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WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020 FARMERS AND CONSUMERS MARKET BULLETIN – 404-656-3722 – agr.georgia.gov PAGE 15
Forestry Matters: COVID-19, weather

challenges don’t deter Forestry Commission

By Stasia Kelly annual burn ban continue to be required to secure a
Georgia Forestry Commission burn permit from the GFC before burning outdoors.
Permits can be secured online at GaTrees.org, by
As people across the state and nation continue calling 1.877.OK2.BURN or contacting their county
to adjust to the difficulties presented by COVID-19, GFC office.
Georgie’s Drive Georgia’s agriculture community is meeting its own fering a wealth of helpful information on Facebook
For readers active on social media, the GFC is of-
unique set of challenges. The Georgia Forestry Com-
Thru Irwinville mission’s “new normal” strongly resembles pre-pan- (Georgia Forestry Commission), twitter (@gatrees),
and Instagram (gatrees). Our website address is Ga-
demic GFC, with various modifications that are deliv-
Trees.org. We invite you to join us on any of these
ering some unanticipated benefits.
Hello! I’m Georgie, the Georgia Grown mascot. I travel On all fronts, Georgia Forestry Commission staff platforms for valuable information and inspirational
the state of Georgia promoting our No. 1 industry, agri- has been going above and beyond to provide leader- tips to support everyone during this extraordinary
culture! Everything has a beginning and an end. The War ship, service and education in the protection and con- time.
Between the States began in Charleston Harbor. But do servation of Georgia’s forest resources. Much of our NOTE: At press time, counties affected by recent
you know where it ended? Many people think it ended at staff is serving remotely, which in reality has led to a vigorous tornadoes were being considered for temporary exemption from
Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia, but I beg to differ. commitment to teamwork and excellence. With the exception the summer burn ban. Updates from the EPD can be found here:
On April 2, 1865, the Union Army broke through the Con- of in-person services, we’re working closely with landowners https://epd.georgia.gov/air-protection-branch/open-burning-
federate defensive line at nearby Petersburg, where the city and other stakeholders to solve problems, provide resources, and rules-georgia/summer-open-burning-ban.
had been under siege since the previous spring. When the safely stand in solidarity with our fellow Georgians.
line broke, Confederate General Robert E. Lee evacuat- A specially trained group of GFC employees is
ed to the west, surrendering at Appomattox the following on the front lines of the COVID battle, working for
Sunday. The President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Da- the Georgia Emergency Management Agency and
vis, was notified of the collapsing defenses while attend- Department of Public Health. These individuals are
ing church in Richmond. He caught the last train to leave delivering needed medical supplies, constructing
Richmond, escaping to Danville, Va. After receiving news emergency shelters and serving at a large distribution
of Lee’s surrender, he crossed into North Carolina and warehouse in Kennesaw. Some have been away from
parted ways with his executive cabinet in Washington, Ga., their homes for weeks on end.
on May 4. He soon caught up with his family near Dublin. Another group of GFC employees jumped into ac-
Then he crossed the Ocmulgee River and camped where tion when tornadoes recently raked across Georgia,
the Wilcox County Courthouse now stands. The next day, bringing down trees and creating emergency con-
May 10, 1865, he was captured near Irwinville, where the ditions. In several counties, chainsaw strike teams
War Between the States met its end. cleared roads and loaded tons of debris for removal.
These dedicated employees were also away from their
own homes for long stretches of time.
The Georgia Forestry Commission Protection
Department has remained on call and responsive to
wildfire, 24/7. The GFC has wildland fire personnel
and equipment strategically positioned at 119 loca-
tions throughout the state. All 159 counties are under
protection. The GFC also works closely with rural fire
departments across Georgia to assist them in obtain-
ing fire suppression vehicles and various kinds of fire
apparatus, which adds to the capacity of the state’s
wildland fire suppression efforts.
Fortunately, wildfire activity has been low through-
out the spring, thus far. To put it in perspective, from
January through April 24, 606 wildfires burned 2,579
acres in Georgia. The five-year average for the same
period is 1,549 wildfires which burned 14,742 acres.
For the next couple of months, no significant wildfire
activity is expected for the Southeast U.S.
As a reminder, the Environmental Protection Divi- KEY: These 13 burn types by number correspond with the map above.
sion’s annual ban on outdoor burning began on May 1 (1) reduction of leaves on premises (2) agricultural procedures for production or
harvesting of crops (if land tract is 5 acres or less) (3) burning vegetative material for
in 54 counties, mostly in the northern half of the state. agricultural operations (if land tract is greater than 5 acres) (4) prescribed burning
These restrictions are put in place during the summer (5) recreational purposes and cooking (6) fire-fighting training (7) acquired structure
months, when increases in ground level ozone may burns (8) vegetative debris from storms (9) weed abatement, disease, and pest
create health risks. (See map of counties affected, be- prevention(10) open flame devices (11) land clearing, construction, and right-of-way
low/at right/at left.) maintenance(12) disposal of packaging materials for explosives (13) land clearing
A monument to Jefferson Davis in Irwin County. (Lee Lancaster/GDA) Residents in Georgia counties not included in the with an air curtain destructor.

cook GeorGia Grown: Strawberry Cream Cake

Ingredients Directions Let cool then unmold.
Sponge Cake Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Filling
6 eggs Sponge Cake Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Stir well
1 cup sugar Grease and flour (2) 8-inch cake pans. to combine. Refrigerate until ready to use.
1 tsp vanilla extract Frosting
1 cup flour, sifted Combine eggs and 1 cup sugar in a bowl,
Filling whisking to combine. Place bowl over Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl.
simmering water in a pot on the stove. Beat on medium high until firm peaks form.
2 cups fresh sliced strawberries Whisk eggs constantly until they reach a Refrigerate until ready to use.
¼ cup sugar temperature of 105-110 degrees (about the Assembly
1 Tbsp orange liqueur (triple sec, Cointreau temperature of warm tap water).
or Gran Marnier) In a stand mixer or with a hand mixer, add Drain strawberries over a bowl, reserving
Frosting vanilla extract and beat on high speed until liquid. Frost entire cake with whipped cream,
2 cups heavy or whipping cream mixture gets thick and light cream colored. Place one cake layer on serving plate. reserving 1 cup for garnish. Lightly press
¼ cup sugar Gently fold sifted flour into mixture a few Liberally brush reserved liquid over entire 1½ cups chopped pecans around base of
1 tsp vanilla extract cake. Pipe 12 rosettes of whipped cream
tablespoons at a time. Do not overmix. surface of cake layer. evenly spaced on top of cake. Lean 1
Garnish Batter should remain light with flour evenly Spread a thick layer of whipped cream strawberry half on each rosette. Sprinkle
distributed. Divide batter evenly between
1 cup sweet orange pecans or candied two cake pans. Bake 20-30 minutes or until then top with drained strawberries. Place remaining pecans in center of cake.
pecans, chopped cake springs back lightly when touched. second cake layer on top. Liberally brush Serves 12.
6 strawberries, cut in half lengthwise with remainder of reserved liquid.