Frazz by Jef Mallett for January 06, 2024

Would that be your partner in the woodchipper there?

Gnarly speech, Frazz.

That scene in Fargo is (I hope) never to be reproduced!

All across America, every year, people will search out an excellent specimen of an evergreen tree — symbol of eternal life — and proceed to murder it and drag its corpse back to their living rooms, where it will sit in a corner and slowly dessicate into a fire hazard (https://youtu.Be/wNBTE71iQmU). Then, after it’s become too pathetic to look at any more, they’ll drag its remains out to the curb, to be carted off to hasten the end of the useful life of the local landfill.

Here’s an alternative to this silvacide epidemic. Mark your calendar now for next spring, when you can head out to a local nursery and get a LIVE evergreen that you can plant in your front yard and have for years to come, enjoying its natural beauty year round while saving money, nurturing the environment, and still enjoying your holiday.

We had a tree farm featured in the local news that rents christmas trees in planters and you can have the same one yer after year until it hits 7 feet tall, then they find a spot in the forest to permanently plant it.

Glad to see this kid’s parents are ensuring that he has a good education in the classics.

Caulfield has seen Fargo?

Once I wondered why I saw so many Christmas trees on the curb on January 6. Then I had an epiphany.

+20 for the “Fargo” reference!

Years ago, an efficiency expert, Don Aslett, figured out that it was cheaper for businesses to throw out their fully decorated trees rather than to spend the labor and space taking down and storing the trimmings. I hate to think of all that unsustainable plastic going to the dump.

Use artificial or “Charlie Brown” trees. Fewer troubles AND trees used up

People concerned for the environment should love Christmas tree farms. They provide an ideal environment for many local fauna, and are maintained in such a way that they do not overshadow and kill the grasses, and are constantly renewed.

Once lived rural on 20 acres of trees and meadows. Each Christmas we and our boys looked for a different breed of tree. Had some interesting experiences. One was a pine sapling that looked about right for the room. Next morning, the heat had caused the limbs to spread until they completely blocked the sliding glass door. [The trees eventually were used for firewood and mulch.]

But the best find was a small fir that was just the right height. We set it up and next morning we came to begin decorating. We found the wall and ceiling covered with insects. Didn’t realize the tree harbored hordes of praying mantises. They were all over the place. It was a great laugh, and even after vacuuming a half dozen times, days later we found more in the book shelves, the kitchen, and the hallways.

Some of our best early memories of Christmas when we and our sons were young.

Then in ‘94 we found an artificial tree that was the classic height and shape. Added a little cross-eyed angel at the top, some antique ornaments from our parents’ homes, others that were made by the boys, and gifts from family. Brought it into the city and treasure it still.

Ok, you finally got a laugh out of me.

I have a Christmas Tree in my front yard and that’s as close to my living room as they get.

My friend lives in the country surrounded by evergreens. So its easy to grab the chainsaw and grab one off crown lands. But I’ve been here 10 years and yet to see one on the curb. The nearest place to buy one is 120 km

Mom made one of those little ceramic trees in 1970. We’ve had it lit all year with an LED bulb. And that’s all I need.

Until it gets too large to hug?

Or we could use artificial trees, but no. Tradition. We have to do the stupid thing because we’ve always done the stupid thing.

Empathy. It’s a Christmas miracle!

The adult caulfields should be a little more mindful of what he sees on tv

They let you watch “Fargo”. Of course they did. They probably let you watch Tarantino films, too.

I haven’t put mine back outside. But I’ve had it 40 years.

They are fast grow trees, easily replanted.

That said, mine is a little fiber optic tree, that can be put on top of a table. Not much room in my house for a big Christmas tree.

We take our trees to Fort Macon state park where the trees are used to build and stabilize sand dunes. There must be thousands buried out there now.

Christmas trees are a crop, they wouldn’t exist if people didn’t buy them.

Didn’t think Caulfield’s age group was "Fargo"s target audience.

I have an artificial tree. Every year. I just set it up and leave the living trees alone.