After tomorrow, the ghouls and goblins will be put away for another year and we’ll be 3 weeks and 2 days from the start of Christmas Tree sales season. Harvesting will begin in the large production areas soon and the Choose and Cut farms will put the final touches on their farms for customers.
We saw a few interesting stories this week. This one was about a woman who got badly shocked by a pre-lit, fake plastic tree. Link: http://www.wvrecord.com/news/newsview.asp?c=185937.
Now, not only are fake trees a potential health hazard from lead dust, but they can shock you too? Yikes. Yet another reason to use a natural, farm-grown Christmas Tree... they won’t shock you since wood is a non-conductive material. One interesting note from the story: the insurance company for the store where the fake tree was purchased told the woman that she would have to take up her issue with the tree’s manufacturer.....IN TOKYO! Nice.
Here’s another one that was interesting. Someone has kept their Christmas Tree in their basement since last year and say it’s fresh enough still to use again this year. Link: http://www.mykawartha.com/article/5017 .
Now, I know there’s powerful sentimental value attached to the tree for the owners, and we’ve heard of the occasional specimen of tree maintaining moisture and needles for an uncommonly long time. However, we’re going to recommend against using the same tree for two years in a row.
Happy Halloween.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Friday, October 6, 2006
It's Almost Time
Almost time!
Christmas Tree sales season starts 7 weeks from today, November 24, the day after Thanksgiving.
Many Choose & Cut farms and retail lots around the country will open up that day. Many farms are already open for pumpkin sales and Autumn agri-tainment. If you’re going to get some pumpkins to decorate for harvest season and/or Halloween, and you want a fun family day outing in the country, check the Christmas Tree farms in your area to see if they are offering pumpkin sales. Many of them also offer hay rides, corn mazes, haunted barns, gift shops, arts and crafts, and many other activities.
Here at NCTA, we’re gearing up for 3 big things this year.
First is the essay contest. We have had many questions and inquiries about the contest already this year. Here’s an example from Amanda:
From: Amanda Walker
Sent: Sunday, September 17, 2006
Subject: The Real Christmas Tree Scholarship Contest
I have been trying to download the entry form and official rules for the contest but for some reason it will not work. If you could please help me with that, it would be greatly appreciated!
Answer: Yep Amanda...and all other kids out there. The contest will be held again in 2006 and the entry forms are ready for downloading and printing. You can find a link on the front page. The entry form has already been downloaded more than 3,600 times since we posted it in mid-September!
The second big thing we will be concentrating on this year is the 2nd Real Trees for Troops program sponsored by the Christmas Spirit Foundation and Fed Ex. Christmas Tree farmers all over the U.S. will be donating more than 14,000 trees this year while Fed Ex delivers them to more than 20 military bases. It’s an ambitious but very worthy effort. You can read about the plans so far and support the program through this link:
http://www.christmasspiritfoundation.org/programs/trees4troops/home.htm
The third thing we’ll be concentrating on is new for 2006 and related to the Trees 4 Troops program. The National Scrapbooking Association and the Christmas Spirit Foundation will be coordinating Harvesting Memories, a srapbooking crop and shop experience on Veterans Day - November 11 - to raise funds for Trees for Troops, a nationwide effort to boost the Christmas spirit for U.S. military men and women. If you are a scrapbooker, you don’t want to miss this.
Here’s a link to more info http://www.harvestingmemories.org/.
As you can see, it’s going to be a busy year, especially if we see another increase in the number of fresh, farm-grown Christmas Trees purchased for the third year in a row. Check back often in the coming weeks as we’ll start posting more frequently.
Christmas Tree sales season starts 7 weeks from today, November 24, the day after Thanksgiving.
Many Choose & Cut farms and retail lots around the country will open up that day. Many farms are already open for pumpkin sales and Autumn agri-tainment. If you’re going to get some pumpkins to decorate for harvest season and/or Halloween, and you want a fun family day outing in the country, check the Christmas Tree farms in your area to see if they are offering pumpkin sales. Many of them also offer hay rides, corn mazes, haunted barns, gift shops, arts and crafts, and many other activities.
Here at NCTA, we’re gearing up for 3 big things this year.
First is the essay contest. We have had many questions and inquiries about the contest already this year. Here’s an example from Amanda:
From: Amanda Walker
Sent: Sunday, September 17, 2006
Subject: The Real Christmas Tree Scholarship Contest
I have been trying to download the entry form and official rules for the contest but for some reason it will not work. If you could please help me with that, it would be greatly appreciated!
Answer: Yep Amanda...and all other kids out there. The contest will be held again in 2006 and the entry forms are ready for downloading and printing. You can find a link on the front page. The entry form has already been downloaded more than 3,600 times since we posted it in mid-September!
The second big thing we will be concentrating on this year is the 2nd Real Trees for Troops program sponsored by the Christmas Spirit Foundation and Fed Ex. Christmas Tree farmers all over the U.S. will be donating more than 14,000 trees this year while Fed Ex delivers them to more than 20 military bases. It’s an ambitious but very worthy effort. You can read about the plans so far and support the program through this link:
http://www.christmasspiritfoundation.org/programs/trees4troops/home.htm
The third thing we’ll be concentrating on is new for 2006 and related to the Trees 4 Troops program. The National Scrapbooking Association and the Christmas Spirit Foundation will be coordinating Harvesting Memories, a srapbooking crop and shop experience on Veterans Day - November 11 - to raise funds for Trees for Troops, a nationwide effort to boost the Christmas spirit for U.S. military men and women. If you are a scrapbooker, you don’t want to miss this.
Here’s a link to more info http://www.harvestingmemories.org/.
As you can see, it’s going to be a busy year, especially if we see another increase in the number of fresh, farm-grown Christmas Trees purchased for the third year in a row. Check back often in the coming weeks as we’ll start posting more frequently.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
A Few Updates ...
Last week we saw an article describing a news conference given by the Foreign Minister of China. In this address, he said fake trees made in China and shipped to the U.S. helps to conserve the U.S. environment.
Seriously.....it was such a ridiculous thing to say, we had to put out a news release refuting the statement. You can read it on our current releases page.
The winners of the Help Santa Find the Perfect Christmas Tree essay contest were announced. We had nearly 5,000 entries this year! Way to go kids! See the list of winners, their photos and essays here.
Speaking of the environment, particularly recycling...our partnership with EARTH 911 continues to yield results. The number of tree recycling sites listed in their online, searchable database went from 3,540 to 3,824. While the number of visitors to the recycling information on EARTH 911 web site went up over 15%.
Remember, if you have questions or suggestions for a blog topic, please send them in. Rest assured we do work all year, not just November and December!
Seriously.....it was such a ridiculous thing to say, we had to put out a news release refuting the statement. You can read it on our current releases page.
The winners of the Help Santa Find the Perfect Christmas Tree essay contest were announced. We had nearly 5,000 entries this year! Way to go kids! See the list of winners, their photos and essays here.
Speaking of the environment, particularly recycling...our partnership with EARTH 911 continues to yield results. The number of tree recycling sites listed in their online, searchable database went from 3,540 to 3,824. While the number of visitors to the recycling information on EARTH 911 web site went up over 15%.
Remember, if you have questions or suggestions for a blog topic, please send them in. Rest assured we do work all year, not just November and December!
No Rest in the Spring
Many people think that once Christmas is over, there is no more activity for the Christmas Tree industry. Actually there is ... in the warmer climates, planting of new seedlings begins in January, but in colder climates, they don’t start planting until May. After the season, growers and retailers take stock of everything needed for their business, decide what needs replacing, restocking, etc.
For our part here in the association office, we are busy with a marketing conference for the Christmas Tree industry that takes place in February. We work with news media on stories about tree recycling, and we even continue to get questions from consumers. Here’s a recent one from Ryan asking about starting a Christmas Tree business:
From: Ryan
Sent: Saturday, March 11, 2006
I have always been interested in starting a Christmas Tree Business to benefit the school where I teach, and other community programs. How hard is it to get started in this industry?
Answer: Well, "hard" is a subjective term Ryan.
If you are interested in operating a farm to grow Christmas Trees, the first requirement would be suitable land. We offer some general advice in the FAQs section because growing trees can vary greatly depending on where you are located.
If you are interested in operating a retail lot to sell Christmas Trees, that should be approached like any other retail business. First, find a location and secure approval to operate a seasonal retail business there. Check with municipal authorities on required licensing, code requirements, and other business filing. If you are a non-profit organization that can draw upon volunteer labor then hiring employees can be avoided.
Some people would consider all this hard, and other find it a breeze.
For our part here in the association office, we are busy with a marketing conference for the Christmas Tree industry that takes place in February. We work with news media on stories about tree recycling, and we even continue to get questions from consumers. Here’s a recent one from Ryan asking about starting a Christmas Tree business:
From: Ryan
Sent: Saturday, March 11, 2006
I have always been interested in starting a Christmas Tree Business to benefit the school where I teach, and other community programs. How hard is it to get started in this industry?
Answer: Well, "hard" is a subjective term Ryan.
If you are interested in operating a farm to grow Christmas Trees, the first requirement would be suitable land. We offer some general advice in the FAQs section because growing trees can vary greatly depending on where you are located.
If you are interested in operating a retail lot to sell Christmas Trees, that should be approached like any other retail business. First, find a location and secure approval to operate a seasonal retail business there. Check with municipal authorities on required licensing, code requirements, and other business filing. If you are a non-profit organization that can draw upon volunteer labor then hiring employees can be avoided.
Some people would consider all this hard, and other find it a breeze.
Friday, December 30, 2005
Fighting the Good Fight
One of the most frustrating things our industry faces is the way the news media scares consumers with stories about fires involving Christmas Trees. Often, news stories will report that a Christmas Tree “caused” a fire, when the simple fact is a plant can’t cause a fire. Fires are caused by heat, sparks, flames or electricity. A tree can get to the point where it is flammable and can be ignited, but so can most things in a home. The difference is none of those other things are news stories.
If someone is smoking in bed and their home burns down, do you blame the comforter? Just once I’d love to see a news story where the reporter says “We’ve had another comforter fire tonight...”
Often, the news media blames a Christmas tree when it’s not even the first item ignited in a home fire. Read this article the Deputy Fire Chief is quoted in the middle of article saying the fire was caused by a spark from the fireplace igniting an area rug. SO WHY IS THE HEADLINE “CHRISTMAS TREE FACILITATES SPREAD OF FIRE IN PLEASANTON HOME”????!!!??!!!!! Why isn’t the headline “Area Rug Facilitates Spread of Fire...”?????
The other thing that is frustrating is that people believe fake trees are flame proof because they have the words “flame retardant” on their boxes. The problem is, those are just words on a box. There is no testing lab or agency which publishes standards they must meet to use those words on their product. Just this week, a fake tree caught fire in hotel at Disneyland. Here’s a link to that story.
They should use a natural tree with a water stand next year.
If someone is smoking in bed and their home burns down, do you blame the comforter? Just once I’d love to see a news story where the reporter says “We’ve had another comforter fire tonight...”
Often, the news media blames a Christmas tree when it’s not even the first item ignited in a home fire. Read this article the Deputy Fire Chief is quoted in the middle of article saying the fire was caused by a spark from the fireplace igniting an area rug. SO WHY IS THE HEADLINE “CHRISTMAS TREE FACILITATES SPREAD OF FIRE IN PLEASANTON HOME”????!!!??!!!!! Why isn’t the headline “Area Rug Facilitates Spread of Fire...”?????
The other thing that is frustrating is that people believe fake trees are flame proof because they have the words “flame retardant” on their boxes. The problem is, those are just words on a box. There is no testing lab or agency which publishes standards they must meet to use those words on their product. Just this week, a fake tree caught fire in hotel at Disneyland. Here’s a link to that story.
They should use a natural tree with a water stand next year.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Christmas Trees: A Medical Miracle?
I think a “wow” story is in order.
We received a link to a story published by the Toronto Globe & Mail today. The story is about a company that plans to make something called shikimic acid, the main ingredient in a treatment medicine for influenza, from the needles of farm-grown Christmas Trees. This medicine is being championed as the first line of defense against a possible pandemic outbreak of bird flu.
Now that’s a “Wow!” story. Real Christmas Trees will be used to help stop the bird flu. That’s certainly not something the fake tree factories can claim.
Here’s the link to the story:
Link to Toronto Globe & Mail Article.
Merry Christmas!
We received a link to a story published by the Toronto Globe & Mail today. The story is about a company that plans to make something called shikimic acid, the main ingredient in a treatment medicine for influenza, from the needles of farm-grown Christmas Trees. This medicine is being championed as the first line of defense against a possible pandemic outbreak of bird flu.
Now that’s a “Wow!” story. Real Christmas Trees will be used to help stop the bird flu. That’s certainly not something the fake tree factories can claim.
Here’s the link to the story:
Link to Toronto Globe & Mail Article.
Merry Christmas!
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Deadline Approaching for Santa Contest!
It’s not too late to enter the “Help Santa Find the Perfect Real Tree” contest. NCTA will be giving out $5,000 in scholarships or trip for 4 to Orlando to four different students in age groups from 6-18. Plus one will win a grand prize of $10,000 total in scholarship money.
You can read about last years winners here.
You can read a news story about last year’s Grand Prize winner.
You can read about last years winners here.
You can read a news story about last year’s Grand Prize winner.
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