Welcome to Spring Creek Farm!

CARING FOR YOUR REAL TREE

WHY BUY A REAL TREE?

WHY USE REAL TREES?

Real or plastic? Many consumers will be asking themselves that question this holiday season.

In this age of environmental awareness it's appropriate to know a favorite family holiday tradition of choosing a real Christmas tree over an artificial tree is still the environmentally sound choice.

"What could be simpler or more natural?" says Bob Scott, President of the National Christmas Tree Association. "Buying a real Christmas tree is definitely an environmentally sound choice."

"Consumers are showing their preference for real, natural products that are socially conscious. Many young families are attracted to the tradition of celebrating Christmas with a real tree in their home," explained Scott.

Christmas tree farms stabilize soil, protect water supplies and provide refuge for wildlife while creating scenic green belts. Often, Christmas trees are grown on soils that could not support other crops.

A benefit to the atmosphere, real Christmas trees absorb carbon dioxide and other gases, emitting fresh oxygen. This helps prevent the earth-warming "greenhouse effect". One acre of Christmas trees produces the daily oxygen requirement for 18 people. With approximately one million acres producing Christmas trees in the
United States, that translates into oxygen for 18 million people every day. For every real Christmas tree harvested, three seedlings are planted in its place.

Real Christmas trees are an all-American, recyclable resource. Artificial trees, most of which are manufactured in Korea, Taiwan or Hong Kong, consist of plastics and metals that aren't biodegradable. When disposed of,
the artificial trees will never deteriorate. Their effects on our environment are evident and will remain for countless generations.

Give a gift back to the environment!

Real Christmas trees are an all-American product, grown in all 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii. Most artificial trees are manufactured in Korea, Taiwan, or Hong Kong.
Real trees are a renewable, recyclable resource. Artificial trees contain non-biodegradable plastics and metals.
For every real Christmas tree harvested, 2 to 3 seedlings are planted in its place.
There are about 1 million acres in production for growing Christmas trees. Each acre provides the daily oxygen requirements of 18 people.
There are about 15,000 Christmas tree growers in the U.S., and over 100,000 people employed full or part time in the industry.
There are approximately 5,000 choose and cut farms in the U.S.
It can take as many as 15 years to grow a tree of average retail sale height (6 feet), but the average growing time in 7 years.
The top selling Christmas trees are: Balsam Fir, Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, Noble Fir, Scotch Pine, Virginia Pine and White Pine.

It's Environmentally and Traditionally Wrong to buy and use plastic products to celebrate Christmas!!!

Here's why...

Consider these important facts...

1. Fake trees and wreaths are made from nonrenewable petroleum.

REAL Christmas trees and wreaths do not harm our environment and our resources... they are produced as an agricultural crop. Each year Christmas tree growers replace cut trees with a new crop of seedlings.

2. When a fake tree catches fire, it puts dangerous toxic fumes into the air.

A properly cared-for REAL Christmas tree will not catch fire easily. If and when it does, its fumes will certainly not be as toxic. In addition, one acre of REAL Christmas trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and produces enough oxygen for 18 people.

3. Fake trees cannot be recycled. When they are disposed of in a sanitary landfill, they will not disintegrate, but will remain there forever, taking up increasingly scarce landfill space.

Our cities today are faced with a critical shortage of sanitary land fill space. Many of them, and states as well, have passed laws prohibiting disposal of REAL Christmas trees in a landfill. REAL trees are thus being used in various helpful ways when disposed of...such as ground-up mulch to replenish the soil, fish habitat and other useful methods.

But, what about disposal of fake Christmas trees? No legislation has yet been passed to prohibit their disposal in a landfill. A fake Christmas tree has no use whatsoever when disposed of, except to continue taking up space in critically-needed landfill space.

4. Fake trees are manufactured mainly outside of the United States.

We hear much today about our economy being faced with a loss of jobs. Why do we continue to promote loss of jobs in the Christmas tree industry by buying and using fake Christmas trees and wreaths when very few fake trees and wreaths are made in the United States by American Labor.

Thousands of jobs have already been lost in the Christmas tree industry because continued sale and use of fake trees and wreaths continues to be encouraged.

Over the years, the Christmas tree has come to symbolize the faith and hope of harmony among all mankind. This spirit is REAL and a REAL Christmas tree, when brought inside our homes, projects this feeling through its pleasant scent and natural warm beauty.

Wake Up, America!
Celebrate Christmas with a REAL Christmas tree and wreath, while helping protect our valuable nonrenewable environment.

WHAT DO I DO WHEN I GET MY TREE HOME?

Store your tree in a cool, dry place (inside an unheated garage is a good location) or outside out of the sun (under a deck) until you are ready to put the tree up. Do not remove tree wrapping string at this time. You can store the tree for 3 to 4 weeks in a cool area out of the wind and sun and not do any damage to the tree.

WHEN YOU ARE READY TO PUT THE TREE UP

If the tree is frozen or has ice on the branches or is wet in any way, thaw it out slowly and allow it to drip dry somewhere other than on your carpet.
Decide on a good placement for the tree. The tree must never be placed in front of an open furnace vent (hot air) nor anywhere near a fireplace or wood stove. Doing so will cause the tree to dry out prematurely.
Make a new cut on the bottom of the tree (remove 1/2 inch to 1 inch).
Place the tree in a tree stand that is large enough to hold at least one gallon of water.
If you purchased a tree bag, you may place it under the tree stand at this time.
Pour water into the tree stand and maintain this level throughout the Christmas season. The tree should never be without water. Use warm to hot water for the first watering to help open the pores in the tree.
Remove the string around the tree.
Turn the tree so that you can view the best side.
Decorate tree. It is important that you put properly working lights on your tree.
Put a tree skirt or a sheet around the base of the tree to protect carpet from sap.
Check for freshness weekly by bending a green needle with your fingers to see if the needle snaps or bends. If it bends without snapping, the tree is still fresh. Don't panic if you hear cracking sounds during the night, the pine cones on the tree may open in your warm home.
After Christmas, remove the tree and either place it on the curb for the city to chop into woodchips, or stand it up in the back yard as a winter shelter for birds.
Your tree should last 3 to 4 weeks inside your home with proper care. If tree runs out of water, a fresh cut must be made on the tree to reopen the closed pores.

CARING FOR YOUR FRESH CUT TREE

When you get your tree home, immediately make a straight cut across the base of the trunk about 1/2 inch from the end so the tree can take up water.
If it will be several days before your tree is to be set up and decorated, store it in water and put it in the garage or on a cool porch where it is protected from the sun and wind.
Use a tree stand that holds plenty of water. Trees are thirsty. Depending on their size, they may "drink" up to 1 1/2 gallons of water the first 24 hours. Check the water level daily.
Do not let the water in the stand get below the bottom of the trunk. When a tree is cut, if left for more than a couple of hours without water, the bottom of the trunk forms a seal of sap which makes it impossible for the tree to take in water unless another fresh cut is made.
Place your tree away from heat sources. Make sure electric lights do not have frayed cords or cracked sockets. Unplug tree lights when leaving your home and before going to sleep.

ENJOY YOUR TREE!