On the Move

Really been busy the last few days.  I have been doing everything I can to protect our corn we have up from the birds, turkeys and ect.  The corn looks good and this rain we are getting today will help.

I have been to meet with people doing the studying for the tower twice and will meet with someone else this Wednesday.  They are doing soil electrical test, plant and environmental study and Wednesday they will be drilling to take core samples.

James, Selah,  and Eden was with us Thursday through Sunday and the highlight of our week was a picnic over at Bowden Grove at our park area.  They played and played in the water, climbed trees, watched butterflies, caught caterpillars, and walked to the swamp.  James did not want to leave.  He said the next time he wanted to camp and stay all night. (More pictures in Family Tab)

Sunday, we made some pictures that we are going to submit in a Tree Farm photo contest.  One of the categories is "Generations".  We made pictures of the five generations of Dewberry's.  I don't think anyone can top that.  We might not win the contest but no one will top five generations!

Busy Past Week

Last Wednesday Dad and I got all of our Roundup Ready Corn planted.  The rain came just at the right time and tomorrow I have got to go over and do what I can to help keep the birds from pulling up the corn.  It should be coming out of the ground.

Felicia and I left Wednesday afternoon and drove up to Kentucky to help Nathan and Liz with their new home.  There were several dead and cull trees that Nathan wanted removed.  This was a new thing for me cutting the hemlocks in the back.  I had never cut hemlocks before, only the trees of Alabama.  We made two benches out of some of the wood and used the other parts to build wildlife dens at the back of their new home. 

Today, Monday, I hosted a trip with county commissioners, someone from the mayor's office and others interested in economic development on a tour of a pellet mill in North Alabama.  We hope we might be able to get this company to consider coming to Clay County to start a new business.   

Yesterday Was A Good Saturday!

This was the first day I was able to hunt and by 7:00am I was walking back to the truck with a turkey on my back.  There were two gobblers and they literally ran to my calling.  I must say my confidence level at calling is at 100% right now, that may change tomorrow, we will see.  Abby and I are going in the morning to see if she can get her a turkey.

After hunting, Dad and I got started working on our summer food plots.  This field will be planted in Roundup Ready Corn.  We also prepared another field and tomorrow after hunting I plan on finishing up our plowing so maybe we can get our corn planted this week.  We will wait until later to plant our other summer crops.

The Turkeys of Spring

These two year old turkeys have one that wants to be the boss!

Prescribe Burn

Got it done today all 130 acres.  When Nick with AFC called this morning and said we are going to try it, I was not too sure because the wind was blowing 25 mph but it was out of the northwest and that was the wind we had been waiting for to control the smoke.

We got a near perfect burn.  The under brush will be killed back and by next week the turkey and deer will be roaming through this area.  They love a new burn.  More food and less worry from predators. 

This property is well on its way to being a beautiful forest. 

Thanks Nick and Josh for a job well done!!!

Is It Spring?

These gobblers are ready for spring to get started!

It was a beautiful morning on Dewberry Lands, wouldn't you agree?

Visitors Today

Today we had visitors to our property.  They were working on a story for the Clay County Life Magazine about forestry in our county.  They made several pictures of different places on our Treasure Forest/Tree Farm.  I made a few pictures while we were out and added some below.

A new forest fifteen years from now.  These seedlings came from the cone laying in the old stump.

This tree is the parent of these seedlings.

I had to make this picture of this den tree.  Notice all of the acorn hulls and pieces falling out of the tree.  I know this is one fat squirrel or chipmunk. 

While writing this we are listening to James Spann talk about how every one in Alabama should be required to go and visit Cheaha.  He keeps talking about how beautiful it is up there.  I am glad we live at the foot of the mountain!