MADISON – Support Wisconsin’s economic and environmental sustainability by choosing locally grown Christmas trees this holiday season. “When supporting local, whether its Christmas tree growers or anything else this holiday season, your hard-earned money stays in your community,” said Krista Peterson who manages Inspiration Acres in Slinger with her sister Kara Kasten-Olson. “I think that part is really, really important to consider when choosing where to spend your dollars this holiday season.” According to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Christmas trees are harvested from over 800 tree farms in Wisconsin contributing $50 million in sales to the state’s economy. In addition to being economically sustainable for local and state economies, supporting local is also environmentally sustainable. “When you think about sustainability and benefits to the environment, local trees don’t have to be hauled as far, they’re fresh,” said Peterson. “You have the option to know that you are supporting the Wisconsin economy from that perspective as well.”
There are several environmental benefits of real Christmas trees:
- The trees absorb carbon dioxide and other gases, and in turn, the trees emit oxygen.
- For every real Christmas tree harvested, two or three seedlings are planted.
- Tree farms serve as great habitats for wildlife to live.
- After Christmas, trees can be recycled into mulch to be used on trails or gardens. Growers use the mulch around seedlings to preserve moisture and reduce weed competition. Some recycled cut trees are used as soil erosion barriers or wildlife habitats.
Beyond the economy and environment, choosing a real Christmas tree also strengthens community ties. This commitment to buying local extends to locally sourced foods, handcrafted gifts and possibly participating in community initiatives, making the holiday season even more meaningful and impactful. “If you look at all the things you can support from a local perspective, it’s not only your décor, it’s the food you put on your table when you gather around at Thanksgiving or Christmas, it’s the unique artisans here in our state,” said Peterson. “There are so many wonderful “buy local” and community projects that can be supported.” According to Gather Wisconisin, Wisconsin ranks fifth in the nation for Christmas tree production with more than 850 Christmas tree farms on 23,000 acres. Wisconsin tree growers harvest more than half a million trees every year. To learn more about Wisconsin-grown Christmas trees and other holiday traditions, visit GatherWisconsin.com. If you would like to have your own family experience at a Wisconsin Christmas tree farm local to you, use the interactive map ‘Find a Real Tree’ on the Wisconsin Christmas Tree Producers Association’s website. A complete list of farms and retail lots is available on the Wisconsin Christmas Tree Producers Association’s website along with tips for selecting a tree and caring for it once you have it home. For more information about farm-grown trees, visit the National Christmas Tree Association website at realchristmastrees.org. Through a grant received by the WCTPA, the Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom program collaborated in creating education resources and promoting careers in the tree industry. These resources are available to students by contacting WCTPA Executive Secretary Cheryl Nicholson at info@christmastree-wi.org.
