Done with your Christmas tree? Feed it to the goats at Mount Airy's Farm Sweet Farm
Dec. 28—By Thomas Goodwin Smith — thsmith@baltsun.com
PUBLISHED:December 28, 2023 at 1:56 p.m.| UPDATED:December 28, 2023 at 2:04 p.m.
When you're ready to move your live Christmas tree from your living room, it doesn't have to go to the landfill. Instead, it can be donated to feed rescue animals who live at Mount Airy's Farm Sweet Farm.
Green trees can be brought to the Mount Airy community garden, at 714 Rising Ridge Road, until Jan. 14, or can be delivered to the farm directly, at 2415 McHenry Drive, according to Farm Sweet Farm cofounder Missy Saul.
Tree needles provide nutritious antioxidants and deworming agents for animals, while also helping the nonprofit keep food costs low, Saul said.
"It really cuts down on our hay costs for probably the next month or so," Saul said, "which really helps a lot over the winter when there's not as much grazing in the field."
All donated trees must be green and free of paint, such as white paint that resembles snow. They must have never had tinsel applied, as such trees would be toxic for animals to eat. Tinsel is also a choking hazard for goats.
Saul said trees can stay green for weeks, even out of water.
Farm Sweet Farm was opened in 2019 and has about 16 goats, six pigs and two sheep on its 3.5-acre property, give or take. Saul said animal numbers change frequently as they receive more or as others are given new homes. The farm is a permanent home for older and disabled animals, such as a goat with a broken leg that never healed and a pig who has seizures, she said.
The animals eat about 60 bales of hay in a typical winter month, which can cost up to $500. Saul said halving January's hay costs by supplementing food with Christmas trees helps the nonprofit immensely.
"We cut [food costs] in half for at least a month," Saul said. "It really goes a long way."
Donating a tree to help feed animals instead of sending it to the landfill is also a great way for Mount Airy residents to help the environment, said Gina Gallucci-White, the town's communications specialist.
"The town is happy to help out a local nonprofit and provide residents with an additional use for their Christmas trees that can help animals," she said.
The idea for a town-endorsed tree donation site at the community garden began when Saul commented on a Mount Airy Facebook post about Christmas tree collection several weeks ago, Saul said, and the town was happy to help.
Farm Sweet Farm also accepts unsold Christmas trees from vendors. The nonprofit accepted a sizable donation from the Urbana Fire Department earlier this week. Saul said such partnerships can be hit-or-miss. The fire department sold all its trees last year, and several of the most significant donors from 2022 sold out of trees this year.
The animals regard Christmas trees as a seasonal treat, Saul added.
"They got super excited when we threw some over yesterday," Saul said. "They eat them, but they also just love rubbing their heads in them. It's pretty funny."
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Tree drop area at the Mount Airy Community Garden. The town of Mount Airy is asking residents to drop off their green Christmas trees, free of decorations, at the Mount Airy Community Garden so the town may donate them to the nonprofit Farm Sweet Farm, for their animals to eat. People can drop off their trees directly at the farm as well, at 2415 McHenry Drive by placing them next to the farm's driveway. The trees give animals, mainly goats, antioxidants and a natural dewormer and allows the farm to save on hay costs for a few weeks. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
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Tree drop area at the Mount Airy Community Garden. The town of Mount Airy is asking residents to drop off their green Christmas trees, free of decorations, at the Mount Airy Community Garden so the town may donate them to the nonprofit Farm Sweet Farm, for their animals to eat. People can drop off their trees directly at the farm as well, at 2415 McHenry Drive by placing them next to the farm's driveway. The trees give animals, mainly goats, antioxidants and a natural dewormer and allows the farm to save on hay costs for a few weeks. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
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Tree drop area at the Farm Sweet Farm. The town of Mount Airy is asking residents to drop off their green Christmas trees, free of decorations, at the Mount Airy Community Garden so the town may donate them to the nonprofit Farm Sweet Farm, for their animals to eat. People can drop off their trees directly at the farm as well, at 2415 McHenry Drive by placing them next to the farm's driveway. The trees give animals, mainly goats, antioxidants and a natural dewormer and allows the farm to save on hay costs for a few weeks. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
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Christmas trees donated to Farm Sweet Farm are piled in a trailer. The town of Mount Airy is asking residents to drop off their green Christmas trees, free of decorations, at the Mount Airy Community Garden so the town may donate them to the nonprofit Farm Sweet Farm, for their animals to eat. People can drop off their trees directly at the farm as well, at 2415 McHenry Drive by placing them next to the farm's driveway. The trees give animals, mainly goats, antioxidants and a natural dewormer and allows the farm to save on hay costs for a few weeks. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
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Christmas trees are laid put for the goats to eat at Farm Sweet Farm. The town of Mount Airy is asking residents to drop off their green Christmas trees, free of decorations, at the Mount Airy Community Garden so the town may donate them to the nonprofit Farm Sweet Farm, for their animals to eat. People can drop off their trees directly at the farm as well, at 2415 McHenry Drive by placing them next to the farm's driveway. The trees give animals, mainly goats, antioxidants and a natural dewormer and allows the farm to save on hay costs for a few weeks. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
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Goats eat donated Christmas trees at Farm Sweet Farm on Christmas day. (Farm Sweet Farm/Courtesy photo)
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Goats eat donated Christmas trees at Farm Sweet Farm on Christmas day. (Farm Sweet Farm/Courtesy photo)
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Goats eat donated Christmas trees at Farm Sweet Farm on Christmas day. (Farm Sweet Farm/Courtesy photo)
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Farm Sweet Farm sign. The town of Mount Airy is asking residents to drop off their green Christmas trees, free of decorations, at the Mount Airy Community Garden so the town may donate them to the nonprofit Farm Sweet Farm, for their animals to eat. People can drop off their trees directly at the farm as well, at 2415 McHenry Drive by placing them next to the farm's driveway. The trees give animals, mainly goats, antioxidants and a natural dewormer and allows the farm to save on hay costs for a few weeks. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
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