

I love the fun of choosing a real tree and the wonderful smell that it gives to the house. I will admit though as I grow older and my kids are now grown for convenience sake, most years I put up my artificial tree.

Which type of Christmas tree do you prefer?

Real Christmas Tree vs Artificial Tree

One of the features I love about the new artificial trees is that they are already strung with lights. Putting the lights on the tree was always my least favorite task so this new feature is a real plus!

I love these small alpine type Christmas trees. i have a big tree in my family room but for other rooms I prefer these small trees to add to my Christmas decorating. I have one small tree with dated ornaments from each year that my parents had their Christmas tree farm.