I Love Switch Grass

The President mentioned it last night...Switch Grass. I love the stuff. It's excellent browse for Deer and other game as well as cover. It's native to most of the Eastern States. Unfortunately it was over browsed by Farm Animals and in some cases replaced with Fescue, a non native grass. I know it has a high amount of hydrocarbons in it. As for using it in the making of Ethanol, as President Bush mentioned, I'm not sure how that would go. My Ex's Uncle worked for the Forest Service and I quizzed him on the stuff quite a bit. The first year it's put out it doesn't grow well, but the second it takes off. So I've been told. Also if it's cut at less than 8" it will die out. Hence the over browsing by some Animals. I've been threatening to throw some of it out here recently. Maybe when I come back from Iraq(If I go at this time) it will be doing well. I had mentioned it to Dave at Red Georgia Clay, but he said he was too far South for it. Never mind, just being a Rockabilly Hill Billy Nerd.

I really don't feel like posting tonight. I figure I ought to though.I have Drill this weekend. There won't be any posting later.
How the thing works
Here is how a Climbing Tree Stand works. Look at the picture below. Notice there are two parts. The one with the big board attached and another with a small one. The piece with the big board is the part you stand on, the other a seat. If you'll notice there are parts on both pieces looking like boomerangs. Those are blades that wich are attached by Wing Nuts, so that they can be moved. The rails are placed around the tree, seat on top and large part on bottom. The Boomerang blades are tightened down where they fit against the tree. Not seen are two blades on the cut V of the bottom. The three blades wedge against the tree, though not enough to hurt. On the foot piece there are two canvas loops(dry rotted) that the feet go in This is used to pick up the bottom. The seat has two bars with a wedge showing. It's wedged against the tree and is picked up to a manageable highth and wedged back in. The Hunter balances himself on the seat piece while facing the tree picking up the bottom with his feet. Sort of shimmying up a tree. Once in place he turns around, facing away from the tree. It's highly recommended to have a foot peg screwed into the tree to hang the seat piece on once your high enough. That as well as tieing the two pieces together and a safety strap. Falling from a tree stand can cause serious damage to the occupant. I had to drop from one this fall while climbing down. It was Ray's stand and I climbed up it in the dark not realizing it tied together with a string too long. I lost a piece.

That reminded me of my Technical Writing day's. I hope it made sense.

Appalachian Intellectual