I live in a 110-year-old house and am mildly obsessed with ways in which we can improve upon the space while maintaining it's turn-of the-century period charm. Needless to say, a subscription to "This Old House" magazine last Christmas my from in-laws wasperfect.

While scouring the pages of the December '09 issue I came across a cool little piece on 10 ways to reuse and / or recycle your Christmas tree once the season ends. Check it out.

1. Mulch with the needles -- They dry quickly and decompose slowly, which make them great moisture- and mold-free mulch.

2. Create a bird sanctuary -- Place the tree in a stand outside and hang bird feeders from the boughs.

3. Insulate perennials -- Cut off boughs and lay them over perennial beds to protect them from winter.

4. Edge your borders -- Cut the trunk into 2-in. discs and use them to edge flower beds or walkways.

5. Shelter fish -- Permission pending, if you live near a pond or lake, toss (chemical-free only) branches into the water to provide sheltering habitat to fish.

6. Set a stage for containers -- Saw the trunk into different lengths and use pieces as flowerpot holders.

7. Make coasters and trivets -- Cut thin slabs off the trunk, sand smooth and coat in polyurethane.

8. Chip it -- Rent a chipper and next spring, spread the chips under the shrubs to suppress weeds and add nutrients.

9. Feed a fire pit -- But keep it outdoors, not in your indoor fireplace.

10. Stake your plants -- Strip small branches and use the remaining twigs to support indoor potted plants.