Zero Waste Christmas

Last year, Sergio and I decided to have a live pine tree for Christmas instead of a cut one or an artificial one.  We got one that was about eighteen inches tall in a little birch bark pot at the local nursery and hung a tiny strand of lights on it.  Santa only gave the girls one gift each, so the little gifts fit nicely under the tiny tree. 

We kept the tiny tree outside on the deck all year, where it flourished.  However, this year, Ruby is especially enthusiastic and was begging to bring the "Kissmas tree" into the house to decorate right around Halloween.

So, against our better judgement, we brought the little pine tree inside.  It did well for the first week, and then started to look sad, and then very sad.  A little research yielded the following:

1. Live pine trees like direct sunlight
2. Live pine trees do best with indoor temperatures for about a month, at maximum

Nuts.

Currently, the little pine tree is back out on the deck and my fingers are crossed.  Please, mother nature, bring him back to life!

In the meantime, I searched for another zero waste alternative to a cut Christmas tree.  After some creative Internet searching, here is the result:

 

Ta da! Fabric tree. The fabric panel was on sale for $4.99/yard at Ikea, and for two yards, I got the whole tree.  It's hung in the hall, from the line where we usually display the girls' artwork.  It has a few ornaments pinned to it, and if you look closely, you can even see the tiny strand of lights that I salvaged from the little pine tree.

 

 

I know some people pledge their allegiance to Traditional Christmas, and therefore, this wouldn't work for everyone.  But, I never really have, so I think this works great.