Today we are talking a little about being prepared. So, what do puzzle pieces, rolled paper and drier lint have in common? If you haven't guessed yet, the answer is they are all flammable. Anyone that has tried to start a camp fire knows that it isn't always a breeze. I personally learned this lesson a few months ago.
For those new to following this blog I'm sure this story will get you caught up. If not, got back to the first few posts and take a quick skim. So, a few months ago my husband had to leave to run errands and I planned on being a good wife (and a good trooper) so I told him that while he was gone I would get the camp fire started so we could cook supper as soon as he got back. As soon as he left I gathered some branches, twigs and a log or two. I assembled them in the fire pit like I had seen him do and lit a piece of paper on fire, tucking in at the bottom of my pile. I watched in dismay as the paper turned to gray ash and the fire was out. I tried again and again running back and forth from my car to the camper to the fire pit burning cereal boxes, old bills (that felt good) and anything else I could find. I had what I thought was going to be a great fire several times but it kept going out. After several hours and dozens of attempts I called my husband. Trying to hold back tears I explained that I was done. That was it. Building fires was stupid and I wasn't ever doing it again and that if he wanted supper he better come home and start the stupid fire himself. (Patience is a virtue I haven't mastered yet and yes, I was being a bit defensive. After all, who can't start a fire. Apparently me!)
Needless to say, he came home, knocked a few dead branches off a tree, lit a piece of paper and viola, a raging fire. He took the time to explain to me that the wood I had gathered was too green and that dead stuff burns better. Who knew? After all, forest fires don't just burn the dead stuff and leave all the green. I guess that's what I get for being a yuppie. I have had more luck starting fires since then. So, if you have the need to start a camp fire. (For instance, there is a power outage and you want to cook your meal outside.) Little fire starters are a great thing to have on hand.
There are hundreds of ways to make fire starters. They are a great thing to keep in your 72 hour kits or in a little bag in the food storage area. I don't happen to have a picture of this one but I know you can dip pine cones in paraffin wax. The ones below are ones that my dad has been experimenting with. He was nice enough to not only let me take pictures of them for this post but he also game me an assorted bag of them to take home.
Here is what he did. He shopped yard sales and thrift shops for: used candles, rolled paper (like the kind you use for crafts), puzzles that were perhaps missing a few pieces and mini cupcake wrappers. Using a mug warmer, the electric kind that you set your soup or coffee on to keep it warm, he melted a dish of old candle pieces. The rest of the directions for each are under each picture.
For this one he put a few puzzle pieces in a mini cupcake paper and poured some melted wax over them.This one is the prettiest. I hate to have to burn it.
This one might not be pretty looking but it's a good way to recycle egg cartons and get rid of that unsightly drier lint we all have. Put a small ball of drier lint in each of the holes where the eggs would rest. Pour melted wax over each filling them nearly to the top. When dry, cut the cups apart.
These ones are strips of rolled paper. Some he tied knots in first, others he didn't. You can gently place the strips in the container of melted wax for 30 second to a minute then scoop out with a fork and let dry on a plate or piece of wax paper.
You can store any of these fire starters in a zip-lock bag until needed. (Just remember, even with these nifty fire starters it help to have dry dead wood. Green stuff does burn, it just takes forever to get it lit.....)
