Inside Duke Medicine
Christmas tree sale supports organic farm
posted November 3rd, 2008
The Duke University student chapter of the Society of American Foresters (SAF) is taking orders for North Carolina-grown Fraser fir Christmas trees. Proceeds will help fund a new, student-managed organic Christmas tree farm in Duke Forest.
Trees between 5 feet and 10 feet tall are available for pre-order through Friday, Nov. 7. Prices range from $35 to $125.
Pre-ordered trees can be picked up on Saturday, Nov. 29, or Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Duke Forest shed on Lemur Lane, located off Erwin Road near the Cameron Boulevard roundabout west of U.S. 15-501. Retail sales will also be conducted on those days.
To order and for more information go to www.nicholas.duke.edu/christmastrees.
The Fraser firs being sold this year are not organic, but they have been grown using integrated pest management to minimize pesticide use.
In December, SAF members will use proceeds from the sale to plant their first batch of organic Leyland cypress, Arizona cypress and Eastern red cedar trees on a three-acre plot of cleared land in Duke Forest. Trees planted this year will be ready for harvest in four or five years.