By ETHEL SKIPPER
The season for getting your spring garden is here.
I was in the doctor’s waiting room and this friendly lady said to me, It’s the time of year people used to hit the bait woods, and she said, Why don’t you talk abou it?
Over 60 years, baiting has been one of the supporters for many of the families in our area – like Crawfordville, Panacea, Pilgrim Rest and other communities.
Transportation was the baitwood trucks. Sometimes it was nine or 10 trucks lined up for the woods. One of the main things was to be at your bait place by daylight while the dew was still on the ground. By the time the sun got hot, you were ready to go to the bait truck for water, drinks and snakcs.
People had to share because some didn’t have anything. I don’t ever remember anybody being bitten by a snake.
After a new burn in the woods, everyone would go there. The bait (worms) were always plentiful.
My daddy made handles for garden tools. He also made sticks to knock in the ground with iron to get the bait. He sold them for 50 cents and $1 or for free.
They were made from a special tree. In the late ‘50s, one of my family members fell off a bait truck and was killed. I have many stories about the baiting – some good, some not so good.
Macedonia Church will have its fifth Sunday Union meeting on March 29. We invite everyone to come and fellowship with us.
Our prayers and blessings go out to all those in need of prayer – the sick and shut-in, to those in need of help in all ways, those in the hospital, nursing home, prison, the homeless, and all in need of a blessing everywhere. Thanks to everyone who called, visited, prayed during recent sickness. Your kindness and acts of love were appreciated.
