Labor Day in May

Our company had Labor Day in May. A Nationwide effort to help out in our communities, and a day "off" work. Here's the write up I wrote for the company blog.

When the Powers that Be announced Labor Day in May, the Coral Springs office immediately decided they wanted to contribute to a region specific cause. Cleaning the beach would have been an easy option (looking at you, Boston!); however, we opted for a more challenging and very sweaty endeavor: The Everglades Restoration Movement.



The crew, bright and early, before the 90 degree heat and 1000 percent humidity set in. From left to right: Breann, Denise, Cindy, Tyler (Jim’s son), Larry, Erika, Rob and David.



The Melaleuca Tree was introduced to the Florida Everglades over 50 years ago to dry out the land for the progress of civilization. Little did our Floridian ancestors know, they were also sucking up a major source of water and the Melaleuca took over hundreds of thousands of acres. The Melaleuca virtually eliminated the natural vegetation.



This is Breann and Rob. We were given machetes (!!) and herbicide. The trees were cut at the base and then sprayed with the herbicide to inhibit further growth.



The trees were then hauled to a central location and piled. Each tree can release hundreds of spores which make more trees. The Melaleuca are better at producing than rabbits.


This is what happens when you take one too many breaks. Off with her head!



We were out in the boondocks, folks and lucky to have gotten back. See what happened to the last group?



Jim’s son, Tyler, is a freshman in high school and about 10 feet tall. He’s also pretty good at welding a machete and mastered the art of chopping the Melaleuca with a single blow.



We went through 40 bottles of water and gatorade, 10 bottles or so of herbicide and about a bucket full of sweat.



The Coral Springs crew made at least five piles of trees this size and a ton of smaller ones throughout the glades.



Larry, Cindy and Denise taking a much needed break.



Larry. There’s not much else I can say about that.



Oh yeah, we’re getting dirty now. Next year, we are doing Labor Day in May in January.



The trees and the debris and the hauling and the cutting was never ending. We would clear out a section, look to the left and see more trees, look to the right, even more trees, behind us, yep MORE TREES!



This is why Denise is our best Liability adjuster. Watch out!



Where’s David?



There was no distinction between the men and the women out in the glades. We were all busting tail!



Sawgrass is nothing to mess with. All of our arms were cut up, David lost the sole of his shoe, Tyler had a larva stuck to his back and I saw two stick bugs mating. On my arm!

Oh, and there was the Red Rat Snake our guide caught.



Dirty David.



Afterwards, we were still smiling, just a little grungier. Hey, it’s nothing a beer can’t fix.