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Musings of a frustrated former small-town "farm" wife, who's waiting on pins and needles to "get outta town" and back to the country life.

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Monday, December 10, 2007
Pine Cone Wonder--Easy Fire Starters

Posted in Homestead Helps
Are you tired of saving all those newspapers for fire starters? Tired of scrounging up bundles and bundles of cedar kindling to get that early morning winter fire going? Well, here is a sure-fire way to get a roaring fire going in no time at all.
Pine Cone Fire Starters!

First you need some nice, large pine cones (we use Ponderosa pine cones). We collect them when they are nice and dry. Make SURE they are completely dry or this will not work.

Then you need some parraffin and...

...and an old, large (large enough to dip the pine cone in) coffee can. Break up the parraffin and put it in the can.

You need a heat source...something to melt the wax.

When the wax is melted, you dip the pine cones in the melted wax, lightly coating them. Then lay them aside to dry. Once dry, we keep them piled in a box next to the wood burning stove.

How to start a fire with pine cones:
1) Place a couple of pine cones on the bottom of the woodburner
2) Pile 2 or 3 logs on top of the pine cones.
3) Light the pine cone.
4) You're done. Truly...in less than a minute, you've got yourself a REAL fire! No newspaper, no kindling, no BLOWING a dying fire. It works!
Note: These pine cone starters work well to start outside, brush-burning fires also.

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Comments

Sunday, December 16, 2007 - Hi

Posted by job19v25
Thank you for stopping by and saying hello. Also for leaving comments on the kids blogs. Your homestead looks fantastic and the area is really beautiful. I would be very tempted to move there! Going to check out your books shortly and will check back in soon. You are a very busy lady :-)
Deb
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Thursday, December 27, 2007 - Hi!

Posted by HSBFrontPorch
Thanks for welcoming me. I look forward to getting to know all of the bloggers here much better! I envy the land that you own .... I hope we can do the same some day!

Kris
Senior Editor, HomesteadBlogger.com
www.homesteadblogger.com/athomewithkris
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Saturday, December 29, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous
Awesome idea! I will definitely be trying this one. Thanks for stopping by...I LOVE the new look and will be off to check your HSB blog as well. :o)

Amy
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Saturday, December 29, 2007 - WOW

Posted by cindy
I really like the new look. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I hope your Christmas was wonderful and that your New Year will be blessed.

Join us for Blogger school it is a lot of fun!
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Saturday, December 29, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Jeannie
What a neat idea, and I am sure would be great for those that go camping too!! Thank you for sharing this.
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Saturday, December 29, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous
Wow, I didn't know that about pine cones. Thanks
Dot
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Sunday, December 30, 2007 - Huh...

Posted by Me
So, Andi... Do fir cones work as well as pinecones? (Should I try it?)

~Lyric
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About Our Homestead

We have 14 acres on a mountain in North Central Washington state, where we plan to move and establish a homestead in the middle of nowhere. Right now we have a cabin, a shed, and a good well. Most of our place is fenced.

Ongoing Projects

  • Split Wood
  • Fence the North Boundary
  • Bring in Power--DONE!
  • Move Shed--DONE!
  • Level Ground for Pole Barn
  • Dig Out a Basement
  • Move Access Road
  • The Burn Pile
  • Bring in Another Well

Andi and Taffy's Blog


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