Christmas Trees

[pgsieve]

I know we are quite a bit away from Christmas, but I had a question for my fellow CPers. This year will be the first year I am spending Christmas with my girlfriend- I'm from Prince George, and typically we just go out to the bush and cut a tree down. She has always used an artificial tree and is very much a "city girl". I've talked myself up with the Christmas tree, and we are beginning to plan a day where we go out and cut one down. Unlike Prince George, I'm fairly convinced most places are definitely illegal to just go and cut one (national parks, etc). Can anyone recommend an area where I can go and cut one down? I thought maybe somewhere in Bragg Creek?

Thanks in advance!

[ken0042]

I've never done it, but this website seems like a good place to start:

http://www.srd.alberta.ca/FormsOnlin...eeCutting.aspx

[bossy22]

Here is the one we do. It's put on by the junior forest wardens. Bring a toboggan and a saw and some cash. They have hot chocolate and coffee there.

http://www.albertajfw.ca/index.php/c...christmas-tree

[Northendzone]

I personally do not get the appeal of the real Christmas tree, seems like a waste to go cut down a tree for two weeks, then toss it......

[Chingas]

Because of where I live I have no other option. I have a fake tree and I hate it.

We grew up using real trees and I used to think that my friends families that used fake trees were getting screwed out of a real Christmas tradition. Not sure why but when I was younger It just seemed weird to me.

I love the smell of a real tree, there is no substitute.

[Table 5]

There's definitely a lot more effort in upkeep though in terms of all the needles. If you have pets who like to eat plants, that's a fun little bonus too. But in the end, the smell of a real tree definitely makes it worth it. It's not Christmas without it.

[Jacks]

I just go to Superstore, pay $25 and pick out a tree. They usually have pretty good ones. Ikea has them even cheaper but they get picked over pretty fast.

[KTrain]

I've got to agree that a real tree, looks and smells nice but seems really, really wasteful. I guess if you're buying from tree farms, it's no different than buying any other plant (except that it take 4-5 years to grow one).

I'd still much rather have the same fake one we've had for 5 years and will likely have for another 10 if we take care of it.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I've never done it, but this website seems like a good place to start:

http://www.srd.alberta.ca/FormsOnlin...eeCutting.aspx

I've done this and its pretty awesome, IMO. That said, I'm moving to a fake this year.

[Wormius]

The IKEA ones aren't bad, but be prepared for needles EVERYWHERE.

I just cut the tree up after, let it dry out, and use it for the backyard fire pit. Smells awesome.

[sevenarms]

Originally Posted by bossy22

Here is the one we do. It's put on by the junior forest wardens. Bring a toboggan and a saw and some cash. They have hot chocolate and coffee there.

http://www.albertajfw.ca/index.php/c...christmas-tree

I've never cut down a tree myself but it's something I'd really like to do. How are the quality of these trees compared to a tree from Superstore?

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by sevenarms

I've never cut down a tree myself but it's something I'd really like to do. How are the quality of these trees compared to a tree from Superstore?

Vastly better.

I got a tree cutting permit last year and chopped down my own tree. It was fresh the entire month of December (with sugar water feedings). Almost zero needles fell off it and it smelled great the entire time.

I wouldn't buy a tree off a lot ever again.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by sevenarms

I've never cut down a tree myself but it's something I'd really like to do. How are the quality of these trees compared to a tree from Superstore?

The junior forest wardens are all lodgepole pines. I cut two of them, tied them together and had one tree that was barely passable! That's why I bought a pass from SRD last year to cut a tree, Lodgepole pines don't have a lot of foliage and aren't the nicest Christmas trees, so the SRD pass lets you cut a fir or whatever you like instead.

[Pacem]

I can't help with the OP question, but i'll ad my two cents.

Going to a farm and cutting your own tree is significantly better then buying from a lot, IMO.

A few of us end up making a day of it. Our tradition is to go out for a brunch buffet, fill up a flask with some whiskey and spend an hour or two scouring the farm for the right tree. Easily one of my favourite days of the holiday season. Great way to have a nice fun relaxing day with friends and/or family.

[Redliner]

Growing up we always had a real tree, usually one that we just picked out and cut down ourselves from the community pasture. (near Waterton but outside the park boundary) It's pretty tough to get a good one - most trees "from the wild" are pretty sparse - but just the experience and the smell of having a real tree in the house made it totally worth it. That all changed when I got married. My wife came from a family that always had fake trees, so she didn't really get the whole real tree thing. I tried to convert her but the watering and constant cleanup of pine needles didn't do me any favours and after 4 years of marriage we got a fake tree and haven't looked back since.

This thread is reminding me how much real trees rock though, so maybe it's time to rock the boat this year...

[sevenarms]

Originally Posted by Slava

The junior forest wardens are all lodgepole pines. I cut two of them, tied them together and had one tree that was barely passable! That's why I bought a pass from SRD last year to cut a tree, Lodgepole pines don't have a lot of foliage and aren't the nicest Christmas trees, so the SRD pass lets you cut a fir or whatever you like instead.

That's what I thought when I read "Lodgepole Pine" but wasn't 100%. Thanks for the input slava and canehdianman.

[InglewoodFan]

Another (pricier) option is to go out to Namaka Ridge tree farm out past Strathmore. They allow you to choose and cut your own tree from the tree farm, and they are beauties. Smelled awesome and never dropped a needle, as opposed to the Ikea tree from the year before that I am sure was bringing in needles from other trees there were so many.

I think it was $80 or something though. They have a fire going, hot chocolate, sled rides for the kids. Very nice people.

It doesn't say anything on their website about it yet, but we called and confirmed that they are going to have it again this year. http://www.namakaridgetrees.com/

[sevenarms]

Anybody know good places to cut one down with a SRD permit?

[aaronck]

Originally Posted by sevenarms

Anybody know good places to cut one down with a SRD permit?

I'm curious as well. Sounds like a much better idea than a lot.

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by sevenarms

Anybody know good places to cut one down with a SRD permit?

http://www.srd.alberta.ca/FormsOnlin...ermitMaps.aspx