The article quotes Palin as saying:
"The evergreens would be put to good use to build and heat homes, . . ."
Apparently you did not read the text of the article closely enough so as to follow Palin's argument regarding the value of pine to the early colonists. Th value of pine wood for home heating is negative, not positive as Palin claims.
Go back and read Post #6, whose import you may have missed.
Seriously? That is what you got from the article?
The evergreens would be put to good use to build and heat homes, lay trails, and build rugged ship masts for maritime shipping and a future navy.Mmm, if it's a choice between burning pine and freezing to death, I know what I'd do.
It's not like they could have picked up an canister of propane at the local Home Depot.