Christmas Tree Recycling at UBC Botanical Garden (2010/2011)

Christmas Tree Recycling at UBC Botanical Garden

Dates: Sunday December 26, 2010 to Sunday January 9, 2011

Time: 9:30am to 4:30pm daily

Location: UBC Botanical Garden parking lot, at 6804 South West Marine Dr. (first left after 16th Ave. when driving north on SW Marine Dr)

Event Description: All donations raised through the UBC Botanical Garden's Christmas tree recycling program will be directed to support educational projects at local schools. This year we are supporting the David Thompson Secondary School garden.

A description of the project from the school:

"The David Thompson Secondary School garden includes a greenhouse and outdoor raised beds that are used by classes at the school. One example use is that students in cooking class harvest materials and contribute them to the food served in the cafeteria. At this point, their contribution to the cafeteria is small, but it's a start. They are looking forward to doing more so they can continue to explore the joy of growing, harvesting and cooking healthy and nutritious locally grown food. A lot of effort has also gone into starting up a garden club, which began this year and has big plans for the spring. The garden club is excited to use the funds that will be donated from the UBC Botanical Garden Christmas Tree Recycling Program, to acquire the necessary supplies for starting seedlings in the New Year. These seedlings will be grown and maintained by the students in the club, so they can enjoy hands-on learning opportunities, and nurture an understanding and respect for the environment, food, health, and the cycles of life. As the 2011 Christmas Tree Recycling Program recipients, the students are also looking forward to field trips at UBC Botanical Garden and having Garden staff visit the students at their school."

Be sustainable and drop off your Christmas tree to be chipped into mulch that will be used on UBC Botanical Garden trails. Please remove all decorations, tree stands, lights and tinsel. Christmas trees only please (no yard trimmings, as potential invasive plants can harm the Garden). Submit your donations in the drop box when you drop off your tree (suggested donation $5).

Do you have suggestions for next year's project? Please contact the Garden. For information call 604-822-4208.

Bonus reading from the Recycling Council of British Columbia:

• Holiday Waste Reduction (PDF)
• The Great Christmas Tree Debate (PDF)

Posted by Daniel Mosquin at 2:06 PM on December 3, 2010