Charcoal

Charcoal is a very useful fuel. It can be made from twigs and limbs of fruit, nut and other hardwood trees; from black walnuts or peach and apricot pits. It makes a hot fire which gives off little or no smoke. It very useful when cooking with dutch ovens as you can control the heat better.

To make charcoal, simply put the wood in a can which has a few holes punched in it. Put a lid on the can and cook it over a hot fire. The holes in the can will allow the gases and flame to escape. The exclusion of oxygen keeps the wood from completely burning to ashes. When the flame from the holes in the can turns to yellow-red, remove the can from the fire and allow to cool. Store in paper bags or cardboard cartons.

Randy and I spent a couple of weeks in Africa. We saw many people on the side of the road making charcoal. They would than fry fish using a cut off 55 gallon barrel, a flimsy wire rack, and their homemade charcoal.