In Germany, around 30 million Christmas trees are , with approximately 90–95 percent of them coming from domestic cultivation. Entire forest areas are cleared for Christmas trees; the plantations are first established and then sprayed extensively with, for example, the controversial broad-spectrum herbicide "Roundup" (containing glyphosate) so that the monocultures remain free of other plants even without manual labor.
A fir tree plantation on forest land is also considered forest land. Because of this legal loophole, growing Christmas trees is classified as reforestation, even though it has little to do with it. Therefore, farmers don't need permits to establish a Christmas tree monoculture in their forest. The laws are supposed to be changed, but this hasn't happened everywhere yet.
If forestry laws everywhere clearly state that a Christmas tree plantation is not a forest, things could get difficult for our trees. Before forests in other countries suffer the consequences, perhaps we should rethink our approach
In light of this looming Christmas tree shortage, it's high time for a sustainable alternative, at least for everyone who wants to see the world's forests preserved. The growing zero-waste movement addresses this need.
Here are some ideas on how you could prove yourself as a thought leader in this area by building your own Christmas tree, perhaps even as a reusable model:
This Christmas tree is perfect for families with children of an age where drawing and crafting are still great fun. For this Christmas tree, you'll need a very large piece of cardboard, ideally as big as a door.
Possible sources include not only architectural supply stores, where you can get smooth, continuous cardboard in almost any size, but also shops that sell things for people who "shouldn't be stupid." A cardboard box for a flat-screen TV can be quite large.
First, cut out a Christmas tree shape from it, neatly, just like a child of drawing age would imagine. Then, paint it with ecologically produced, non-toxic, and smudge-proof casein paint, for example (poster paint is a casein paint).
Depending on how much passion your child develops for painting, the cardboard is either simply painted green, or becomes its own little work of art, with a suggested background, branches and needles.
If there's a handyman in the family, they might build a stand for the Christmas tree. If not, it can be attached to a sturdy chair or something similar (in front of it, of course). It might also be possible to hang it on a door.
That was the preparation – and this Christmas tree will now be decorated together at exactly the time dictated by family tradition. You can glue the decorations on, pin them to the cardboard with needles, or use small screws with nuts. This way, the decorations are guaranteed to be safe for children.
Tinsel can of course simply be hung over the edge, and a string of lights could be securely installed behind the cardboard; only the candles are inserted through holes in the cardboard to the front.
The Christmas tree as a frame for real fir greenery
Our forests don't just contain Christmas tree firs, which are meant to grow as quickly as possible and then be felled. There are also, for example, native silver firs or the Nordmann firs, which were introduced to us from the Caucasus region.
They have even proven to be less susceptible to late frosts than the native noble fir. Because of their deep root systems, they are also frequently planted in mixed forests intended to become more resilient – as climate change is leading to an increasing risk of storms; they are, so to speak, the "fir trees of the future" .
Because that's what it's all about: the fir branches. The silver firs or Nordmann firs in forestry aren't meant to be felled again immediately. But in many German states, foresters sell fir branches before Christmas that are cut from the trees in such a way that they can continue to grow.
Both the needles of the silver fir and those of the Nordmann fir are perfectly suited for crafting an alternative Christmas tree with fir greenery: Neither pricks, both are a beautiful dark green, and both remain on the branch for years in nature, so with a little moisture they will certainly do the same on your homemade Christmas tree.
This is what a homemade, reusable Christmas tree look like: a wooden board cut into the shape of a Christmas tree, with many screwed-in hooks and eyelets for attaching the fir branches. If there's a really ambitious DIY enthusiast in the family, the Christmas tree might even be three-dimensional, with a kind of "wooden branches" radiating from a sturdy central pole.
This reusable wooden frame is now filled with fresh fir greenery every year and then lovingly decorated just like a Christmas tree.
If you want to know how much fir greenery you need: In the "Sendung mit der Maus" (a German children's television program), they once counted – for a fir tree of average Christmas tree height (1.63 m in Germany) you need 187,333 needles.
And this Christmas tree 2.0 from designimdorf GmbH was even nominated for the German Sustainability Award 2022.
The ceramic Christmas tree
If you enjoy working with clay anyway, you could also make your own Christmas tree from clay. Probably not in a size of 1.63 m, but a small fir tree shape should be easy to make on a potter's wheel.
This could even become a truly artistic Christmas tree that beautifies the living room from November to February.
The living Christmas tree
What could be sadder than carelessly discarded Christmas trees? Dietmar Pick from Zorneding, for one, couldn't bear the sight any longer. Seven years ago, the resourceful tree nursery owner implemented a revolutionary idea: After the holidays, a potted Christmas tree shouldn't end up in the trash, but should be returned to the tree nursery.
What began as a personal experiment has long since developed into a successful model – sustainable Christmas happiness instead of seasonal waste!
The house tree as a Christmas tree alternative
No one is forcing you to use a conifer as your traditional Christmas tree. Tradition doesn't require it either, as there's a much older tradition you could follow: the Christian "Paradise Games ," which were held on December 24th.
There was a "paradise tree" among them, which could very well be a (leafless) deciduous tree . This paradise tree was decorated with apples and other delicacies. It is said that the evergreen Christmas tree evolved from this paradise tree…
Therefore, there's really nothing wrong with decorating the bare winter beech tree in front of the house for a festive occasion. Perhaps not with delicacies for every passerby to help themselves to, but with homemade decorations and a string of lights.
Even more creative ideas for DIY Christmas trees
What does the classic Christmas tree reveal about your creative personality? Probably very little. For everyone who wants to follow their own aesthetic compass during the festive season, Studio Artemell compiled true treasures of alternative Christmas decorations in a YouTube video
Here you won't find ordinary glass baubles and tinsel, but rather inspiring ideas for homemade festive decorations that reflect your individual style. The best part? These creative alternatives not only express your personality, but also save you money and are environmentally friendly.
Of course, these weren't all the ideas for making an alternative Christmas tree. You could also paint your Christmas tree in oil, bake it, knit it, build it from wire and papier-mâché, or cast it as a giant candle from wax, with several wicks running along the sides…
Owner and Managing Director of Kunstplaza. Journalist, editor, and passionate blogger in the field of art, design, and creativity since 2011. Successful completion of a degree in web design as part of a university study (2008). Further development of creativity techniques through courses in free drawing, expressive painting, and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market through years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with actors/institutions from art and culture.
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