I think the trick is to have a good hot fire going first then add the brush to it a bit at a time. When we were allowed to burn what couldn't be composted was keep dry until we were allowed to burn. I didn't have much luck trying to keep the fire going with just the brush and garden debris no matter how dry I thought it was.

Annette

Get yourself a blowtorch *lol* That's what my brother in law would do. He even starts BBQ briquettes with a blowtorch.

I did the same thing yesterday. I had piled last year's corn stalks in the middle of the patch last fall so I added all the tomato plants to the top. I use newspapers rolled into a loose log, set fire to it and tuck it in at the ground on the side the wind is coming from. For once, it took off with a roar and burned down nicely. Then moved to another end of the garden where the lasagna tomato patch was and did it again.

I never compost tomato plants because of leaf diseases; hope the fire destroyed all that.

Got the garden plowed too! Wonderful day.

I used the newspaper log thing too. Fire gods must not have been smiling on me. Now I have to go down there and pick up all that blackened stuff that didn't burn, and it's suppose to rain today. I was hoping to at least turn the ashes into the soil first, but to tell you the truth my ground is frozen hard still.

Guess I'm trying to rush things.

If I can't get it to go with newspapers, I cheat and use gas from the chainsaw can.

Nancy.

OMG! There were two fires in our county last week where 'controlled burns' got out of hand. I was going to write about that yesterday and didn't.

Now I must -- NO to gas to start a fire. Do you want to hear the story about DH's Uncle who died of burns, starting a fire with diesel fuel that happened to have a little gas mixed in?

Please y'all, use care with fire. Glenda's method to start a fire once some sticks and things are piled, sounds good.

Nell

I've used gas before - CAREFULLY. Only this time I didn't because I was burning in the veggie patch. My real concern was my hair, and it finally dawned on me I'd better go get a scarf and tie it back!

Not only did it rain but it's been snowing since yesterday, and I never got the ashes turned over.

Oh, I know about the dangers of gas. Trust me - I watched my old neighbour light his arm on fire by accident. Estee(holy ghost, a french cussword) he said, that hurts!! What is most dangerous with gas, after you have carefully poured it where you what it, is the highly flammable fumes. It's like a mini explosion. Diesel is the best, or oil, for a controlled sustained burn. Just to calm your fears, I always have a proper permit, and do not burn in dry, windy times. Many do not obey these rules, hence brush fires. It is still fairly common in this neck of the woods for farmers to burn their fields in Spring, to reduce the stubble, weeds, etc. and add carbon to the fields. But it is usually one guy, buring several acres, and you just know that if the wind comes up suddenly, as it does in the Valley, trouble may follow.

Nancy.

The easiest and safest way to get an outdoor fire started is with "Fire Starters". Set one in the bottom, lay kindling (grass, dry twigs, bark pieces over the F.S. so you can still get to it to light it. Then lay larger sticks over it in tee-pee fashion or a log cabin fashion, not too high. Light the F.S. As the fire takes off nicely start laying bigger and bigger sticks in until you've worked up to the logs once they are going good you toss in whatever and the bed of hot coals from everything else will ignite what ever you drop directly on them. Here are all sorts of fire starters to get you started. Gas is not one of them. LOL!

MeMo

Here is a link that might be useful: Fire Starters

From the site: "Use wooden ice cream/popsicle sticks. Keep them in a watertight container."

I eat popsicles all the time. I'll never throw another stick away! Some great suggestions on that site. Thanks.