Not too long ago, when we were all riding on the tsunami wave of prosperity, I made jokes about the value of land around Woodstock. I accused developers and realtors of buying and selling the same spoonful of dirt over and over, raising the price each time, divvying up the profits, cutting the acres into smaller and smaller spoonfuls, stretching the land to dangerous limits. It seemed endless, a utopia where businesses thrived, everybody had jobs and folks made more money than they needed to live the good life. We spent money like it was going out of style. And then it did just that when suddenly the style changed.

Recently, I remembered my joking remarks about spoonfuls of dirt when I saw a handmade sign just north of town. In huge letters, strategically placed and starkly visible from a distance, these words greet all who enter Woodstock on the north side of town on Old Highway 5: FREE DURT! Not only has that particular commodity lessened in value, but it has acquired a new spelling which somehow fits its new worth.

For every criticism I offer about spelling, grammar or punctuation, there are at least three people who say, "The error was made on purpose to cause folks to pay attention." Well, it works. I pay attention. And in the case of "durt" I might agree. You somehow want to purchase the "durt" just to help this guy. I once had a friend who wanted to create a little lake on her property. She had no funds for such a venture, but when she paid a visit to the county agent for advice, she realized she could do this with little or no cash. She did some advertising on her own and found there were folks who would dig up the dirt and haul it away, just because they wanted it. And she was left with a big hole which soon filled with water and Voila!- she had her lake. (Sounds simple, but you get the idea.)

I'll have to admit I haven't called this "durt" person to ask where the "durt" is coming from. It may be that it's there, just under the sign. It has become painfully obvious that it doesn't take faith to move mountains here. There are a precious plenty of bulldozers to do that. If we don't like the terrain and landscape, we just change it. After all, when you buy property, it appears on a deed as a flat piece of land, so-and-so feet by so-and-so feet, but it goes to China, or somewhere, beneath it. Perhaps this "durt" is a mountain, but I hope not, since we need more mountains rather than fewer. Or perhaps the guy wants a pool. Or he might be building a house and needs a basement dug out, or a storm cellar. (The sign is within yards of where the May 20, 2008, tornado began its journey.) Could he be a gravedigger who has to get rid of the excess? He might even be digging a well in anticipation of another drought.

The location of the soil under discussion might have a bearing on its price tag. My Dalton friend, Mary Fair, asked if it is in the city limits. It might take a judge and jury to make that designation. The sign itself is in the area where boundaries change periodically depending on which city council or commissioners' meeting is in session. At the moment, methinks it may be in Holly Springs. The mailing address in that area is Woodstock. (It's no wonder the census people are confused.) But inches away is Unincorporated Cherokee County, which was once known as "in the country." According to friend Mary, Country Durt would more likely be free. City Dirt would probably be expensive. Either way, The Creator isn't making any more of it, so "free" sounds like a real bargain.

The March Main Street Sessions program at Dean's Store featured Dick Dowis, and his remarks about the old Burma Shave signs brought many memories to mind. Too bad we don't see those anymore. The Burma Shave company removed all their signs in 1963. Our "durt" entrepreneur should think about this method of advertising. Drivers would surely slow down as they approach Woodstock's 25-mile-per-hour speed limit when they see such signs as "Some durt is cheap, but ours is free. Then hang around for the spelling bee." Or "Remove our durt and you will find ... some level ground was left behind." A little brevity goes a long way. "To make durt from lots of dust, April showers are a must." Or, "The drought turned durt into fine dust. We prayed for rain, just and unjust." "Durt was cheap before the flood ... turned the durt to sloppy mud." Enough.

A recent inquiry concerning signage raised my concern for the plight of the unemployed, not just here, but everywhere. In these troubled times, should we not be more lenient as folks try to advertise their goods and services? As we struggle through recovery, we should surely give folks a fighting chance to keep their heads above water. I don't really need any more dirt than I have already. But somebody does. And those yard sale signs? Follow them. They lead to the only items in our economy that are neither imported nor taxed by the seller!

Juanita Hughes is the retired manager of the Woodstock Public Library.