Can I use birch bark and small branches for kindling?

[Boozie]

I brought a big box of white birch bark and small limbs back with me from Woodstock, NY area. I was going to use it for craft projects, but it's been in the garage for a few years now and I've done nothing with it. Would this be OK for kindling?

 

[ecocavalier02]

dont see any harm its just wood. just becarefull with the birch bark. it'll prob flare up pretty good.

 

[Hogwildz]

Use is up!
Of course this time of year you shouldn't be needing kindling, if your burning 24/7 that is.

 

[Boozie]

Use is up!
Of course this time of year you shouldn't be needing kindling, if your burning 24/7 that is.

I don't burn 24/7. It got up to almost 40 here today. I let the fire go out overnight.

 

[remkel]

Light it up.

 

[Boozie]

Hey Remkel .... I looooove maple syrup also. I never knew what good "pure" maple syrup tasted like until we lived in Upstate NY for a couple years. We brought some with us when we moved here. We would order some periodically, but have lost that source.

 

[SKIN052]

All i ever use is Birch bark and kindling. Works wonders. Be careful however, that stuff will take off like gasoline if you have enough of it. I have a large Rubbermade tub full of the stuff, probably 20lbs of it.
As for the Maple syrup, I can do without it.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Barb, that birch bark will work great either for crafts of for fire starters.

On the maple syrup, I might be able to get you some but it will depend upon how good the run is this year. It should be good as most times there are not bad years back to back and last year was the worst we've ever seen around her. Just let me know if you'd like to get some and I'll put in an order. This is a friend who makes it. He and I practically grew up together so I know the whole family and they are reputable. They've made and sold syrup for around 75 years.

 

[marine5068]

Backwoods is right on.
The birch bark is great fire starter and flares up fast so watch out.
I always have some around for hard-to-start fires an I gather it while camping to easily start my campfires too.
Dry branches that fall off my Oak, Maple, Hickory and other trees on my property are used for kindling.
If I have to pick it up so as not to run over with the riding-mower, then they get burnt that season in the wood stove for kindling.
Burn 'Er Up.

P.S.-"We have the BEST maple syrup here too....MMMMMMMM"

~Stan
(Madoc, Ontario)

 

[Boozie]

Backwoods is right on.
The birch bark is great fire starter and flares up fast so watch out.
I always have some around for hard-to-start fires an I gather it while camping to easily start my campfires too.
Dry branches that fall off my Oak, Maple, Hickory and other trees on my property are used for kindling.
If I have to pick it up so as not to run over with the riding-mower, then they get burnt that season in the wood stove for kindling.
Burn 'Er Up.

P.S.-"We have the BEST maple syrup here too....MMMMMMMM"

I had my insert installed in December, a little late to scrounge up kindling. For sure, I'll be out gathering all those dead limbs from my maple trees come summer and the summer storms.

Now we won't know if you have the BEST maple syrup unless you send us all some. ;-)

 

[Adios Pantalones]

When I have birch bark I use it exclusively as my firestarter.

Our maple syrup rocks your mom

 

[Boozie]

When I have birch bark I use it exclusively as my firestarter.

Our maple syrup rocks your mom

I'm thinking I'll make some pancakes for breakfast. %-P

 

[NH_Wood]

During fall, I hit the woods and gather a big garbage bag of birch bark - it is the ONLY firestarter I use - a nice pile under some drying kindling works every time! Cheers!

 

[firefighterjake]

Love the birch bark . . . in fact my wife loves it when I bring in some birch -- white, yellow or gray . . . she says it is like the wood is all wrapped up in its own newspaper . . . often she doesn't bother with any kindling when she has some birch . . . just puts it bark side down on the small coals and away it goes.