I was on the fence about having a Christmas tree here in the Fig Garden Project this year, but I finally decided my first Christmas in Fresno in a while was a milestone that deserved a little indulgence. I almost purchased a bright pink Christmas tree at a local thrift store, but I decided I just couldn’t do it--I had to buy a real tree, which of course, I will sustainably dispose of once the holiday season is over. But I did not have Christmas ornaments--I have no idea where they are. So why not use local products to make a beautiful Christmas tree? Not to mention I am a fan of food foraging.

The day before I scored my tree at Whole Foods, I decided to treat myself to a mini road trip and explore the little towns outside of Fresno. I chose the San Joaquin Valley towns of Reedley and Parlier. I wanted a tree that would honor the local economy as well as my Armenian heritage, so what could be better than foraging for persimmons and pomegranates? I drove along some country roads and found plenty of trees that were clearly done for the season--and the owners obviously were not interested in the amazing fruit that was hanging from their trees’ branches. The sight of persimmons dangling from bare branches are a sight I remember from Korea; and what is more beautiful than pomegranates splitting open during the late fall.

So here are a few tips: fuyu persimmons are better than the hachiya variety, because the fuyu are harder while the hachiya persimmons become super soft, and may even drip off your tree. Of course, I will simply nosh on those succulent hachiyas before they become a mess. As for the persimmons, be careful as the split persimmons, if they become damp thanks to rain, can become moldy--I had to compost a few. Most importantly, be sure to bring a pair of gardening clippers to make your fruit poaching easier.

Once I arrived home, I cleaned off the fruit with a damp cloth, and then affixed ornament hooks to the branches--a few pomegranates lacked any twigs or branches, and I could not find fishing line, so I used dental floss. The result is a DIY Christmas tree that is 100 percent compostable: with the exception of the LED Christmas tree lights, of course.

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Image credits: Leon Kaye

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Pomegranates from Parlier, CA

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Persimmons outside of Reedley, California

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Splat! Be careful of pomegranates

christmas tree, DIY, Leon Kaye, Fig Garden Project, San Joaquin Valley, Fresno, pomegranates, persimmons, Fuyu persimmons, hachiya persimmons, Reedley, Parlier, Christmas in Fresno, foraging, fruit forage, Whole Foods

Wash your pomegranates and persimmons

christmas tree, DIY, Leon Kaye, Fig Garden Project, San Joaquin Valley, Fresno, pomegranates, persimmons, Fuyu persimmons, hachiya persimmons, Reedley, Parlier, Christmas in Fresno, foraging, fruit forage, Whole Foods

Pick up the tree at Whole Foods

christmas tree, DIY, Leon Kaye, Fig Garden Project, San Joaquin Valley, Fresno, pomegranates, persimmons, Fuyu persimmons, hachiya persimmons, Reedley, Parlier, Christmas in Fresno, foraging, fruit forage, Whole Foods

Be careful while wheeling the Christmas tree home

christmas tree, DIY, Leon Kaye, Fig Garden Project, San Joaquin Valley, Fresno, pomegranates, persimmons, Fuyu persimmons, hachiya persimmons, Reedley, Parlier, Christmas in Fresno, foraging, fruit forage, Whole Foods

Leon Kaye's Christmas tree with pomegranates and persimmons

About The Author

Leon Kaye

Leon Kaye is the founder and editor of GreenGoPost.com and its advisory division, GGP Media. Contact him to discuss how he can work with your organization or event. His focus is making the business case for sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR). He writes for San Francisco-based Triple Pundit, Inhabitat and now The Guardian, for which he writes about corporate responsibility, water, and green building. He has also written for AIA's Architect Magazine. Leon works out of Fresno and Silicon Valley, California, and when he has free time, he enjoys hiking, gardening, cooking, weightlifting, and planning his next trip to one of the 60 countries he has visited. He has an MBA from USC's Marshall School of Business and is also a proud graduate of the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) and Cal State-Fresno.