Tired of dropped needles mulching the carpet under that cut Christmas tree you bought on a street corner? Get thee to a Christmas tree farm and “cut your own.”

Don’t worry — most, if not all, places will cut it for you. (I’m probably the only person who still goes in with his own bow saw.) Your big job is to get everybody to agree on the best tree! Good luck with that.

It’s a great family outing, and there’s almost always cookies and hot chocolate for the kids (and maybe you, if you behave). And if you’re buying local, you will be helping preserve farmland and getting a tree you know is super-fresh.

Just make sure that wherever the tree comes from, you follow my directions on super-hydrating it before you set it up to ensure a needle-free floor. And, find more tips about holiday blooms and being outdoors.

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