: Check into sassafras - there may be sources nearby as I think it's mostly
: harvested down outh. It's used by some of the big name canoe paddle
: makers, so it's not a totally wierd idea.

I'm in North Alabame but I have never found any sassafras. I was given a couple of small peices that I used for braces on a swim platform on an old wooden boat. Very rot resitant wood. If I find any I am going to buy it. But I haven't seen any in years. I would like to have some for boat building lumber.