It is a popular sight to see Christmas trees decorated with beautiful ornaments at Christmas time. Some of these trees are displayed by businesses in a central location where their staff and customers can enjoy the sight. The picture is completed with many prettily wrapped 'presents' placed under the tree. Other trees are the showpiece of the home and the ornaments are sometimes carried over from year to year and placed on the tree with much affection and many memories.

There are also, special trees which are mounted by the state for the benefit of the citizens. These may be placed in parks, along roadways or other highly visible locations. People can enjoy these trees and gather around them with their families during the holiday period. The beauty of the lights and ornaments are available to them in these locations if not in their own homes.

Some Christmas trees are natural and others are artificial. The natural trees are coniferous trees, many of which are grown for the Christmas season and harvested to be sold to persons wishing to purchase a natural rather than artificial tree. In a sunny island such as Jamaica, at Christmas time, many of these trees are cut in the hills of St Andrew and brought to the plains for sale to customers.

Natural Christmas trees will shed their leaves and have to be disposed of in a relatively short time. Persons who purchase artificial trees are perhaps considering the convenience of folding them away in a box until the following year when they are taken out again. Like the ornaments, one has only to ensure that they are properly wrapped and placed in storage.

If you decide to enjoy a natural Christmas tree, be considerate enough to cut it into small pieces and bag it before putting it out for garbage collection. It would be even better if you could use the tree as mulch or compost material. It goes without saying that you should never throw them into our waterways such as gullies once you are through with your Christmas tree.

Remember to conserve on energy as you light up your Christmas tree. Go for low-energy usage bulbs such as LED lights. Turn them on for a budgeted number of hours and monitor your energy consumption. Have a prosperous and holy Christmas.

Ann Marie Rodriques

PeaceWater Services

Send questions or comments to peacewaterservices@yahoo.com