Update 2008.01.06: I’ve added a post with photos from today.
Update 2008.01.05: I have photos from my stint at Park Circle today.
Update 2008.01.01: Added a new post with a map of Brooklyn locations for on-site chipping and drop-off.
This winter holiday season, when you’re done enjoying your ChrismaHanuKwanzaa tree (or, if you prefer, like me, a paganish Solstice tree) be sure that it gets recycled. In New York City, you have two ways to do that this year: MulchFest, and Curb-side Pickup. Whichever you choose, be sure to first remove all lights, ornaments, decorations, tree-stands and what-not before turning your tree into mulch.
WHAT: Curb-side Pickup
WHEN: January 3 through 16, 2008
The Department of Sanitation will collect for composting clean holiday trees left at the curb from Thursday, January 3 through Wednesday, January 16, 2008. Make sure all lights, ornaments and stands are removed before setting trees at the curb.
WHAT: MulchFest, Tree Drop-Off and Free Wood-Chip Pickup at selected Parks locations
WHEN: January 5th & 6th, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
MulchFest provides New Yorkers an opportunity to bring their Christmas trees to designated sites where they are ground into wood chips. The chips can then be placed in tree pits and gardens. Parks & Recreation encourages New Yorkers to help the environment and their community by participating in this event. MulchFest takes place on January 5 & 6, 2008 from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Participants are encouraged to bring bags to take advantage of the free mulch provided. Participants will be able to take wood chips and/or mulch home from designated chipping sites. Mulch will not be available at sites marked as “Drop-off Only”.
Brooklyn Mulchfest Sites
| Location | Address | Service |
| McCarren Park | Driggs Avenue & Lorimer Street | Chipping |
| Von King Park | Lafayette Street & Tompkins Avenue | Chipping |
| Ft Greene Park | Washington Pk. & Willoughby Street | Chipping |
| Cobble Hill Park | Verandah Place & Clinton Street | Chipping |
| Prospect Park | Third Street at Prospect Park West | Chipping |
| Owl’s Head Park | Colonial Road & 68th Street | Chipping |
| Marine Park | Avenue U & 33rd Streets | Chipping |
| McGolrick Park | Monitor Street & Driggs Avenue | Drop-off only |
| Maria Hernandez Park | Knickerbocker Avenue & Suydam Street | Drop-off only |
| Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park | Dumont Avenue & Bradford Street | Drop-off only |
| Amazing Garden | Carroll Street & Columbia Street | Drop-off only |
| Coffey Park | Dwight Stree & Verona Street | Drop-off only |
| Sunset Park | 44th Street & 6th Avenue | Drop-off only |
| Bensonhurst Park | Bay 30th Street & Cropsey Avenue | Drop-off only |
| Paerdegat Park | 40th Street & Foster Avenue | Drop-off only |
| Green-Wood Cemetery | 25th Street & 5th Avenue | Drop-off only |
| Green-Wood Cemetery Mulchfest Info: Drop off trees 8am to 4:30pm daily from Jan 1 thru Jan 11. Bring trees for chipping 10am to 2pm on Sat Jan 12; NYC’s recycling bin characters will be on hand from 11am to 1pm. Get mulch year-round! For more info, call Brooklyn Botanic Garden at 718-623-7290, or Green-Wood Cemetery at 718-768-7300. | ||
| Lincoln Terrace Park | Buffalo Avenue between East New York Avenue and Eastern Parkway | Drop-off only |
| Shore Road Park | 79th Street & Shore Road | Drop-off only |
We gave up having real trees a few years ago. I have a modest fake tree that manages to do everything a real tree does except smell like a real tree.
I’m fortunate to have old pine trees in my yard. I cut a few sprays to put inside to impart the essential real tree smell to the decorations.
Our tradition is that when we take down the tree and other decorations, we burn the dry branches in the fireplace, where they give up the last of their fragrance.
Paganish, eh? Now tell us about that broom on the wall. Do you fly around on it on Halloween?
Or is it strictly for Quidditch?
weeping: We take nature where we can here in the city, even if we have to import it!
chuck: Pagan-ish, just cause I don’t actually believe in anything. I wrote about the broom last fall. So far it’s just decorative. I’ve not yet put it to the test for other functions.