On Decimated Shore, a Second Life for Christmas Trees

[elleng]

LONG BEACH, N.Y. — It is February, but the smell of Christmas wafts up from the shores of Long Beach these days.

Thousands of Christmas trees, stripped of lights and ornaments, have been arranged along the beach here as part of an unusual plan to restore the protective dunes washed away by Hurricane Sandy. The trees are supposed to catch sand blown by the wind, until gradually the dunes grow up around them.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/04/nyregion/on-decimated-shore-a-second-life-for-christmas-trees.html?hp

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. They do this yearly in Galveston and along the shores of the Texas Gulf Coast.

It's not so unusual. Perhaps for New Yorkers...

http://www.chron.com/life/gardening/article/Where-to-recycle-your-Christmas-tree-1749776.php

[ProSense]

3. The article states:

The method is not uncommon, particularly in areas like the Carolinas and Florida that are prone to hurricanes. It can take two to three years for dunes to become fully reestablished after a major storm.

The afterlives of Christmas trees can be quite dynamic. In southern Louisiana, the trees are woven into fences and used to block dangerous levels of saltwater from flowing into coastal wetlands. They have been used in Illinois to create nesting structures for herons and egrets forced from natural habitats by development.

I think it's more about efforts to recover from the Hurricane Sandy. Still, a very good effort.

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. Didn't read the article.

Doesn't really matter.

Good that New York is finally catching on to environment-saving practices that are in use all over the country. (we did this along the shores in Michigan as well--with no hurricanes in sight)

[msongs]

2. seems like a good idea. nt

[Freddie]

5. Good

Our township collects them and turns them into mulch they use in the parks, so I feel good taking it to the recycling place even though it gets needles all over the car.