rangerdanger
04-26-2005, 06:23 AM
I hope no one minds a camping thread.
To me, camping and guerilla growing go hand-in-hand.
So
To-day's topic:
CAMPFIRES
To me, camping just isn't camping without a campfire.
Ever since people learned how to maintain/make fire, the center of family/tribe activities was the campfire. So it's in our blood.
Of course, campfires provide warmth and light.
But even on nights of a full moon, aith lanterns even, on a warm night, I still like a campfire.
Unfortunatly, lots of people don't know how to build a campfire.
It's not nearly as easy as starting a fire in a fireplace, oh no.
First you have to find a suitable location--no overhead branches for instance.
The you have to clear an area of all burnable materials for a radius of 10' from the center of where the fire will be.
Dig a hole about 6" deep and 3' across. Pile the dirt on the perimeter, the get rocks, about as big as bowling ball and pile these on the perimeter on top of the excavated dirt.
In many locations, you are required to have a shovel and/or water next to the fire.
I know how to make kick-ass campfires. I learned from my grandfather, and once I have the proper materials all I need is a single flick 'o the Bic.
First you put dry leaves/grass in the bottom, then a few twigs and light that.
You also have at the ready bigger twigs, then pieces of wood about as thick as your wrist, then you will be ready for chunks.
Campfires are great for cooking (especially hot dogs & s'mores. Often I like to bring potatoes and/or corn-on-the-cob, buttered and pre-wrapped in foil. These I put in the hot coals of the fire.
Btw, it is MUCH better to cook over coals than flames. Let the fire die down to coals, cook, the kick the fire back up with some more wood.
When we collect wood, we also try to find a big chunk od hardwood, like a manzanita burl or piece of oak/madrone. We call this our "overnighter". Just before the last person crashes, they toss this piece on the fire. Done right, the flames will die down to coals and last all night long. All you have to do the next morning is kick it and it will burst back into flames and warm things (people and coffee) up.
And ALWAYS take Smokey's advice and make SURE the campfire is out--dead out-- before you leave. Pour a few gallons of water on the fire, then kick in the sand and rocks to cover the fire and pour a few more gallons on top of that.
To me, camping and guerilla growing go hand-in-hand.
So
To-day's topic:
CAMPFIRES
To me, camping just isn't camping without a campfire.
Ever since people learned how to maintain/make fire, the center of family/tribe activities was the campfire. So it's in our blood.
Of course, campfires provide warmth and light.
But even on nights of a full moon, aith lanterns even, on a warm night, I still like a campfire.
Unfortunatly, lots of people don't know how to build a campfire.
It's not nearly as easy as starting a fire in a fireplace, oh no.
First you have to find a suitable location--no overhead branches for instance.
The you have to clear an area of all burnable materials for a radius of 10' from the center of where the fire will be.
Dig a hole about 6" deep and 3' across. Pile the dirt on the perimeter, the get rocks, about as big as bowling ball and pile these on the perimeter on top of the excavated dirt.
In many locations, you are required to have a shovel and/or water next to the fire.
I know how to make kick-ass campfires. I learned from my grandfather, and once I have the proper materials all I need is a single flick 'o the Bic.
First you put dry leaves/grass in the bottom, then a few twigs and light that.
You also have at the ready bigger twigs, then pieces of wood about as thick as your wrist, then you will be ready for chunks.
Campfires are great for cooking (especially hot dogs & s'mores. Often I like to bring potatoes and/or corn-on-the-cob, buttered and pre-wrapped in foil. These I put in the hot coals of the fire.
Btw, it is MUCH better to cook over coals than flames. Let the fire die down to coals, cook, the kick the fire back up with some more wood.
When we collect wood, we also try to find a big chunk od hardwood, like a manzanita burl or piece of oak/madrone. We call this our "overnighter". Just before the last person crashes, they toss this piece on the fire. Done right, the flames will die down to coals and last all night long. All you have to do the next morning is kick it and it will burst back into flames and warm things (people and coffee) up.
And ALWAYS take Smokey's advice and make SURE the campfire is out--dead out-- before you leave. Pour a few gallons of water on the fire, then kick in the sand and rocks to cover the fire and pour a few more gallons on top of that.