Certified Wood

We recently purchased a new vehicle and were even more excited about that purchase when we received a survey about our buying experience.  This symbol was on the envelope showing the paper came from SFI certified wood.  Wood from certified Tree Farms is designated SFI.  It was good to see the company we just purchased the truck from was using this certification because this is the certification of the wood we sell.  There are other certifications but most of the certified wood sold in Alabama is SFI.  We may have produced the wood for that paper.

Cold Winter Coming

 This hornet nest is about 8 feet off the ground.  There is an old saying that if the hornets build close to the ground it is going to be a cold winter and vice versa.  I have heard of two others at about this height also.  Many times I have seen the nest in the tops of tall poplar trees, but not this year.

We shall soon see it this old wives tale is true.

EKUN DUTS KE

Last week I was continuing my research to prove the location of the Native American Village of

"Ekun Duts Ke" and I found my proof in the Washington Globe newspaper in 1839.  Here was what I had been looking for, proof of the true location of the village.  Some had said they thought it was in Montgomery County in Alabama but I always thought it was here in Clay County.  

The newspaper published the Section, Township and Range of the property as it was deeded to the Europeans that had settled in America.  James and Selah are standing right in the middle of Ekun Duts Ke.

This property was part of that description that was in the paper and the Native American description of where they are standing is also true.  

The word ekun duts ke means dividing line or border. Where they are standing is the division of the watershed for the Tallapoosa River and the Coosa River which was so important to the first inhabitants of this land.

My Piece of the Forest

Get out in the woods!  No electronics needed!  We had fun out on the property Labor Day putting up our signs.  There was plenty of help and excitement with this project. 

Eli was proud of his sign but Granddaddy had to hold him up to reach the sign "ELI MOUNTAIN ROAD".

Eden was proud of her sign naming the Railroad Trail after her.

EDEN RAILROAD TRAIL

Mattie's sign is where we cross the stream to get to our property on the east 40.

MATTIE STREAM CROSSING

Selah was all posed with her sign naming a road after her, "SELAH ROAD".

James calls this spot his favorite place on the property.  He loved this crossing being named after him.

JAMES BRANCH CROSSING 

Educational Tour

Tuesday, we hosted an educational seminar and tour on our property for agency people such as NRCS, Soil and Water District, Alabama Forestry Commission.  This was a project about "Forest Roads" and protecting the water shed.  

Many groups had a hand in making this happening possible, many individuals work hard to make this day a success.  It started at our lodge with the indoor sessions and then when Congressman Mike Rogers came by we actually went to the site where the road work was carried out.  Our goal was to give the Congressman a first hand view of forest roads and how forest landowners are working to keep the water shed clear of erosion which has been a hot topic on the national level the past few years.  We had 34 to attend the seminar.

Wildflowers

Four new wildflower pictures added to pictures: Cluster Vine, Eastern Milkpea, Jumpseed, and Tassel-rue.

Clean Water and Predators

James is holding a heavy rock he got out of the branch that had Spring Lizard eggs under it.  We placed it back like it was so the eggs could hatch.  We have found lots of eggs in the branch and it is full of Spring Lizards.  They say this is a sign of clean water.  The majority of the people in Clay County get their water from this stream.  On to another story.... 

Coyote scat.  We are having a problem with coyotes on our property.  We try to remove all we can but just last week we looked at pictures on our game cameras and one camera had the pictures of three different coyotes.  What is the significance of the above picture?  The scat has deer fawn hair all in it.  They are the number one predator for whitetail deer fawns.  We are going to have to up our pressure on these destructive coyotes.