Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Step 3: Let the paper catch fire and the flame begin to move up without it reaching your
hand. Push the paper to the bottom of the smoker using your hive tool, and puff the bel-
lows gently two or three times to keep fresh air moving past the burning paper. It will
flame up to or just over the edge of the top of the chamber.
Step 4: Puff two or three times more until most of the paper is burning—but not yet nearly
consumed—and add a small handful of pine needles to the top.
Step 5: Puff a couple more times until the flames from the paper reach up and catch
the needles afire. Once they are burning well, push the burning needles down into the
chamber with your hive tool, puffing slowly so air moves through the system.
Step 6: When the first small batch of needles begins to flame up, add more pine needles,
loosely. Puff several times so you don't smother the fire. Keep air moving through the
system. This is when most lighting attempts fail because not enough air is coming up
from the bottom and none is available from the top. The smoldering needles starve for
oxygen and the fire dies.
Step 7: When the second, or perhaps third, batch of needles begins to smolder from the
bottom, add the more durable fuel, if needed, on top of the needles. Keep puffing slowly
to keep air in the system.
