christmas trees new and old then new again

        i was recently asked what tree i would be using for christmas , and i prefer a live tree as to something you cut down and bring inside. although a potted or balled tree may be smaller and it is less stress to use a smaller tree to move inside as it is a 10 foot tall pine. a 10 footer  would have at least a 3 foot ball which is quite heavy so smaller is better when using live trees. a 2 or 3 footer is perfect for the older single person and the pot only makes the tree appear larger than it is . i have some trees i have potted this spring which will be suitable to use for this christmas. next christmas i intend to start selling or possibly renting my christmas trees. with renting you would pay a fee for maintenance of the tree of which  you would use for your christmases and then return to me after christmas .  i would then  keep it and feed it and guarantee you will have it for next 4 christmases , after which  you can plant it and let it be known as your special christmas tree or we can plant it here on farm in a permanent location. also you get the satisfaction of knowing that you saved 4 trees from being cut down and helped save the planet. also i could offer this service at cheaper rate than what it is to buy a cut tree every year. at prices of over 60 dollars for a cut tree there could be significant savings.  

     this is a picture of james a friend off mine planting pine trees this spring. i have moved a bunch of these to the new greenhouse i have built here on the property and intend to add about 1000 more next spring. when i was a kid we had a tree we had bought that was already potted and we had placed in a washtub and then moved it to the back porch around thanksgiving. it was about 4 foot tall blue spruce which mom had wabted for the yard. i toted it in about a week before christmas , and we used it that year for a christmas tree. at 4 foot tall it was still quite heavy and a roller cart could have been used to make it easier. but heck mom had strong kids namely me who would after christmas drag it back outside and as soon as i could dug a hole and placed inth e ground in our backyard as part of the landscaping. 

      for yeasrs the christmas tree did well as it was placed there when i was 15 years old and suddenly died when i was 52 and taking out some storm damaged trees and dead trees out of the yard with the excavator. i could take the trees out whole taking out roots and all , picking the tree up and placing it in a burn pile or whatever needed to be done to finalize its use. i decided to save the log and maybe someday carve something out of it.i felt somewhat sentimental for it as it did give me my first back ache.

       well mothers day was coming up and nice thing about this carving business is you are never out of presents just out of energy to make them all. anyhow i decided to carve a bear out of the christmas tree we had used and had so much mileage on . the log of the christmas tree  is behind babe who was getting a time out for being bad, so i put her on my carving stand which she hated but loved as she was getting most attention. 

        the following pics are of the bear in various stages as well as being placed down the lane  and then as in the last pic at its final destination to welcome all to the farm. this log had a forked top and i used it to full advantage to make the arms stand up and hold the sign. it is showing signs of deterioration as part of the time i had buried the base to prevent it from tipping over and this caused a premature rot. maybe i will carve a new base someday and fix it . but for now i have a bunch of firewood supporting it. this is definitely making full beneficial reuse of natures materials. not only did we use it for a christmas tree it lived in our yard and removed carbon dioxide from the air for 37 years , and then became a sculpture for now 5 years and still going. that is the way to lock up the carbon in our atmosphere. 

   well mom loved her mothers day gift all the more because it was a log of sentimental significance. now if i could have had those sunflowers face the right direction . cant fight mother nature but you sure can bend her and shape her as you want.