Evergreens for Solstice
​Did you know that long before Christmas existed many people used evergreens to celebrate the winter solstice? Solstice is either known for being the shortest day of the year or the longest night of the year.  Winter solstice is usually on December 21st every year.
 
During these early older times people believed that the green branches of evergreens meant that the sun would be shining more and the new plant growth represented everlasting life!
 

First Trees for Christmas
​The first recorded fir tree decorated for Christmas was dated back to the 16th Century! The tree was decorated with artificial roses and placed for people to dance around them.
 Christians began hanging
evergreen tips from ceiling and decorated them with apples and nuts. German settlers in Pennsylvania displayed public Christmas trees in                                                                                                  their communities.
 

Fun Facts
These are a few fun facts about America and Christmas trees:

1850’s- 1st Christmas tree sold in America  commercially and the White House had its first Christmas tree which was chosen by President Franklin Pierce.
1900’s- Americans decorated trees in homes with colored popcorn, berries and nuts.
1901- New Jersey has its first Christmas tree farm owned by W.V. McGalliard, who planted 25,000 trees.
1923- President Calvin Coolidge initiated the annual National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the White House lawn.
1930’s- 1st Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree on display- no lights and was a very small tree.
 

Recycle, Recycle, Recycle!

​When the Christmas season is over and you are taking down the tree, it is time to figure out what you can do with it!  The following are ways you can recycle your Christmas tree instead of dumping it at the landfill!

•      Take it to a recycling center in your town.
•      Make it into firewood!
•      Make mulch with the needles or wood chips from the trunk.
•      Do a DIY project with the trunk like wooden coasters.
•      If you have permission put it in a pond, so it can be a natural habitat and food           for fish. 

The following town have recycling plan for your trees:

• Easton-Trees can be dropped off at the DPW or Boy Scouts will do a pick up for a fee.
• Brockton- From 12/30-1/10 on trash day place the tree with your trash. No tinsel or decorations on them!
• Norton-Can be dropped off at the highway department, no tinsel or decorations.
• Mansfield- 2 week-time frame you can place the tree with your trash. No tinsel or decorations on them.

       Ah yes, the holiday season is here again! With daily trips to the grocery store and what seems like an infinite exchange of gift giving comes the inevitable great bag build up. I’m sure you’re all familiar with the phenomenon I’m referring to – when it seems that every cabinet, drawer, or shelf with extra space becomes home to flimsy, plastic bags being saved for reusing or recycling. But let’s be honest, the number of times these bags end up getting reused or brought back to the store for proper disposal compared to the number of times they are thrown away because they cause too much clutter is miniscule. The holidays are stressful enough, don’t let unnecessary “baggage” and a lack of knowledge of better solutions keep you from enjoying all the trips to the store.
       This December, the NRT has been chosen as the beneficiary of Big Y’s Community Bag Program, which has me thinking about just how environmentally friendly reusable bags can be, and let me tell you, the results were not what I was expecting!
         The focus of the investigation revolved around life cycle assessments of the different types of reusable bags and comparing them to single-use plastic bags. One thing that surprised me was that production-wise, it is actually less environmentally taxing to produce 1 single-use bag than their reusable alternatives, but because so many are being produced and people don’t know how to properly dispose of them, they become a much larger problem.
            Many people, myself included, have at one point or another subscribed to the idea that 100% cotton is 100% best and all plastic, in any form, is ruining our planet. To all my cotton enthusiasts, prepare to have your mind blown – a UK study found that one cotton bag needs to be used 7,100 times in order to have a smaller environmental impact than one single-use plastic bag! This number is so large greatly due to the production impact of cotton, the use of bleach and dyes, and the transport of cotton products. This isn’t to say using a reusable cotton bag is the end of the world, but be prepared to use that bag A LOT.
           Most of the green, plastic reusable bags we find in stores these days are made from a plastic called polypropylene. If you invest in one of these bags, be sure to hang on to it as you will need to use it at least 37 times to make an environmental impact (minute compared to its cotton counterpart).
            If you thought getting paper bags at the grocers put you in the clear, you are sorely mistaken. In order for that one paper bag to be less environmentally impactful, you need to use it at least 43 times. That being said, the benefits of paper bags are that they are biodegradable unlike their plastic counterparts. The same can be said for cotton bags.
            This research was only the tip of the iceberg for me and there are many other factors that need to be taken into account when assessing what works best for you, but there are some general tips that can help you reduce your environmental impact when holiday (or any day) shopping this year:

• Look around your house for bags you can reuse
• Plan your shopping trips ahead of time and calculate how many bags you will need
• Any one-time use plastic bags should be taken to a bag recycling site (can usually be found at grocery stores)
  • One-time use bags will contaminate your home recycling
• If you forget reusable bags, it may be more eco-friendly to occasionally opt for plastic or paper rather than constantly buying reusable ones
  • Reusing a one-time use bag either for groceries or as a garbage can liner, greatly reduces its environmental impact

 

Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer
 
Fall and winter is also the beginning of hunting season!  With so many beautiful walking trails passing through scenic woodlands, you are going to run into many hunters. Having your dog dressed with a fashionable reflective vest during these seasons, hunters will be able to identify the difference between Bambi and your pet while out on that stroll.

The Hounds of Winter

Winter Quick Tips:
 

1.      Leash dogs while walking near frozen ponds and lakes to keep pets               from falling through ice.
2.      Keep them leashed at all times to keep your pet from getting lost in a storm.
3.      Create a draft free shelter for pets left outside.
4.      If it is too cold for you to stand outside, it is probably too cold for your pet.
5.      When cutting your pet's hair during winter, leave it a little longer to help with insulating them.
   
6.      Pay attention to cold weather warnings and if there is a bad storm and you need to stay home for a        couple of days, make sure you have adequate supplies for yourself and your animals.