Oh, Christmas Tree: At MulchFest, T'Was History In Seconds

It seemed a pity to take down our Christmas tree this week-end. It hadn't yet started to lose its needles and still looked pretty, all decorated and lit. But the holiday season was over. It was time to concentrate on the new year and leave the old behind. Besides, MulchFest , organized by the NYC Parks Department, was this week-end. It just seemed right to start 2011 green by recycling the tree.

Many in the neighborhood had the same idea and took advantage of the giant chipper that was set up on Clinton Street next to Cobble Hill Park. They drove, dragged and carried theirs to the location and then joined the small crowd of onlookers who watched in awe as the giant machine gobbled up one tree after the other and spit out mulch.

Small bags of mulch were available to take along. I'll spread mine in my garden as soon as the snow melts. (I must say though, that I was a bit taken aback by the fact that plastic bags had been printed up especially for this event. Though convenient, it didn't seem terribly green.)

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Mulchfest 2011: Start The New Year Green By Recycling Your Christmas Tree

Yes, of course we are still a few days away from Christmas and your tree still looks fantastic, but soon enough, those branches are going to droop and those needles are going to fall. That's when you will have the chance to start the year off green. Simply take your tree to one of the New York Park's Department's MULCHFEST locations and have it chipped. And don't forget to bring a bag, so that you can take some mulch home with you.

Chip in! Mulch your tree! Help NYC grow!

Bring your holiday tree to a designated city park to be recycled into mulch that will nourish plantings across the city!

Join the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation , the New York City Department of Sanitation, and GreeNYC to recycle your Christmas trees into wood chips. These wood chips are used to nourish trees and plants on streets and gardens citywide. Or, take home your very own bag of mulch to use in your backyard or to make a winter bed for a street tree .

Last year, close to 24,000 Christmas trees citywide were recycled. Please help us top this number!

This year, MulchFest will take place on January 8 and 9, 2011. Parks will host 35 chipping sites and 35 additional drop-off locations: 70 sites in all!

Please remember to remove all lights and ornaments before bringing the tree to a MulchFest site. Biodegradable bags will be provided if you wish to take some free mulch home. Mulch is available at the sites marked with an asterisk (*) below.

Want to volunteer at MulchFest? Register to join the GreenTeam and MillionTreesNYC volunteer group.

MulchFest Locations In Brooklyn

Location	Address	Service
The Amazing Garden*	Columbia Street at Carroll Street	Chipping
Cobble Hill Park*	Verandah Place & Clinton Street	Chipping
Coffey Park	Dwight Street & Verona Street	Drop-off only
Fort Greene Park*	Washington Pk. & Willoughby Avenue	Chipping
Green-Wood Cemetery	25th Street & 4th Avenue	Drop-off only
Hattie Carthan Garden*	Across from Von King Park: Lafayette Avenue & Clifton Place	Chipping
Lincoln Terrace Park	Buffalo Avenue between East New York Avenue & Eastern Parkway	Drop-off only
Maria Hernandez Park	Knickerbocker Avenue & Suydam Street	Drop-off only
Marine Park*	Avenue U & East 33rd Street	Chipping
McCarren Park*	Driggs Avenue & Lorimer Street	Chipping
McGolrick Park	Monitor Street & Driggs Avenue	Drop-off only
Owl's Head Park*	Colonial Road & 68th Street	Chipping
Prospect Heights Community Garden*	252-256 St. Marks Avenue	Drop-off only
Prospect Park*	Third Street at Prospect Park West	Chipping
Prospect Park Circle*	Parkside Avenue & Prospect Park Southwest	Chipping

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