Fires, garbage and other rubbish …
Fires have been on our minds around here.
But not like in the Northern hemisphere, where seasonal pasture burning is underway.
It’s not officially burning season here – that usually takes place as we come out of winter and before the summer rains. It is done as a ‘cool fire’ where the time of day and weather prevent it getting out of control and scorching the earth. Burning helps the new grass to come through, removing the heavy dry old grass of the previous season.…
Well, it does when there IS old grass around. For a number of years now, this area has been suffering a terrible drought. Old dry grass has been precious, sometimes the only fodder available. So instead we have fed a mixture of molasses & urea to help the cattle process and digest this less-than-juicy menu.
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Fire is on my mind for two reasons.
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The first is that my household rubbish is piling up. The boys have been too busy with work, catching up after we spent two days away at my cousin’s wedding this week. And my “burning off” bins are overflowing.
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For those unused to disposing of their own waste (i.e. who have garbage trucks servicing their homes) we have a number of means of getting rid of rubbish. It means lots of sorting in my kitchen – and many bins to empty!
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Burning rubbish – anything which is safely flammable (paper, cardboard etc).
Recycle rubbish – plastic bottles etc that I can take into town, to send to the recycling plant.
Compost rubbish – anything biodegradable. Usually vegetable matter.
Dogs offerings – any scraps considered remotely edible by canines (table scraps etc)
Glass and tins – which are cleaned out and sent to our own rubbish tip, in a fenced off area in one of our paddocks.
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Burning rubbish is disposed of just outside the house yard, in the late afternoon, in a rigged up drum which allows the items to burn without threatening the surrounding area. It’s a fun job when you are easily entertained and a minor-league pyromaniac at heart (ahem!).
My Dad is a much more advanced fire-lover than I – and is often in charge of proceedings in the burning off department. My son is a follower, and was put in charge of the camera (I know, I know) recently. 
Today’s images are courtesy of Dash… I think he may have a future as a shutterbug!
The second reason fire has been on my mind is a little more sinister. My brother was called out a couple of nights ago to a real fire. One that had smouldered in a heap of timber on a nearby property for three weeks, been rained on and apparently put out. Strong winds swept through yesterday and stirred its embers, and before they knew it, they had a problem on their hands. A three-kilometre wide bushfire eating its way through paddocks not too far from my brother’s home.…
So while his wife and kids waited in their home, my brother fought the fire with his neighbours. In the black of night. It burned clean under one tractor (amazingly, without damaging it) but they managed to stop it sometime around midnight. A very close watch will be kept on the smouldering embers in the days ahead.
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Dad’s favourite fire saying comes to mind:
Fire is a magnificent servant …but a terrible master.
Wise words from a pyro-lovin’ bushie.
Keep safe…and don’t stand too close to the flames.
BB
PS I’ll teach Dash about focussing in the next few months!
7 Comments
Pencil Writer
Pyromania–the good, the bad, and the ugly. Well, another thing we have in common, BB! Two of my children and I share that distinction. I remember my #2 daughter rolling her eyes as she explained some years ago, about a church activity with the youth. The Boy Scouts (who’re supposed to be all about the ins and outs of outdoor living, fire making, safety–as you most likely know) were in charge of making a fire for all the youth to have a hotdog roast for their meal. My daughter exhulted in the fact that she–not the boys–was the only one able to get the fire going, keep it going and on to the success of having a “cooked” meal.
My son, also infected with the pyromaniac tendency, has been in trouble–as a child, which he isn’t now–with burning things in less than reasonable circumstances. But then, this kid sells fireworks and loves to set them off.
My husband and brother-in-law have been discussing a growing pile of rubbish–mostly yard debris–that they’ve had difficulty getting burned. I told them, I could manage it when I’m at the property, w/o the diesel fuel to get the pile up and burning. “You just start small and keep adding to it!” But, they think I’m just “blowing smoke” I guess. They haven’t taken me up on my offer to handle it yet. The pile(s) meantime are growing by leaps. Since my husband is about 6’4″ and the pile is larger than he is tall . . . another day, perhaps!
Good news about your brother’s place not being damaged, esp. the tractor! Hurray for that.
I’m sure Dash will improve in his photo skills as Mom (Mum) guides and directs. Smiles to you all today!
Andrea
We burn trash here too. We mostly burn trash when I have over filled my trash can that I take to the road. I must not live too far out in the boonies, we still get trash service. Dash is a wonderful photographer!! A bit out of focus, but that is okay. That is how I see life with out my glasses!!LOL!!
Raising Country Kids
It’s very dry here, and our neighbor’s shop containing a couple of tractors, a camper trailer, and many tools burned to the ground a few days ago. My husband is on the volunteer fire department, and I was very jumpy until he arrived home safely that night. We need a good, long, soaking rain. Then I’ll feel better.
Jenni
Good job, Dash!
That is how we handle our trash as well, except that the recycling bin in our small town also has a compartment for tin cans and I have found a place in Wichita (35 minutes away) that will take glass. That means that there is very little unburnable and nonrecyclable trash to haul to the dumpster on the construction lot in Wichita.
I’m glad your brother and his family were safe.
baby~amore'
Dash is going to follow in your footsteps for sure.
I am glad your brother,his family and home are safe.
On my FIL’s farms they have tips too – and it is quite interesting seeing the collections that have amassed over years.A lot of history in trash.
One of his farms had old gold mines (pits) that they threw everything in.
Black smoke means that whatever is in the furnace is not burning thoroughly.
Hey!!
The post is quite interesting and informative too.
Some rubbish is disposed of by burning. The effectiveness of this depends on what you are burning, at what temperature and where the smoke-borne waste finally lands.
This can increase the danger to the environment,the black smoke which comes out on burning the rubbish may cause many problems and diseases.Also many chemicals released from the waste.
Additionly,High-temperature burning is thought to destroy them, but if they are burned at a lower temperature, harmful poisons are released.
Thank you so much for sharing your great ideas..
Keep doing good work..
God Bless U!!
Stephanie Holmes
Nice share. I like the burning process to dispose of the huge amount of waste. But the smoking issue is harmful to the environment.
However, I like the ideas shared here for garbage and rubbish removal.