So here we are, two days after the big Christian holiday, and frankly that tree in my house is looking a little sad and droopy. I do find it a kind of strange tradition: bring a dead tree into your house, dress it all up to look fancy, make it the center of your holiday decorating, and then a few weeks later, take the whole thing down. It’s an awful lot of work for such a short time.
Did you know that this practice goes back as far as the 15th century? And that the tradition really started in Germany, where they didn’t even decorate the tree until Christmas Eve? And then it was with real candles? Talk about a fire hazard.
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And as much as I love the smell of balsam, once the holiday has passed, I’m pretty much over the whole tree thing. Plus, it’s shedding needles like a dog in springtime.
So once you’ve taken all the decorations down and unclipped the lights, how do you dispose of this thing? It’s too big to go in the trash – plus, they just don’t allow that. Here, then, are two ways to get rid of that no-longer-useful fire hazard in your home.
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Drop off
If you’re a do-it-yourself kind of person, you can take your tree to the compost site over at 755 Walden Street. This site that’s usually only open during the nice weather will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Jan. 6, 7, 13 and 14, as long as the weather cooperates. Just toss the tree in your trunk – you may want to wrap it in an old sheet, if you don’t want to be vacuuming out needles in July – and drive on over.
And if a lot of your presents came wrapped in Styrofoam, you can get rid of that, too, on Jan. 7 and 14, same hours as the tree removal. That’s your tax dollars at work.
Pick up
Maybe you don’t want to get pine needles all over the inside of your minivan, or maybe you’re just too tired from all that holiday celebrating to drag yourself down to the compost site with your dead tree. Well, you, my friend, are in luck, because both and the Boy Scouts are offering to pick up your tree on Saturday, Jan. 7. If you’d like to take advantage of this service, reserve your slot by emailing treepickup2012@gmail.com or by calling 978-254-5470 and leaving your name, address, email and phone number. You need to do this no later than Wednesday, Jan. 4, in order for them to put you on the list. Then simply put your tree at the end of your driveway by 7 a.m. the morning of the pickup, along with a donation of $15 to $25 – you can attach it to the tree in a plastic bag. The money goes to support the Holy Family Youth Ministry service trips and Boy Scouts activities all year long.
And if you have a truck and are willing to drive, they’re also looking for volunteers to help with this endeavor; simply call or email Jaclyn Daniels at youthmin55church@aol.com or 978-369-7447, ext. 228.
You’re welcome.
One last thing...
Today is my sister-in-law Diana's birthday — have a happy one, Di! I hope you get everything you DIDN'T get for Christmas.
Do you have something you would like to share? Contact me at stefanieac@comcast.net or Maureen at mcb23@comcast.net, and we will be happy to help you spread the good news.
And follow us on Twitter: Maureen is @cosmo1162, I’m @stefanie3131.
