Who Doesn't Love A Good Bonfire?

Starting Bonfires

Starting a fire or a bonfire can be difficult. But not if you have the correct tools. I've been trying to teach myself how to start fires without matches and it has not gone so well.  I need more practice.

It's funny how fire can attract people.  I started the bonfire and neighbors joined in and we sat around the fire until around 3 am.

This is very important to remember. 

In a SHTF situation, starting a fire can invite unwanted guests. It's important that you build small contained fires that can't be seen from miles away. The wind can carry the smell of smoke, flames can be seen and smoke and ash travel.

I had a lot of brush to burn and downed trees from this winter. My fire pit is huge! About 10 Feet long and 4 feet wide and 3 feet deep at one end.  Go big or go home!

I'm going to put some of the ash in my compost pile and I read somewhere that if sprinkled around a garden bed it can be used as a natural pest deterrent. I'll let you know if that really works or not.

Unfortunately, I was not successful in starting the fire without a match so to speak.  I used a road flare.  I'm thinking of keeping a few road flares in my B.O.B.

What do you use to start safely start a fire?  Do you dig a pit so it can't be as easily seen?

Time to Get Back To Gardening

My family had massive gardens. I'm talking enough that we fed our entire community. People would arrive in their pick up trucks and when they left the bed was full.  Everyone worked in it and everyone benefited from it. I miss those days. My dad was the master gardener. I did not appreciate it as a kid and really didn't garden once I moved away from home. Maybe a few tomato plants here and there. I think when I was married we only ever had one garden. SMH

I miss it and guess what I am going to do?

I'm going to tackle gardening again - my way.

Thank goodness I didn't plant anything yet. It actually snowed again where I am at and I hope that was the last of Old Man Winter.  My pallet garden starts this weekend.

I will be posting a few updates here and everything I learn will be documented and put out for everyone to use and learn as well.

Now, just so you know, I'm the person that can not drive a zero turn mower. I have a lot of mishaps so this should be very entertaining for me and for you to read about.

If you have any tips for me; please let me know.

My first project is a Potato Pallet.

I'm excited to pass on what my dad taught me; let's just hope I'm not too old to remember everything.