Money really does grow on trees, especially if those trees are on your property. You could be sitting on top of a gold mine if you have a few spare acres lying around.
Timber and trees have made some in South Carolina millionaires. It's a 17 billion dollar industry and the state's largest employer.
Walt and Barbara McPhail own one of the largest tree farms in the state and last month the pair was named the nation's tree farmers of the year.
"Grandma said the first word out of my mouth was 'leaf," said Walt, who's also a doctor.
With more than one thousand acres of upstate tree farms, it's a renewable resource that's fueled the American economy for centuries.
"The resources that were here when Columbus came, when the Indians were here and we have more trees now than we did in 1950," said Walt.
The McPhails are one of hundreds of South Carolina families who sell trees to the timber industry.
Now, the State Forestry Commission is giving other landowners a way to get in on the game.
"These seedlings are intended for any landowner in South Carolina," said Jimmy Lisenby with S.C. Forestry Commission.
Lisenby manages the commission's Aiken County Nursery that sells young pine trees to landowners.
Many use them to start tree farms across the state, although it takes years to grow.
Lisenby says trees are a solid investment.
"Especially if you've got fallow land," said Lisenby. "Land that's not being used for anything, you can put that in trees. That's not only something that will return money to you in the future; you're also contributing to the environment."
"The beauty part of it is, the trees are growing while you're sleeping, you don't have to go out there every day and look after it," said Walt.
"It's not just trees, it's the wildlife, it's the wildlife habitat, and it's all these beautiful things that we look for everyday," said Lisenby.
The Forestry Commission says the seedlings they're working on now are on sale now and ready for pick up by December.
If you'd like to find out more on this project just get in touch with the State Forestry Commission.
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