Week 1

Forward: The Group Thins But The Plot Thickens

Upon returning from the Triangle Y-Camp in Oracle,AZ we began training in Congaree National Park, the largest remaining contiguous tract of bottomland hardwood floodplain forest in the US. We became acquainted with the arsenal we would be brandishing for the rest of the season including herbicides, brush cutters, and chainsaws. We became masters of backing up our pickup truck and trailer as well. We were introduced to the wonders of the park such as centuries old bald cypresses, long leaf pines, pileated woodpeckers, feral hogs, snakes, and even a National Champion loblolly pine tree. Most importantly we learned how to identify and eradicate our invasive enemies, among them, privet, kudzu, wisteria, Japanese honeysuckle, and Japanese climbing fern.