Worried about the economy? The environment? Go green by buying a local Christmas tree.

Christmas tree farming is a legitimate local agricultural enterprise. Selling Christmas trees isn't just about chopping them down—it's also about growing them! Just think of all the carbon dioxide that's consumed and saved from the atmosphere by tree farms, and think of all the oxygen they give back. And for every tree that's cut down at a tree farm, up to three seedlings are planted in its place.

Sustainable tree production helps keep soils and water healthy, keeps land in current use, maintains open space, and provides important year-round habitat to wildlife such as deer, turkey, fox and countless species of birds.

How do we know if a farm is operating sustainably? We can simply ask, because we're lucky enough to live in a place where Christmas tree farms are family owned and operated.

These businesses often provide income for local farmers who would otherwise be looking for work during the cold months. Supporting them is good for the community to help increase the tax base and keep our neighbors employed. Plus, local businesses return more of their dollars to the local economy and give more to the community than chain stores, which is where you'd probably have to buy a fake tree.

That artificial tree would also be hauled long distances. While the shipping and trucking emissions are scary enough, the fake tree is also made at a factory that may not abide by environmentally friendly standards. That's a far cry from the trees that grow naturally on the land. Also, the artificial tree is likely made out of harmful, non-renewable materials such as lead, vinyl and other petroleum products, and when it breaks or gets ratty, there's nowhere to put it but the landfill. Real trees, on the other hand, can be chopped into wood chips that are used as mulch and/or composted.

If you've got an artificial tree already, by all means use it as long as you can to keep it out of the waste stream. But if you're still shopping for a tree this year and beyond, go green with a true New Hampshire Christmas tree.

If you're buying from a lot, look for proof that it's locally grown, like a tag from the New Hampshire Christmas Tree Promotion Board (www.nhchristmastrees.com) that identifies it as grown in New Hampshire.

Better yet, visit a local farm to cut your own or have one cut fresh for you. A partial list of farms that grow their own trees includes:

Lasting Legacy Farm in Barrington, 603-332-6328
Indian Hill Farm in South Hampton, 603-394-7520
Defiant Lobster Company in Hampton, 603-926-3910
Tonry Farm in Hampton Falls, 603-772-6213
High Meadow Farm in Strafford, 603-664-2934

An additional business opportunity for the holidays is tree delivery for elderly, handicapped, or just plain busy folks!

This awareness campaign is a joint initiative of Seacoast Local (www.seacoastlocal.org), Slow Food Seacoast (www.slowfoodseacoast.com), Seacoast Eat Local (http://www.seacoasteatlocal.org), and the Seacoast Growers' Association (www.seacoastgrowers.org).