Planning a cookout or barbecue this weekend? Try going rustic by having your cookout over your fire pit! Your guests will love huddling around the fire, inhaling the grilling aromas, and watching the meat cook. And the flavor from a real wood fire can’t be beat by gas or even charcoal! You can barbecue anything on […]
Since the beginning of time, families and friends have gathered around fires for companionship, dining, and entertaining. As the patio and garden evolve into outdoor entertainment rooms, many people are looking for ways to add outdoor fireplaces or fire pits to their outdoor spaces. But not all will serve you equally well. Below are five […]
For centuries humans have been making soap from fireplace ash. If you’re looking for a way to use your fireplace ash and are interested in exploring some homesteading skills, read on and learn how to make soap for your own use. 1. Make lye. The active ingredient in soap is lye. Lye is an alkaline […]
The humble fireplace, so familiar we pass by every day without a second glance, but did you know that it has played a key role in some of the most popular movies of all time. We have combed through film archives to find some of the most memorable fireplace movie moments, so if you’re fired […]
Every winter your fireplace produces buckets of ashes, which you probably just throw out. Why not put some of those ashes to use? You can make an effective and free cleaner out of them to remove the soot from and clean glass fireplace doors. Here’s how to clean glass fireplace doors with ash: Make sure […]
Fire pits and other outdoor fireplaces are wonderful settings for family time! Away from electronic interrupters and nestled around the flames, outdoor fires make memorable experiences for family and friends. However, fire pits and fire bowls produce temperatures that can result in burns. Therefore, as with all things involving children, maintaining a safe environment is […]
As the weather warms, many are delighted that the worst of winter fuel bills are ending. Smart consumers, however, are doing more than heaving a sigh of relief; they are getting a step ahead of next winter’s fuel costs by buying or gathering firewood now to use in their fireplaces and woodstoves next winter. With […]
Watch the video of How to build an upside down fire from Dylan Parker on Vimeo. Years ago when you learned to start a fireplace or wood stove fire, chances are you learned to place the tinder and kindling at the bottom and put the logs on top. And that method has worked reasonably well over […]
What’s a fireplace fireback? And can you really get more heat from fireplace firebacks? Firebacks reflect heat from your fire back into your home, making your fireplace more efficient. Technology evolves over generations, but some simple innovations from the past just cannot be beat. One such time-tested essential is the fireplace fireback. Of all the […]
