In 2008, Oregon Christmas tree growers cut and sold 7.34 million trees with a value of $110.1 million.

More Oregon-grown Christmas trees end up in California than any other state.  Guess that makes sense since we’re the closest state with the most people.

For every real Christmas tree harvested, 1 to 3 seedlings are planted the following spring.

Sources:  National Christmas Tree Association and National Agriculture Statistics Service

If you’re wondering why I’m still on the 12 Days of Christmas and it’s New Year’s Day, scroll down in my blog to Trivia Day 1.  There’s a good reason for this.

I can’t say I understand all the legal mumbo jumbo of the new child product safety law but I have figured out a few things after hearing some of the basics.

1. It doesn’t seem like the people responsible for writing the law thought things through very well.  Even in 7th grade when we’re given an assignment to write a report, one of the most important parts is doing enough research.    I think they might have missed a few things. The lawmakers should get an “F” for this one and have to do “make-up” work to fix it.
2. If a company like mine makes a product that is assembled from materials that have already gone through child safety testing, then why should the company have to get their finished products tested again?  That just doesn’t make sense.   When my mom bakes a cake, she checks that the ingredients she wants to use haven’t expired before she starts putting everything together.   If they’re still good, there’s no reason to think the cake wouldn’t be okay to eat.  To me, it’s sort of the same concept.
3. If the people in Washington don’t realize that the law is too strict and revise it, lots of small companies like mine will go out of business.  I’ve already learned about free enterprise and it seems that a law like this is making it impossible for some people to keep their businesses going.  That just doesn’t seem too fair.
4. It says that child products can’t even be donated if they aren’t tested.   And that toys and other kid products that are still on the shelves on Feb. 10 will be dumped.  What a waste!!!  Just think of all the kids in other less fortunate countries that would LOVE to have any toy.  And in America where we’re supposed to be smarter than the rest of the world, we’re thowing them away.  That’s pretty sad!

One guy my mom told me about (can’t remember the exact words but) said something like this.  The lawmakers should have to take a BCST (Basic Common Sense Test).  If the fail, they’ll be “disposed of” just like they’re doing to all the toys and small businesses.  I laughed at that because even as a kid, I can see there are some grown-ups that just don’t have much common sense.  And it’s too bad that a lot of them are in Washington.

As a kid entrepreneur, I don’t have to rely on my business to make a living but I sure do feel sorry for those who use their small business for that.