Maybe you think you have sustainable Christmas down pat; you skip the big hunk of meat for Christmas dinner, minimize the amount of physical stuff given as presents, reuse boxes, choose recycled wrapping paper, buy a live tree and replant it when finished. But think again. You’re not really at the top of your sustainable holiday game until you eat your tree.

Via Treehugger, John Kohler has three suggestions:

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  • You can eat pine needles if you’re really dedicated.
  • You can buy a rosemary bush in the shape of Christmas tree and harvest the rosemary over the year.
  • You can buy an Italian stone pine and grow pine nuts.

Obviously this last one is the best idea — just think of all the pesto you can make come summer. And all the pine needles you won’t have to eat.

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