A Christmas Tree for Almost Free?

America's  National Forests have a lot of trees, and the National Forest Service would be pleased if you would take one.

A memorable experience, cutting a holiday tree is a special tradition to share with family and friends while helping to maintain a healthy forest, according to the Forest Service. For many families, venturing into the forest to cut a Christmas tree for the holidays is a treasured tradition carried on for generations, while others may just be discovering the thrill of searching for the perfect holiday centerpiece.

For every tree that is found, cut and carried home as a holiday fixture, you’re also contributing to the overall forest health, according to the agency. Christmas tree permits are a unique opportunity for citizens to help thin densely populated stands of small-diameter trees – the perfect size for a Christmas tree.

Details and how to apply for the $5 permit are here.

The big "catch" is that the offer is confined to National Forests, the closest to Franklin being the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont and the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire!