2012 Election

Every year the age old debate of Real Christmas Trees vs. Artificial Christmas Trees surfaces. Is an artificial tree better than a real tree? There are many schools of thought but ultimately, it boils down to what each of us is looking for in a Christmas tree.

2011 Christmas in front of
our real Christmas Tree

Growing up we always had a real tree. I remember either going to a local tree farm or a local tree lot in search of the perfect tree. The smell of pine always brings back many nostalgic memories of Christmases past. As an adult I have never strayed from that family tradition of having a real tree for Christmas. A real Christmas cannot be had without a real tree.

You may call me sentimental or a traditionalist, but recently I read an article, titled Carlucci's Bill Puts Warning Tags on Christmas Trees, about New York Senator David Carlucci, who is working on passing a bill to put warning labels on artificial Christmas trees and any holiday decorations containing lead that are sold in New York State. California already passed a similar bill some years back. Carlucci is quoted saying, "Right now in the U.S., about 85 percent of artificial Christmas trees are made in China. Many of them contain PVC (polyvinyl chloride), plastics, which is a material that can really cause harm to young children, to pets.” Plastic material, typically PVC, can be a potential source of hazardous lead."

Being a traditionalist, in this case, seems to be the way to go. Not only am I supporting our U.S. Christmas tree farmers but I am keeping my kids and pets safe too.

Which will you elect this year? Real or fake?

Buy a fresh Christmas Tree online at http://www.atreeforchristmas.com. Shipping to your front door is Free!

Real Christmas Trees Budding Allies

Last year in June you may recall my blog on the American Christmas Tree Association. I was responding to an article the ACTA posted on their web-site titled, "Carbon Footprint Study Finds Artificial Christmas Trees Best for the Environment". I dedicated that blog The American Christmas Tree Association, As Fake as Their Christmas Trees to refuting the false claims of the ACTA.This year I was surprised to see the ACTA has changed its tune.

The article below which draws its information from the ACTA web-site is now saying both real and artificial Christmas trees are a green choice. Why this self-contradiction one year later? The only thing which comes to mind is the old English proverb, "If you can't beat them, join them". The ACTA is starting to come around. Next year real Christmas trees should have another ally.

 

Buy a fresh Christmas Tree online at http://www.atreeforchristmas.com. Shipping is Free! Use coupon code HASSLEFREE to receive 10% off your entire order.

TREES FOR TROOPS 2011

Michigan Christmas tree growers are donating 1,100 real Christmas trees in an effort to help military families celebrate the upcoming holiday. The Christmas SPIRIT Foundation in cooperation with FedEx and the Michigan Christmas Tree Association announce a Trees for Troops program that will provide farmgrown Christmas trees to more than 16,000 troops and their families. The program expects to deliver its 100,000th Christmas tree this season since the program’s inception in 2005.

FedEx will pick up 300 of the 1,100 trees donated by Michigan growers at 10:00 am on November 29 at Dutchman Tree Farms, located at 9689 W. Walker Rd., Manton, MI 49663. These trees will become part of the more than 16,000 donated fresh Christmas trees for the Trees for Troops effort. The Michigan-grown trees loaded at Dutchman Tree Farms are destined for Fort Hood.

The Trees for Troops program will first collect, and then deliver the fresh Christmas trees to families at 63 military bases across America. The Trees for Troops program provides a way for all Americans to show their appreciation for the sacrifices that U.S. troops and their families are making this holiday season.

Members of the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) and at least 20 state or regional Christmas Tree Associations are donating the Christmas trees. FedEx is providing free shipping. The Christmas SPIRIT Foundation – based in Chesterfield, Mo, is a not-for-profit foundation that advances the Christmas spirit for children, families and the environment. Trees for Troops is just one of its projects.

For more details, go to www.ChristmasSpiritFoundation.org. Consumers that are interested in supporting the Trees for Troops program and the Christmas Spirit Foundation can make a contribution on-line at: www.ChirstmasSpiritFoundation.org.

Many Michigan Choose & Cut Christmas tree growers will also be accepting contributions for the Christmas Spirit Foundation and to support Trees for Troops at their farms throughout the Christmas season.

To make arrangements for on-site interviews and photos during the scheduled pick up of trees, contact Chris Maciborski at Dutchman Tree Farms: (231) 839-7901 or Marsha Gray at the Michigan Christmas Tree Association:(517)242-1630 (cell)

For More Information Contact:
Marsha Gray
Michigan Christmas Tree Association
517-545-9971
517-242-1630 (cell)
517-545-4501(fax)
mjgray1@charter.net

Buy a fresh Christmas Tree online at http://www.atreeforchristmas.com. Get 10% off and Free Shipping when you use promocode "HassleFree" at checkout!

#TwitterChristmasBakeOff

That is right! I am announcing a Twitter Christmas Bake Off for all our Twitter followers.

Our Facebook Fans have a weekly opportunity to win a free Table-top Christmas tree or Christmas wreath by posting on the Dutchman Fan Page, but our Twitter followers had nothing... until now!
This idea was not all mine. Kathy H. (@truckinwife) helped me come up with it. I tweeted how I had just made pumpkin bread and olive oil bread. Kathy responded and then we came up with the idea for a Twitter Bake Off. Following Jessa Irene's blog and tweets (@HolidayHaven) also helped this idea come to life.
So, enough of my babble. Let's get down to the rules on how you could win a free Fraser Fir Table-top Christmas Tree or a Fraser Fir Christmas wreath:

1. You have to be following @DutchmnTreeFrms on Twitter


2. You must suggest a great Christmas baking recipe that you have tried


3. Drawings will be November 16, 23 and 30 and December 7 and 14


4. You must use the hashtag #TwitterChristmasBakeOff

The drawings will be on Wednesday. If you win you will receive a congratulatory e-mail from me (socialmedia@dutchmantreefarms.com). I will need you to send my your choice of tree or wreath and a shipping address (No PO Boxes... and has to be within the continental USA).
Good Luck!
Buy a fresh Christmas Tree online at http://www.atreeforchristmas.com. Shipping is Free!

Best Choose & Cut in the Great Lake State

Every year we offer a Choose and Cut which means choosing your own tree out of our field and cutting it yourself. This is a GREAT way to start new family traditions in your family.

We open November 19th and go through December 17th: Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10 A.M till dusk. While looking for the Christmas tree of your dreams you can also enjoy:

• Thousands of Trees to choose from!
• Free zip-line
• Free hot chocolate and cookies
• Free petting zoo
• A family picture
• Free bailing on Saturday’s
• $3 pony rides available on Nov. 25th & 26th and Dec. 3rd.

Come join us for the fun and make it an all day family event.
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Any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us at (231) 839-7074.

Buy a fresh Christmas Tree online at http://www.atreeforchristmas.com. Shipping is Free!

Christmas Traditions

Christmas traditions are an important part of our holiday spirit. When it comes to decorating the house and tree, my wife fancies the elegant and refined Victorian Christmas decór. Ribbons, garlands and elaborate decorations awaken the spirit of Christmas within all who enter our home. Each year everyone gets to pick out a new Christmas ornament for the tree (provided by Dutchman Tree Farms, of course). This helps the children associate special Christmas memories to each ornament they picked over the years. Baking is a big part of every Christmas. Leading up to Christmas, my wife, with kids in tow, is fond of frequenting cookie swaps. Some of our favorite baked delights include: Mexican wedding cakes, ginger snaps, Christmas cut-out sugar cookies with sprinkles (the kids won't eat them if they don't have sprinkles), Pfeffernuesse, and a plethora of Italian dessert breads. As a family, we attend a Christmas eve service. After the service, but right before their heads hit the pillows, the kids open one gift. Whether we want to or not, we start our Christmas morning early! The footsteps and loud voices of excited children remind us it is time to get up. Before breakfast, the lad and lasses check to make sure they didn't get coal in their stockings. After a delicious Christmas breakfast everyone sits down to open all the gifts under the tree. The rest of the day is spent enjoying the blessings we have in our family and friends. With the children in bed, and a joyous day now over, my wife and I watch "A Christmas Carol" with George C. Scott and enjoy a few more cookies and some hot chocolate (possibly with a shot of Bailey's). What about your family traditions? Leave a comment and post some of your favorite cookie/dessert recipes! Buy a fresh Christmas Tree online at http://www.atreeforchristmas.com. Shipping is Free!

A Real Christmas Tree in a Box

Only 75 Days til Christmas! If you are like me, you are already starting to stress about this year's Christmas list. At Dutchman Tree Farms, one of the largest Christmas Tree farms in the nation, we are going out of our way to make this year's Christmas tree hassle free for you.

Last year we launched A Tree for Christmas. It is a web-site from which you can order Christmas wreaths and seven different types of Christmas trees. It makes Christmas tree buying very easy. During check out you get to pick the day your tree(s) and or Christmas wreath(s) are shipped to you directly from our farm. Shipping is on us and you have our farm quality guarantee that the tree will arrive as beautiful as when it left the farm.

Since you are reading and hopefully sharing this blog, I am giving you an opportunity to receive 10% off your entire order at check out by using the promo code HASSLEFREE. You can also join our Facebook Page and by posting on our wall enter to win our weekly raffle. We are giving away a free table top Christmas tree on every Friday until December 16, As you can see we are going out on a limb to make sure your Christmas is less stressful this year.

Buy a fresh Christmas Tree online at http://www.atreeforchristmas.com. Shipping is Free!