Between the mask-wearing and the social distancing, COVID-19 is definitely going to make this year’s holiday season feel very different from previous years. But one thing that won’t change is the annual tradition of selecting a Michigan-grown Christmas tree.
That’s right – because it’s an outdoor activity typically done with those in your social bubble, both shopping for a fresh-cut Michigan Christmas tree and strolling through a Christmas tree farm to cut down your own adhere to the strictest pandemic best practices.
And to make it even easier, some places are even offering drive-through Christmas tree shopping experiences. Just make sure to call ahead to one of your local Christmas tree farms to see if they offer this service.
And selecting a Michigan-grown Christmas tree isn’t just a safe, fun family activity – it’s also good for the state economy. About 2 million Christmas trees are harvested annually in Michigan, cultivated on the state’s more than 700 Christmas tree farms. Those farms also supply trees throughout the country, delivering an estimated $35 million boost to Michigan’s economy every year.
And they’re also good for the environment. Christmas tree farms not only excel at pumping out fresh, clean air for Michigan residents to breathe, as an agricultural product, natural Christmas trees are 100% biodegradable and have a substantially smaller environmental footprint than artificial trees. They can be “tree-cycled” as bird feeders or used to create natural habitats for squirrels, rabbits and other small mammals in your backyard this winter.
That’s a lot of things those naturally grown and cut Christmas trees can provide.
So, this Christmas season, choose a naturally cut Christmas tree for your home. You’ll be supporting the state economy, benefiting the Michigan environment and keeping an age-old holiday tradition alive. Just because Christmas will feel different this year doesn’t mean it has to look – or smell – any different.
