Maybe that Tree just Needs a Little Love

Every year about this time, millions and millions of people begin the annual ritual of Christmas decorating. To many of us, our Christmas trees, whether real or artificial, signify the magical time of year when we gather with friends and loved ones for fellowship, celebration of our beliefs, and a reflection of an eventful year.

Unless a decorated home is occupied by the small percentage of folks that channel their inner Clark Griswold to brave the elements and cut their own tree, it is highly likely that the center piece of any decorated tree grown on farms in America was delivered to the point of sale on a truck. What many of us don't know is how that tree actually came to be a joyous display for us. Some fun facts you may not have known about live Christmas trees:

• Depending on species, the average growth time for a tree from seed to cutting height is 10 to 12 years. The average American will be alive for approximately 8 full seed-to-seedling growth cycles.
• Your tree is one of about 27 million sold in the US each year.
• Approximately 2000 trees are grown on one acre of land.
• Those 2000 trees provide the daily oxygen requirement for 18 people.
• It takes the equivalent of 13,500 acres or 21 square miles of land to supply our nation with Christmas trees for 1 year.
• There are as many as 350,000,000 Christmas trees currently growing in the US.
• For every Christmas season, the equivalent of an additional 175,000 acres or 273 squares miles (a little less than the entire city of Charlotte, NC) of land is being used to grow trees for the future.
• It is most likely that your live tree came from one of 7 states: Oregon, Washington, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Virginia, or Pennsylvania though all 50 states do have farms that grow trees.
• For every tree cut, 1 to 3 seedlings are planted.
• It takes around 32,000 trucks each year to move trees to the point of sale.
• If every real tree was recycled each year, it would produce 500,000,000 lbs. of mulch.

As you admire the many decorated real trees this year, take a few minutes to appreciate the fact that you helped to support one of thousands of farmers that grow trees, one of thousands of carriers that haul trees, the employment of hundreds of thousands of laborers, drivers, and retail sales people.

That sure makes the tree chosen even nicer.

Merry Christmas! 

Gerald Ebert. Ebert started his career with the ALC in San Antonio in 1999 under Eddie Lund. He returned to his home state of Virginia in 2000 where he went to work for the start up office in Richmond. He was promoted to Manager in 2001 and subsequently built a team of employees that have developed the office into a solid contributor year in and year out. The Richmond office was awarded the coveted "Gear Up" trophy in 2006 after 48 consecutive months of growth.