The Associated Press reports on a Portland, Oregon, man who rents live Christmas trees to people who don't want to have to kill a tree:

The Original Living Christmas Tree Company founded by John Fogel, 39, has rented out more than 400 Christmas trees this holiday season, starting at $55 for a 7-foot Douglas fir.

The trees are taken out of the ground, roots and all, put into pots, and delivered to families in the Portland area. Soon after New Year's, Fogel and his crew pick up the trees and deliver them to parks, school districts and other groups who pay around $10 to have the trees planted on their property.

A quick check on prices reveals that it doesn't cost much more in some instances to buy an artificial tree that someone could use year after year for the price of this one-shot tree.

Obviously, however, some people prefer the "real thing," especially one that is still alive, and Fogel is apparently filling the need.

Proving that, once again, the free market solves problems just fine.