Photo: Emma Friedman/WBZ NewsRadio
SHERBORN, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Getting rid of Christmas trees after the holidays might be a hassle, but goats and sheep at Sherborn's Unity Farm Sanctuary are up for the job.
Kathy Halamka, co-founder and executive director, told WBZ NewsRadio that Christmas trees are healthy snacks for farm animals, full of vitamins and a natural de-wormer.
“Firs are their favorite among all the animals here,” she said. “Spruces are a little too prickly. They’re hard to handle even for the humans.”
The farm said they are accepting Christmas tree donations until the end of January.
Halamka added that the City of Boston already donated some supplies for the animals to munch on while they are expecting the whole meadow going up to the farm to be covered with nearly a thousand trees by the end of the month.
They are looking for a specific type of trees, though. The trees have to be 100% natural, without any left-over decorations, preservatives and fire-retardant spray, and not bought from major retailers.
“Our favorite are these trees that haven’t been in people’s houses that long,” she continued, because that’s when trees are still green and not too dry.
Even once the animals are done nibbling at the trees down to the trunks, Halamka said nothing from the donations will go to waste.
“We save the skeletons, as I call them,” she explained. “They’re pretty bare looking at the end, and we grind them up and use them as chips for our 4.5 mile of walking trails.”
WBZ NewsRadio’s Emma Friedman (@EmmaFriedmanWBZ) reports.