CategoriesLifestyle Tips & Tricks

Ash Disposal Tip

Supercharge your compost by adding your recycled ash. Growing plants need plenty of trace elements that ash contains, and it will actually increase the PH of your soil as ash is naturally alkaline. This will allow you to grow plants such as lavender and honeysuckle that are much loved by bees which wouldn’t be able to thrive in more acidic soils.

What’s more, if you have problems with slugs and snails, sprinkling ash around your plants will deter these creatures without having to use lethal poisons or expensive salt.

CategoriesLifestyle Tips & Tricks

Indoor open fireplaces

There is no limitation to the type of woods one can burn in an open fireplace. As long as your chimney is cleaned each year and your vents are working correctly, your choices are then endless. For the most economical burning, we recommend blue gum or black wattle, Both are alien, very thirsty trees, and have been designated for removal anywhere near natural water sources. Blue Gum is a hard, dense log from the Eucalyptus family, long-lasting and burns longer before creating a fire heart. Black Wattle is a slightly softer wood, easier to ignite, and thus, is excellent hot burning firewood that was traditionally prized for wood-fired bakers ovens. It also lends itself to occasional braaing as it creates small residual coals. Beef Oak is a non-indigenous, invasive tree, originally from Australia.and only found in certain pockets around running water in South Africa.  It is quite a hardwood and therefore, creates lovely coals that provide long and hot warmth in your fireplace. Beef Oak is also highly recommended for open and enclosed fireplaces, this adds longevity of heat, making your fire heart last longer.  We are very happy to have found a supply, but it is limited at this time.

CategoriesLifestyle Tips & Tricks

Glass fronted enclosed units & stoves

Glass fronted heaters such as Morso, Heat & Glo, Jet Master, Heat Glo and the cast iron heating stoves (Franco Belge and Earth Fire Ceramic stoves) must be treated with the respect they deserve. Never use pine for example in one of these units as pine produces a resin which leaves an invisible film inside the flue pipe which becomes a serious fire hazard over time. Kameeldoring should not be used solely in a glass-fronted unit as the coals produced become so hot that over time, the metal of the unit will bend and the glass door can crack.  Black Wattle and Blue Gum can be used alone or mixed and will create a beautifully constant source of heat. Beef Oak is a non-indigenous, invasive tree, originally from Australia.and only found in certain pockets around running water in South Africa.  It is quite a hardwood and therefore, creates lovely coals that provide long and hot warmth in your fireplace. Mixed with blue gum, which is also highly recommended for open and enclosed fireplaces, adds longevity of heat making your fire heart last longer.  We are very happy to have found a supply, but it is limited at this time.

 

CategoriesLifestyle Tips & Tricks

Braai & Grilling Wood

Kameeldoring & Mopane is often referred to as ‘The Rolls Royce’ of braai wood.  It forms extremely hot coals in approximately 1 hour and can be used inside and outside for cooking and grilling for many hours thereafter.  Rooikraans produces coals in around 40 minutes and can be used for cooking for up to an hour. Rooikraans also smokes so adds a certain taste to meat cooking.

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