Creating a natural outdoor Christmas tree with treats that animals will love is the perfect eco-friendly activity and can be done in the days leading up to the holidays. For children especially, the eco-friendly Christmas tree project will remind them to be thankful for nature’s precious gifts, and it will be a great family bonding experience. A wonderful time to decorate the tree is on Christmas Eve during a family gathering.
Bundle up if the weather is cold with sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents and head outside with arms full of "green" decorations, animal treats, and a thermos of hot chocolate for all to share while making the eco-friendly Christmas tree.
Picking Out a Perfect Christmas Tree
If evergreen trees are alive and well in the yard, take advantage of those for the Christmas tree project. If not, purchase one and establish it in the yard somewhere visible but private enough so that the animals will feel safe. Setting the Christmas tree up near a few bushes is a good idea for the birds. Also, in case mice, raccoons, or larger creatures like bears are attracted to the tree, keep it at least several yards from the house.
Creating and Gathering Eco-Friendly, Natural Decorations
There are endless ideas for decorating an outdoor tree for the animals. Popcorn and/or cranberry garland using biodegradable string, pinecones with peanut butter and seeds, cracked corn sprinkles, suet cakes, and sliced dried apples and pears can be easily fastened to the tree and will attract a variety of birds and animals. Water is also a precious commodity and can be placed in bowls underneath or nearby the eco-friendly Christmas tree.
Replenishing Treats on the Christmas Tree
Keep the animals coming throughout the winter by replenishing the Christmas treats and decorations weekly. Water bowls may need to be changed on a daily basis to ensure that they do not freeze. If the tree was store-bought and begins to dry out, replace it altogether with a new tree or a snowman with treats sprinkled on and around it.
Eco-Friendly Christmas Tree Tips for Animal Safety
When welcoming animals into the yard for a Christmas feast, the ultimate goal must be to give them food that is safe. Here are a few pointers to follow when considering what decorations to hang:
- Make sure any string is biodegradable, edible, or securely fastened so animals cannot pull it off.
- Some of the best, safest, and cheapest decorations can be found during a nature hike in the back yard. Collect branches of evergreen, berries, acorns or other nuts, and use these to embellish the tree too.
- Never use glue to bind decorations, since it can be toxic to animals. Suet, peanut butter, Crisco, dried egg whites or other natural substances work just as well.
- Check with a local animal feed store or farm for more suggestions on how to be safe and attract only certain kinds of animals.
- Take the idea one step further by adorning the yard with nature-friendly items instead of dangerous Christmas ornaments that might blow away and eventually harm animals and the environment.
Decorating a natural, edible eco-friendly Christmas tree for the birds and backyard critters will be a great way to honor nature and keep the holiday a “green” one. This special holiday activity could also potentially be an enjoyable new tradition for the whole family and one that the children will remember fondly.
Try these no-bake Christmas cookies for a great human treat! They are delicious to eat while watching a heart-warming Christmas movie. Need some more holiday activity ideas? Try playing this Christmas carol game with family and friends.
Karen Plumley - Karen Plumley is a writer specializing in parenting and education. She works for Parenting NH and the Hippo, NH's most widely read ...
