http://www.care2.com/greenliving/recycle-pine-needles-make-pillows.html
Make Balsam Pillows and More: Recycled Christmas Tree Wisdom
By Annie B. Bond
My mother gave me a wonderful gift, a check to hire someone to clean my house every two weeks. The gift saved my weekends, and an unexpected benefit has been Mickie, the woman I hired to do the (non-toxic) cleaning. She is the salt of the earth, and an honor to know.
Mickie and I were talking about Christmas trees on her recent visit, and she had some real pearls of wisdom that truly puts a used fresh-cut Christmas tree to great use, ideas that had never occurred to me.
Make fragrant balsam pillows to freshen your closets, and more, from your used Christmas tree, with these directions, here:
Balsam and Fir Herbal Pillows
Most Christmas trees are made of Balsam or Fraser fir, and they make wonderfully fragrant herbal pillows to freshen any closet or drawer. They are so easy to make and with an entire Christmas tree at your disposal, all you need is some fabric and you can make these herbal pillows in no time. Plus, this is a fun winter project.
1. Don’t water the tree for the last two days before you take it down.
2. Put the tree outside to dry out even more for a few days before you strip off the needles, making sure the tree is sheltered from moisture.
3. Lay a sheet down on the floor, as this will keep the mess to a minimum.
4. Bring in the tree, tap it up and down a bit to get all the loose needles to fall off.
5. Lay the tree down on the sheet.
6. You will get sap on your hands, so gloves are recommended. Start at the bottom to pull needles off.
7. Put all the needles you pull off into an old pillow case for storage in a linen closet or fabric box. Everything will smell like the balsam.
8. Make pillows out of muslin or gingham or any fabric that breathes. An old flannel sheet will do wonderfully well! Just make sure not to make the pillow out of a fabric that is too loosely woven or the needles can escape.
Tip: As needles fall off the tree when it is in your house, collect the needles instead of vacuuming.
Christmas Tree Bird Feeders
1. Don’t remove all the needles for pillows. Place your tree outside in a sturdy bucket for birds to hide.
2. Hang suet and other bird feed on the tree, making simple bird feeders.
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10 comments
add your comment »Good ideas - Thanks.
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why is this inappropriate?
Great ideas. I forwarded them to my parents and hope to save some of the needles to make a balsam pillow this year.
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why is this inappropriate?
This holiday season if you go to a christmas tree lot they will give you all the cuttings you can carry home for free just to keep their lot clean.
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why is this inappropriate?
Trouble sleeping in an everyday occurrence for a great number of people. Most of the sleep aid come with harmful side effects and can also be addictive. Use this natural pillow to work wonders for your sleep habits.
autism
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why is this inappropriate?
thanks...
Kabin
Konteyner,Prefabrik
mega kabin
Konteyner
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why is this inappropriate?
I make draftstoppers using 3" wide cotton ribbon, sewn up both sides and filled with balsam sprills. Fragrant and useful. The aroma will come through even tightly woven fabric.
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why is this inappropriate?
This sounds great, but how do you keep the ends of the needles from sticking out of the breathable fabric and making a poky pillow?
Joy @ greenrootsfarm
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why is this inappropriate?
Here's a good reminder/primer on the artificial vs real tree debate: http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2004/12/08/umbra-tree/?source=most_popular
FYI: Alan Gordman included a link to his own site--Gordon Companies--for purchasing artificial trees.
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why is this inappropriate?
alan,
artificial trees are worse than real, they are plastic and will never decompose. Wood is a renewable resource, so is the more sustainable way to go. But you already have the plastic tree so stick with it, but inform those who thought the same as you.
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why is this inappropriate?
It never occurred to me that a Christmas tree can be "recycled" this way, you sure came up with an original idea. The thing is that I always choose artificial trees for Christmas, this way I save a natural trees life, nevertheless I appreciate your practical tips.
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why is this inappropriate?
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