Thursday, December 6, 2012
The Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services wants you to see the difference between a dried-out tree and one that's been well-kept.
When it comes to Christmas trees, the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services has some tips to help you stay safe. On its Facebook page, HCDFRS lists these tips to reduce the chance of a tree going up in flames: Howard County's Merry Mulch recycling program has, since 1993, helped residents recycle trees for free. The trees are delivered to a compost facility where they are recycled into compost and mulch. Check back with Patch in a few weeks for updated information on Merry Mulch. And remember—water your tree. Watch the video—courtesy of the National Fire Protection Association and Underwriters Laboratories—to see what a difference it can make. For more local news, sign up for the Ellicott City Patch newsletter . Keep the …
Sunday, December 18, 2011
It’s always interesting to see which friends and family choose live trees for their homes each Christmas and which choose fake. Even more interesting are those who switch from one form to the other as it seems most people have strong feelings about their
Each year my family treks to the tree farm, picks one that looks special and cuts it down. I’m torn on whether that is earth-friendly or not. Yes, we eventually kill the tree (often sooner than anticipated) but at the same time, we make an effort to plant trees in our yard each year, and we can be sure the tree farm is re-planting. Ok, ok, I’m probably defending my tradition here even though it might not be the best choice. But the experts say it’s still environmentally better than a fake tree. Fake trees are often made with lead-bearing PVC, “the production and incineration of which results in the release of carcinogenic dioxins,” according to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). On the other hand, real trees capture carbon …
Friday, December 16, 2011
Here are some Ellicott City Patch readers' favorite places to buy Christmas trees.
Just 10 days left until Christmas and, what's that, you haven't got a tree? Well, stop by one of these stands on the way home and pick one up! Readers suggested these stands on our Facebook page. If you have one you'd like to add, just click "add" in the top right corner of the map.
Stacy
12:10 pm on Sunday, December 18, 2011
While I agree live trees are prettier, I have always had artificial trees. I just cannot see cutting down a tree that took years to grow and have always thought of the danger to the economy. more ›