Around at 8 million Christmas trees are sold every year, with at least 7 million ending up in landfill. That’s 100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases escaping into the environment, causing various aspects of climate change. The modern gardener can make one simple change, and lead the way, by buying a certified organic Christmas tree, which is safe to eat throughout the year.
We all love the smell of the Fir, Spruce, and Pine trees that fill the air with the traditional Christmas aroma. The luxurious sweet, woody Balsam Fir tree, plants itself in your memory; it wouldn’t be Christmas without the evergreen smell, wafting gently through each room in the house. Luxurious, low carbon, and extremely tasty. Let’s savour the flavour of citrus, lemon, and vanilla. But before you start chewing on the pine needles, some guidance and safety tips should be followed:
Here is a little jingle to help you remember which trees are safe to eat and avoid trees that are poisonous to humans.
“The needles of spruce, fir, or pine are perfectly fine. But cedars, cypress and yew will only make you spew.”
Why eat your Christmas tree? A perfectly valid question. A beaver would tell you that the cambium layer of the tree sits sandwiched between the bark and the wood. It is rich in nutrients which keep the beaver warm in winter. Humans eat rosemary, thyme, bay, lavender, and sage. All are variants of woody herbs. The pine needle is no different, it is an untapped source of vitamins A and C and a powerful antioxidant. In essence – wood candy! The tree is an all year round larder for the modern gardener.
Every garden needs a focal point and the evergreen can be decorated anyway you like. Love hearts for valentines day, easter eggs, water bombs for those hot sunny days, Halloween treats, and not forgetting marshmallow and fudge brownies for the winter solstice; the longest night before the tree comes inside to celebrate the festive season.
Top tip – keep your tree potted and watered while indoors. Grow your own potted living tree from scratch, then bring inside after one year of growing.
Pine pesto
Into a blender add:
A handful of pine needles
A handful of almonds or pecan nuts
Parmesan cheese, oil, salt
Then blitz.
Smother over salmon, chicken, or just add to any pasta dish.
Needle crusted cod or lamb
Make pine pesto
Rub over rack of lamb or spoon onto cod portion
Bake for 20-25 mins.
Baked camembert
Poke garlic and spruce needles into the cheese
Drizzle with olive oil
Bake for 15-20 mins.
There are so many delicious recipes available online. Being sustainable is part and parcel of the modern gardener’s ethos. So don’t let your evergreen go to landfill. Buy an organic Christmas tree or ask your local garden centre to order you one. Allow the celebrations to continue all year round.
The Creative Kitchen
by Stephanie Hafferty
The Vegan Cook and Gardener
by Piers Warren and Ella Bee Glendining
Alisia is passionate about healthy and nutritious food and focusses on increasing our range of foods for positive health impacts.