On Sat, 5 Mar 2005 20:16:09 -0600, "Joe S."
wrote:

Pine trees grow like weeds here. A 70-foot pine tree is likely 20 or so
years old. And, the problem is not just the hurricanes, it's the
near-hurricanes. Every one of these trees has limbs that were ripped off
and several of them have tops that were blown out over the past 20 years or
so. Most of these are tall and straight enough to produce lumber so the guy
who is clearing the lot is not charging anything as he will sell the logs,
which will more than cover his cost to clear.

We are leaving the low trees and shrubs -- live oaks, bay, coast myrtle,
etc.

Okay, better understood now. As a novice woodworker, I would suggest
that you get a better deal on the timber than just having it removed
"for free." But maybe again I don't understand the economics of MS.

My 35' high Saguaro cacti are probably 150 years old so things work a
little slower here. (g)

I realize that we have to remove vegetation to plant our houses, I
just go ballistic when I see a developer clear cut an area to plant a
dozen California-style stuucoboxes on an acre, when by selective
cutting and building few-higher quality homes he could make just as
much money and cut down (sorry Danny) on the Californication of
Arizona.