Christmas Trees Options in Fort Collins

If you are new to town or have been here for many years you may not be aware of all the different options for Christmas trees.  I have a background in Ecology and am concerned about my impact on the environment, so I have always felt a bit torn when facing the Christmas tree dilemma.  Nothing screams the holidays like a fresh cut Christmas tree, covered in lights and ornaments forming the centerpiece of your holiday season.  However, I always think about where that tree came from and feel those pangs of post holiday guilt when I drop it off at the Christmas tree "recycling center".  The good news is that there are some conscientious options right here in our own back yard. 

We have a great program here put on through the Canyon Lakes Ranger District of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest.  You can go cut your own Christmas tree up near Red Feather Lakes.  Now, I know your next thought....but Erik, you think it is great to go cut a tree down in the national forest.  Isn't all the logging and clear cutting a problem?  Not in this case.  This is a specially designated area that is an old clear cut that is in a rejuvenation phase.  The young trees are coming in very thickly and need to be thinned.  By properly choosing your tree, you are actually making a healthier forest by allowing room for the remaining trees to grow properly, stretch their limbs, so to speak. 

You can get all the details by HERE.  For $10, pack a picnic lunch and hot chocolate, and take your family and friends, dogs, cats, parakeets, up to the cutting area near Red Feather and choose your tree.  The dates are Dec. 3rd-11th.  You can buy permits there BUT ONLY ON THE WEEKENDS.  For a during the week cutting, pick up your permit from the Ranger Office in FC before you go.

This is a great program and lots of fun.  If you can't make it all the way to cut your own, then head out to the tree lot beside the Bellvue Bean.  They cut trees from the same area of the national forest and you can get some great hot drinks and food from The Bean while you are there. 

When choosing your tree always think about where that tree is from.  A fir shipped in from Washington or Oregon may be pretty, but think of the impact of shipping that tree across the country.  Choose a local tree and a local supplier when making your purchase. 

Also, a live tree that you can plant after the holidays is also a great option.  I am sure one of the local nurseries would be thrilled to help you out.

Here is to Happy Holidays!

Fort Collins Schools

We are really lucky here in Fort Collins to have great schools.  It is a testament to the Poudre School District that there are so many options.  The PSD School Choice programs allows families to select the school that best meets their child's educational needs.  For a serious overview go to THIS PAGE and click on the link to download the "Educational Choices" overview near the bottom of the page. 

School options in the area include Standards-Driven Curriculum Schools, Special Focus Schools (bilingual immersion, gifted and talented, and science, the arts, or technology focused), Core Knowledge Schools, International Baccalaureate Schools, Advanced Placement and Post-Secondary and Career Credit Options. 

I think one reason for the quality of our schools is the collective brainpower of the community.  Fort Collins as a city has a very high percentage of residents with post-secondary degrees.  Here are some stats from a survey of the most educated cities in the US.  Fort Collins is fifth on the list. 

Graduate and/or Professional Degree: 16.66%
Bachelor's Degree: 24.39%
Associate Degree or Some College: 31.81%
High School Diploma: 20.43%

 

All of this secondary education means that residents understand the value of education and support it both in the schools and at home.  These people volunteer in their child's schools and when the teacher wants to have a special section on Geology, they don't just show a video, they bring in little Susie's dad who happens to be a Geology Professor at CSU.  When they take the field trip to the Aquarium in Denver one of the chaperones is little Johnie's mom who is a Professor of Marine Biology.  

All of this and the best news is that these schools are all public!

Fort Collins in the 8 Healthiest Housing Markets in Builder Magazine

As those of us that live here know Fort Collins is a great place to live.  This is good news for the housing market as 2012 is shaping up to be a strong year.  Check out this summary of an article in Builder Magazine where Fort Collins makes #2 on the list

 Article Excerpt:  "Many of the housing markets projected to have the biggest gains into 2012 tend to be the home to major universities, strong private sector employment, or have nearby military bases, according to a list of the healthiest housing markets by Builder Magazine."

We have both a major university and a strong private sector here in Fort Collins and unemployment is on the decline with the Unemployment Rate at 6.0% for September 2011.  This is down from a high of 8.5% in January 2010.  A positive growth outlook and declining unemployment all point towards rising home prices in 2012.  Time to enjoy these historic low interest rates while you can.