There are three ways to get a Christmas tree in the Portland area. The first is to go to a Xmas Tree lot in your local area. Since these trees are grown locally, lots are everywhere. I prefer to support those lots that are a fund raiser for a local school or charity. A six foot Douglas Fir, which is the most typical variety, will cost between $25-$35. These trees are fresh and will last until Christmas with proper water.
The second way is a bit more fun but involves a whole day. This would be a U-Cut Xmas Tree Farm. They are located just outside the City in almost any direction. You can find listings in the local newspaper. Young kids enjoy the larger farms that offer train and or hay rides, petting zoos, and all kinds of winter activities. You can select and cut the tree yourself (they provide saws), or you can tip one of the local kids to do the sawing for you. Some even have balers to make the ride home a bit easier. Trees are priced by the foot. Firs usually cost around $3. per foot but a Nobel will cost around $7. You can also find a U-Cut without the extra activities run by a boy scout troupe or an FFA group where any tree is just $20. this is by far the best deal around.
The third option, is to get a permit from the Forest Service and go into the mountains and cut your own. The permit is just $5. but this is not a good idea in most cases. I was at the mountain last Saturday and the snow was over four feet deep making it VERY difficult and somewhat dangerous to try and cut your own. Early season snow is soft ,and you will actually sink up to your waist if you attempt to walk in it (not to mention the risk of losing small children).
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1 The Ethics of Christmas Trees » Portland Interior Design Blog // Dec 21, 2006 at 1:23 am
[...] And what about fake trees? Everyone knows how I feel about fake plants, but I also used to cry when trees got cut down. Fake trees are lighter and easier to deal with. Some already come with their own lights. They are more expensive, but they seem more efficient. A cut tree costs about $25-35. They sell full-sized fake trees at Fred Meyer’s for about $130. You can just use the same one every year instead of searching out, cutting down, and buying a new tree every year. In the end you probably end up saving. In spite of this, I say go for the real tree. I hate fake plants so much that I’d rather kill a real one. Real trees smell so amazing and look quaint and adorable rather than tacky and sterile. Don’t forget that raw materials go into fake trees too. Plastic is definitely not a renewable resource. To read the terrifying truth about fake trees, you can go to your trusted source, the National Christmas Tree Association. [...]
2 Stacy Green // Nov 25, 2007 at 2:30 pm
Does anyone have suggestions & addresses for places where one can find a Xmas tree lots that support a charity?
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