Drying grass for tinder

[bushcraftbob]

I collected some grass from a freshly cut field back in August.

Since then it has been in a large bucket in my shed. I took care not to pack it tightly in to the bucket, to let the air circulate through it, in the hope it would dry out.

When playing around with the bow drill today, I tried to use the grass to make fire, but I was surprised to find that it was still damp, and the amount of smoke that came out of it was umbelievable! And it took a lot of blows to bring in to a flame.

Any ideas why it hasnt dried out sufficiently? I know its pretty cold and damp in the shed at the min, but we had some nice warm days in september, and i thought that would have been dry by now?

I am thinking ok stuffing an old football sock full of the grass and draping it over a radiator for a few days to dry it out - will this work?

cheers

Jamie

 

[Miyagi]

That might work, how about spreading the grass along the window sill for a day or two?

I used to boil eggs in a mound of freshly cut grass, as it generated a lot of heat. That may have been happening with your grass collection.

Just my tuppence worth.

 

[andythecelt]

Just about any fibrous organic stuff like grass will absorb moisture if left in the damp, no matter how dry it has been. I'd say that's the problem.

 

[fred gordon]

Try putting a small amount in your pocket for a while. That should dry it out. You can also rub a small amount together in your hands to break it up. That also helps to dry it out.

 

[Dingo]

That might work, how about spreading the grass along the window sill for a day or two?

I used to boil eggs in a mound of freshly cut grass, as it generated a lot of heat. That may have been happening with your grass collection.

Just my tuppence worth.

I'm intrigued, how big was the mound of grass, i would imagine it was quite a size to generate the amount of heat to boil/cook an egg.
i would love to give this a go, did you contain the grass in some way? like in a bucket or sack?
could you use freshly pulled meadow grass stuffed in a sack with the egg in the middle?
let us know mate cus i could get well excited about cutting my grass the first dry day we get, and that would put a smile on SWMBO face.

cheers

Adam.

 

[Miyagi]

Hahahaaa Dingo

I first learned this one summer when I worked as a "lawnmower chaser" with a gardening firm.

An average sized lawn that's not been cut for a while should provide enough grass for an "egg mound". Just invented that name there the now.

Think of how many times you trudge to the bin/compost midden to empty the mowers grass box? Pile it all up and stick the egg or eggs in the middle.

Takes about ten minutes or so (hotter days are quicker) but busy yourself with other tasks or it'll be like waiting for a kettle to boil.

I think the fresh cut grass oxidises or ferments a bit and generates the heat. You'll get hard boiled eggs no problem.

Your meadow grass idea should work too, as the old hay box method of cooking uses a similar idea I think.

Don't tell SWMBO - although your eagerness to cut the lawn will probably give the game away, they know us better than we think.

Good luck with it and let me know how you get on.

atb

Liam

 

[Dingo]

I'm on it, first chance i get i will try the meadow grass in the dry sack first, that wont give the game away, i;ll let you know how i get on.

 

[Miyagi]

I'm on it, first chance i get i will try the meadow grass in the dry sack first, that wont give the game away, i;ll let you know how i get on.

Hi Adam,

You'll be able to tell easily if it'll work. Once the grass has been lying for five or ten minutes, stick your hand in and you'll feel it getting (surprisingly) hot.

If this is the case, then stick yer eggs in and keep adding the grass.

Just a thought, if pesticides have been used on the meadow beware, egg shells are porous and "may" absorb them. Dunno, just a thought..

Pack the grass tightly in the dry bag and you should get a greenhouse effect I suppose.

I'm looking forward to your experiment more than you are hahahaha - I've not done this in years.

atb

Liam

 

[hog]

Tried to light the fire with my flint and steel, you know the propper one with char cloth, the tinder was damp and it is realy dfficult to get it to ignite, something the folk of yesteryear would have had to pre-empt.
Tinder should have to be part of the fire starting kit along with the cloth, steel and pouch/tin.
Iresorted to some oldmans beared which did the job just fine but that was in my kit and dry.
Would have been stuffed if I was relying on finding dry stuff in this inclemment weather.

 

[Miyagi]

Tried to light the fire with my flint and steel, you know the propper one with char cloth, the tinder was damp and it is realy dfficult to get it to ignite,

a) something the folk of yesteryear would have had to pre-empt.

b) Tinder should have to be part of the fire starting kit along with the cloth, steel and pouch/tin.

Iresorted to some oldmans beared which did the job just fine but that was in my kit and dry.
Would have been stuffed if I was relying on finding dry stuff in this inclemment weather.

a) I think the iceman they found in the Alps had two bags of tinder and birch fungus with him, so definately yes.

b) I carry tinder with mine for that very reason. it's hard enough collecting the other wood for a brew etc never mind the stuff to get it started.

Once, I let myself down by not collecting enough of anything and by the time I had, it was back to square one with a fire that had died. Lesson learned.

 

[bushcraftbob]

I started reading the Ray Mears Northern Wilderness book yesterday, and I read that sometimes the weather even stopped the great Samuel Hearne and his guide Matonabee from making fire, and sometimes, for quite a long time, they were forced get accustomed to eating raw meat, and were only able to make fire when the weather permitted.

 

[Miyagi]

I started reading the Ray Mears Northern Wilderness book yesterday, and I read that sometimes the weather even stopped the great Samuel Hearne and his guide Matonabee from making fire, and sometimes, for quite a long time, they were forced get accustomed to eating raw meat, and were only able to make fire when the weather permitted.

Steak tartare anyone??

 

[JamieG]

Don't know if anyone has heard of barn fires starting after farmers collected in their hay which was still a bit damp, I have and it was astounding to think that damp grass can cause such a fire. Thats the reason why the large round bales are left out side for so long whilst the old small rectangular bales seem to get put away sooner as they dry off quicker.

 

[hog]

It happens in thatched roofs, methane gas given off, just like a compost heap can spontaneously ignite and turn a roof into an inferno very quickly.

 

[lannyman8]

i use dried grass for my fires and it does seen to soak up any moisture in the air, open in the shed is a bad place to keep it.

i would lay it out on a blanket or towel in the spare room or in front of the fire untill dry and package it in a pouch or plastic bag to keep it dry untill needed.

hope this helps............chris