7gen Bloc

Seventh Generation is all about making people aware of the chemicals that affect our bodies, yet the suggestion to purchase a real Christmas tree disregards both sides of the story. Not only are these trees grown in gross amounts of fertilizers and pesticides which contaminate your houses, but does no one care that millions of trees are cut down every year simply for decoration? Although fake trees are made of plastic, they can be re-used and passed from parents to children.

There are some great suggestions in this piece and I more thought needs to be put into wasteful decorating and spending that makes the holidays more about material goods than family. Thanks for the great ideas!

While I do enjoy and look forward to reading much of what your company provides I must take exception to the use of what can be at best politely called "cutespeak'. In this issue it is the absolutely silly and meaningless phrase 'grow the time...' No one ever or ever or ever has 'grown time' nor will they ever. A perfectly meaningless phrase. None of us even 'create time' never mind plant it, fertilize it, harvest it, or whatever else this writer is attempting with the use of this meaningless metaphor. Please be professional, write as if you know how to write and treat your readers as if they are educated. Many of them likely are.

Save paper, delivery fuel, stamps and postage, and a lot of unnecessary writing... send online holiday cards. One site I particularly love is Jacquie Lawson's animated greeting cards.

And if you happen to receive paper holiday cards from well-meaning friends and family, re-use them by either 1)removing the decorative fronticepiece and gluing a new backing so that they can be sent to someone else next year, or 2) cut the decorative fronticepiece into a Christmas tree ornament, 3) or a gift tag. Hole punch one corner and tie it on your gifts with reused ribbon. Remember to recycle the left-overs.

Kent, it seems to me that the author was using parallel form (shrink/grow), which would indicate that this person does indeed "know how to write." I know, that urge to use Orwellian compound words can be irresistible. Also, I would recommend that you add constructive feedback to your commentary, instead of simply directing the writer to "write as if you know how to write". For example, you could suggest that instead of using the phrase "grow the time", the writer explain that less time spent in stores shopping means more time available to engage in family-oriented holiday activities like building and decorating a gingerbread house.

By the way, metaphors, by definition, are not meant to be taken literally. The use of metaphor is, incidentally, yet another sign that this is no novice writer.

My family and I opt for a real tree every year, mostly because it makes the whole house smell like pine. Every year we end up trimming a bit of trunk and a few boughs from the bottom. We have use pieces of the trunk to make votive candle holders, ornaments, and a number of other thing. We wrap the boughs around into a wreath. They look fantastic and are a fun way to reduce waste. And yes, Christmas trees do make great mulch!