Pressure-treated wood: In January 2004, the EPA banned CCA lumber. Landscape timbers, 2x4’s, all exterior wood until that time, was treated with chromated copper arsenate or CCA. In laymen’s terms, that is arsenic. Since most playground equipment was built with treated wood, the EPA decided it wasn’t safe to have this on playgrounds or in homes. They switched to a superior way of preserving wood by using an alkaline copper quaternary compound.
I recently bought landscape timbers for projects in my yard and had never taken the time to read the little white strip stapled to the end of each one. I don’t know what it means, but on the strip it states, “treated to refusal.” It actually has instructions on the flip side which state: Do not burn preserved wood. Wear dust mask or goggles when cutting or sanding wood. Wear gloves when working with wood. Do not use as mulch. Do not use preserved wood in direct contact with aluminum. Use hot-dip galvanized, stainless steel or other fasteners and hardware as recommended by the hardware manufacturers.
Unfortunately, boosting the copper content in lumber makes the new stuff significantly more corrosive. Check with the building supply experts when building a deck, walkway, etc. to see which corrosion-resistant nails, screws and connectors should be used.
Audubon alert: I recently received this message concerning sightings of swallowtail kites. This bird has striking, black-and-white plumage and a long, scissor-like tail. In flight, this bird has a white head, white underneath the wings with a black split-tail and black along the edges of the wings. It is already an endangered species in South Carolina. If you have questions about the study being done in South Carolina and how this information will be used, call the swallowtail kite information hotline at a toll free number, 1-888-296-4732. They need to know the location where you have spotted one.
Transportation assistance: There are more people in Liberty County who don’t — or can’t — drive. They either depend on assisted transportation, cab service or family members to take them grocery shopping, to the doctor and to the bank. There is a new group called Living Independence For Everyone, which helps people with disabilities by providing independent living-skills, training and home modifications. LIFE has begun a rural transportation voucher program to provide mileage reimbursement for doctor visits, haircut appointments, social or recreational functions, that are not paid for by other entities. Participants get a travel logbook to record travel information such as the driver’s name, mileage and destination. You complete a page for each trip and submit it to LIFE. You choose your driver — a relative, friend or neighbor. Drivers get 45 cents per mile, where the participant is asked to pay the driver $5 for every 100 miles traveled. There is a limit of 400 miles per month. Call Denise Howard toll free at 1-800-948-4824.
Sanctuary on the Sapelo: On Sunday, I met with Nan Page, director of the wildlife sanctuary in McIntosh County. She drove three of us volunteers to the new wildlife site that was recently donated. She is hoping to have five, one-acre ponds dug on the property. The property is mostly planted pines, but has some bog and wetlands. Plans call for the critter clinic to be built near the entrance road. Nan is going to need close to $250,000 to get started. When we left, we went to Hortense, where a wonderful gentleman, Glenn Moore, met us. Glenn used to run a nursery, but over the years has let a lot of the plants grow on their own and some were over 12 feet tall. He read of Nan’s plight and contacted her to donate as many trees and plants as she will need to landscape the nature trails. We picked out loquats, bald cypress, catalpa, holly, ligustrum, trident maples and wax myrtle. Nan hopes to design the critter clinic like an old tobacco barn. A moving company in McIntosh County has loaned her a semi-truck to move all the cages, crates and equipment to the site. The plants won’t be moved until November. The first order of business is to sink a deep well. It would be nice if someone would donate that. Water is the first thing that will be needed to tend to the animals when they are moved there. At the present location, any animals that can be released prior to the move, will be. To contribute to this wildlife rehabilitation facility, call me at 884-7555.
Big Yard sale: Don’t forget, Saturday is the big yard sale at PoJo’s on Highway 17 in Midway, next to Ida Mae and Joe’s Restaurant.
I recently bought landscape timbers for projects in my yard and had never taken the time to read the little white strip stapled to the end of each one. I don’t know what it means, but on the strip it states, “treated to refusal.” It actually has instructions on the flip side which state: Do not burn preserved wood. Wear dust mask or goggles when cutting or sanding wood. Wear gloves when working with wood. Do not use as mulch. Do not use preserved wood in direct contact with aluminum. Use hot-dip galvanized, stainless steel or other fasteners and hardware as recommended by the hardware manufacturers.
Unfortunately, boosting the copper content in lumber makes the new stuff significantly more corrosive. Check with the building supply experts when building a deck, walkway, etc. to see which corrosion-resistant nails, screws and connectors should be used.
Audubon alert: I recently received this message concerning sightings of swallowtail kites. This bird has striking, black-and-white plumage and a long, scissor-like tail. In flight, this bird has a white head, white underneath the wings with a black split-tail and black along the edges of the wings. It is already an endangered species in South Carolina. If you have questions about the study being done in South Carolina and how this information will be used, call the swallowtail kite information hotline at a toll free number, 1-888-296-4732. They need to know the location where you have spotted one.
Transportation assistance: There are more people in Liberty County who don’t — or can’t — drive. They either depend on assisted transportation, cab service or family members to take them grocery shopping, to the doctor and to the bank. There is a new group called Living Independence For Everyone, which helps people with disabilities by providing independent living-skills, training and home modifications. LIFE has begun a rural transportation voucher program to provide mileage reimbursement for doctor visits, haircut appointments, social or recreational functions, that are not paid for by other entities. Participants get a travel logbook to record travel information such as the driver’s name, mileage and destination. You complete a page for each trip and submit it to LIFE. You choose your driver — a relative, friend or neighbor. Drivers get 45 cents per mile, where the participant is asked to pay the driver $5 for every 100 miles traveled. There is a limit of 400 miles per month. Call Denise Howard toll free at 1-800-948-4824.
Sanctuary on the Sapelo: On Sunday, I met with Nan Page, director of the wildlife sanctuary in McIntosh County. She drove three of us volunteers to the new wildlife site that was recently donated. She is hoping to have five, one-acre ponds dug on the property. The property is mostly planted pines, but has some bog and wetlands. Plans call for the critter clinic to be built near the entrance road. Nan is going to need close to $250,000 to get started. When we left, we went to Hortense, where a wonderful gentleman, Glenn Moore, met us. Glenn used to run a nursery, but over the years has let a lot of the plants grow on their own and some were over 12 feet tall. He read of Nan’s plight and contacted her to donate as many trees and plants as she will need to landscape the nature trails. We picked out loquats, bald cypress, catalpa, holly, ligustrum, trident maples and wax myrtle. Nan hopes to design the critter clinic like an old tobacco barn. A moving company in McIntosh County has loaned her a semi-truck to move all the cages, crates and equipment to the site. The plants won’t be moved until November. The first order of business is to sink a deep well. It would be nice if someone would donate that. Water is the first thing that will be needed to tend to the animals when they are moved there. At the present location, any animals that can be released prior to the move, will be. To contribute to this wildlife rehabilitation facility, call me at 884-7555.
Big Yard sale: Don’t forget, Saturday is the big yard sale at PoJo’s on Highway 17 in Midway, next to Ida Mae and Joe’s Restaurant.