Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Hot In Florida


It's that time of year again.


Time to burn off the old dry pasture grass so uncontrolled groundfires can't sneak up on the house. The annual burning is great for my native wildflowers too as most of them around here are fire adapted.

Plus it keeps the oak seedlings from filling in what little open area I have.

Of course, it's just plain fun to do too!


Here's Emma hosing down the brushy area we DO want.

The ground fire was allowed to creep right up to the wet bushes.


I had two great helpers on this burn so I could relax and just enjoy the pyromania.



It had rained just the day before, but one day of Florida sun and the dead grass was plenty dry for burning ... obviously. The winter has been wet and cold so there is a lot of dead material in the woods waiting to go up in flames.

The regular rains have prevented bad forest fires this winter, but if the spring is it's usual dry self ... could be a bad fire season.


Hence, we mitigate the threat while it is moist around here and still safe to do so.


Gee, that video of pig and flames together makes me want to rush home. I've got lean pork chunks marinating in Mojo Criollo all day.


It's Masitas De Puerco night at PFHQ.

Gonna serve it with some delicious Moros y Cristianos.


And maybe a beer ... just one ... I don't know ... it's not the weekend or anything.

Should I break my beer rule?

25 comments:

Pablo said...

You have a beer rule?

Anonymous said...

I thought you were having a pig-roast there for a second!
Lightnin

Anonymous said...

Hi FC,

That video of the pig and fire reminded me that I needed to buy apples. Go figure.

P

Thunder said...

I was thinking ribs myself, but I've learned that anything marinated in Mojo is good!

I have a rule about beer too, so you know what my advice is! ;-)

Charlotte said...

The pig, the pig, the humble pig! YEESH!

Suwannee Refugee said...

A beer rule?? I'm with Pablo on this one.

Anonymous said...

I should try a controlled burn out back. It might melt the snow.

R.Powers said...

Pablo and Refugee,
My beer rule is "No beer during the work week" and "Only a couple on the weekend".
It's a little act of self discipline and flat belly maintenance.

Note: This rule is rendered null and void during visits from my college roomate, ThunderDave.

Lightnin,
So did the pig. She looked a little nervous.

Patti,
LOL! Don't tell the pig where they wind up!

ThunderDave,
Yes I know your beer rule. I always picture Dan Ackroyd in the Conehead movie ... "let us consume mass quantities".
LOL!

Charlotte,
No humble pigs were harmed during the filming of this movie.
By the way, Welcome to Pure Florida!

R.Powers said...

Wren,
Good luck lighting that snow!

Doug Taron said...

What a cute little prescribed burn.

Dani said...

You take such good care of your land, I really admire you for that.

Unknown said...

I'm impressed: You do it all. I was up in Gainesville by the way. The Devil's Millhopper particularly intrigued me, although I wasn't able to get out into Paynes Prairie as I hoped. Good country up there!

cinbad122 said...

Aren't rules meant to be broken?

Ivan said...

Ouch, goodbye fence galvanization...

Anonymous said...

I have a total no-beer rule! How's that for militant?

When I saw the first photo, it reminded me of living in the Oakland hills. Yikes.

robin andrea said...

Well, I missed this post yesterday, so I can ask, "Did you break your rule?" Nice burn there, and the best work crew, as always.

h said...

I'm trying to get one of the Science Guys on your blogroll to come up with graphs regarding El Nino Winters and Fire Season but, as of yet, he's FAILED.

Masitas De Puerco?

Throwdown on the 10th. I think

kathy a. said...

gainseville -- you lived in the oakland hills? i'm about 8-10 miles north of the former fire zone.

FC -- my son's going to take a few of those datil seeds and try to raise them. you should have seen his eyes light up when i told him about these heirloom seeds from florida, hot as habaneros!

kathy a. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
R.Powers said...

Doug,
We do cute real good here.
Even our fires.

Dani,
Thanks! It's such a joy to mess with it.


Robert,
The Millhopper is like a tiny bit of Appalachia dumped in the middle of Gville.

Cindy,
Why yes they are.

Ivan,
It was only kissed by the flames for a second.

Gville365,
We have this one under control. Welcome to Pure Florida!


Robin,
I did not. But tomorrow is Friday!


Troll,
I have science guys?
The pork dish is just chunks of mojo marinated pork deepfried ... naked of course.

Kathy A,
You should have heard my Dad when I told him last night that people all over the country were ordering datil seeds. He was so excited. I do hope they grow well for you. They can be tricky.

roger said...

yes.

R.Powers said...

roger,
i'll ponder that tonight over an amberbock.

Ericka said...

is it bad that i saw the fire and the pig together and started to drool? poor pig. but yay for fire!

Leslie said...

We're burning here in WY now, but that's only cause there's snow on the ground. I didn't realize that Florida had fire adapted plants too, like our West.

Interesting blog. Nice to find it. Thanks.

Andrea said...

I am working on creating a Florida native meadow in my own yard. Thanks for posting about burning. I have considered this method and may do it however I am not on as much land as you and have close neighboors. Not even sure if it is "allowed". Anyway, still enjoy seeing the process! Andrea
http://myfloridameadow.wordpress.com/