A different way to choose a Christmas tree
It’s one of the most popular holiday sales in our area – and we’re not talking about clothes or electronics.
It’s the annual U.S Forest Service Christmas tree sale.
For many people, nothing says Christmas like a tree sparkling with lights and brimming with presents.
Even at places like the U.S. Forest Service office in Colorado Springs.
“My son got to do his first tree when he was 10 years old,” said Scott Steiner of the Forest Service.
Their tree came from the Pike National Forest. Today was the first day that you could get one from there too.
The first day of permit sales prompted a lot of foot traffic in the Forest Service office.
Among the visitors was the Kiser family.
Anna Kiser said, “We decided this would make it a fun experience to cut our own tree.”
They weren’t the only first-timers. Brie Georger is also looking forward to the tree hunt.
“I’m just looking forward to getting my own tree and cutting it down and decorating it the way I want,” she said.
It’s a lot of work: cutting it down, dragging it back and tying it to the top of the car.
Thousands of trees will make this trip. But you may be wondering why the Forest Service would let you buy a tree from them instead of from some lot somewhere. There are a few reasons.
Steiner gives one of the reasons: “thinning those (trees) out will get those other trees more room to grow,” he said.
Firefighters stand to benefit from the sale as well.
“(It will) take out some of the additional fuels along the side of the road, make for a better firebreak if we do have a fire.,” said Steiner.
The goal is a healthier for people to enjoy now – and for years to come.
And there certainly is plenty of thinning going on. The Forest Service sells between four and five thousand permits every year from the Pike National Forest.
