We all had to learn the alphabet at some point so here is another one for you! The Firemizer alphabet! stick around as you might just find out some rather interesting things.

The ABC’s Of Firemizer

A is for Axe. Did you know axe throwing is becoming a popular sport!

B is for Bonfire. When starting a bonfire make sure you check that no wildlife, especially hedgehog are among the logs!

C is for Coal. Have you seen our blog post all about burning coal? check it out here.

D is for Dirt. Did you know that wood ash a perfect for sprinkling across your garden to ward away those creepy crawlies?

E is for Extinguisher

F is for Fire

G is for Gloves. When using Firemizer we advise you were gloves as the metal fibres can be sharp.

H is for Hydrant

I is for Ignite

J is for Jalapeno

K is for Ketchup. The perfect condiment for a hot dog or burger.

L is for Log

M is for Money. Save money with Firemizer

N is for Night

O is for Open Fire

P is for Pizza. Firemizer can be used in a pizza oven. Who can say no to pizza!

Q is for Quality 

R is for Retardant. This is used to slow or stop the spread of fire, this is commonly used for forest fires.

S is for Smoke

T is for Time. Firemizer will last up to 500 burn hours giving you a longer lasting fire.

U is for Unseasoned Wood. To make sure you’re burning as efficient as possible only use seasoned wood.

V is for Viper. The bite of a viper is said to feeling like a burning sensation.

W is for Water

X is for Xylopolist. This is a fancy word for a timber merchant. Find out more words here.

Y is for yakitori. This is a popular BBQ dish in Japan.

Z is for Zeus. One of his sons Hephaestus is the Greek God of fire.

With the hot summer days, it can be hard to concentrate when office productivity decreases and Firemizer team are no different.

Here are some tips to help increase your office productivity!

1. Tidy desk tidy mind! Before starting a big or small project it is important to have a tidy desk and this can help organise not only your work but also your mind.
2. Take more breaks!
3. Manage distraction! Create a system to help manage those pesky distracting emails. If possible, only check emails at certain times in the day and stick to it or allow lots of time to check emails or manage distraction.
4. It’s Bring your dog to work day! Everyone knows a dog can lift a mood and what better excuse to bring a four-legged friend to work.
5. Remember 80/20 rule. Also known as the Pareto Principle states that for many events roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. So 20% of tasks yield 80% of results.

We all sometimes need a cuppa to get through a Monday morning. But did you know that coffee has some added benefits?

1. It can lower the risk of heart failure stroke and coronary heart disease. In a study, Every cup consumed reduced each condition by 8%, 7% and 5%.
2. It is a good source of antioxidants more than green tea and cocoa. Studies have shown that people get more antioxidants from coffee than from fruits and vegetables.
3. It may help against cognitive decline
4. Used coffee beans can be made into coffee logs which work perfectly with Firemizer!

References

www.health.com/nutrition/top-13-evidence-based-health-benifits-of-coffee#section2

https://time.com/5022060/coffee-health-benefits-heart/

When does a joke become a dad joke? when it becomes apparent!

You can’t go through father’s day without a dad joke and they’ll be plenty more where that came from!

Did you know that father’s day was created by an American woman who wanted to honour her father. He was a soldier and raised six children as a single parent.

Additionally, in China, father’s day used to be celebrated on August 8th but has moved to the third Sunday in June. This change was due to a linguistic one as the Chinese for eight is ba and their word for father is ba-ba. Therefore the eighth day of the eighth month sounds similar to papa.

Father’s Day was assigned as an official holiday by Nixon in 1972 and the most popularly purchased gift for Father’s Day is neckties.

What’s brown and sticky? A Stick!

If you are stumped for what to do this Sunday, have no fear as we have 3 ways to spend father’s day!

1. Camping. The weather isn’t perfect for camping. However, you could stay in a nice log cabin or wooden pod for the weekend. This is a perfect outdoor getaway. since most cabins would come with fire you can get nice a cosy. If you are braving the weather check out our blog on how to prepare for a camping trip.
2. Build a tree house or indoor den. The tree house may take more time but an indoor den is perfect and it’s not just for little kids, there are loads of gadgets to step up your den making game, for instance, a phone projector perfect for watching movies!
3. Cook or bake. Why not make their favourite meal? or cook together, a perfect way to spend the afternoon and you get to eat it too!

However, you spend your father’s day we hope its a good one!

 A ghost walks into a bar. the bar lady says sorry we don’t serve spirits!

How can you save our oceans?

As tomorrow is World ocean day it is important to know how we can help create a healthy ocean. Since the sea temperature is rising causing coral bleaching and plastic pollution is worse than ever causing marine animals to suffer, we need to do our bit for the environment.

Eat fish seasonally

You don’t have to give up eating fish altogether however to help with overfishing and help certain species avoid extinction, check when certain fish are in season. The marine conservation society has a sustainability guide, green rated [1 to 2] most sustainable to red rate least sustainable [4 to 5].

For instance;

Alaska pollock – 1,2,3,4,5
Mackerel – 2
Atlantic Cod – 1,2,3,4,5
King Prawns -1,2,3,4,5
Brown Crab – 2,3,4
Albacore Tuna – 1,2,3,4
Humpback Salmon – 1,2
European Lobster – 2,3,4
Atlantic Squid – 3
Swordfish – 2,3,4,5
Pacific Halibut – 2
Oysters native, farmed – 1

Overfishing

You might have heard people say to be more sustainable cut-down meat and eat fish instead. However, if you aren’t eating sustainable fish this could be more damaging for our oceans. Catching fish isn’t inherently bad for the ocean but when boats catch fish faster than they can replenish this results in overfishing.

Another problem is the Bycatch. Which is the capture of unwanted sea life when fishing for other species. This is a serious marine threat as many unwanted species die, for instance, sea turtles. Many people who make a living through fishing are working to improve how they Catch the fish and conserve the ocean’s resources. To find out more visit the WWF.

How to BBQ fish

If you do plan on cooking fish this summer here are some tips! Why not use Firemizer to get your BBQ to cooking temperature 20% faster!

1. Prepare the BBQ and clean
To make sure the fish doesn’t stick to the grill make sure you clean the BBQ as the fish will stick to anything you last cooked on it. Oil the grate as this will lubricate the BBQ so the fish won’t stick. Wipe until the grate is glossy.

2. Heat the grill high heat
You want the BBQ to be very hot as this will stop the fish from sticking. If you are using charcoal wait until the charcoal turns grey which indicates it nice and hot

3. Choosing the right fish
salmon, tuna, halibut and swordfish are some of the best to BBQ as these aren’t too flaky and shouldn’t fall apart. You want to use a steak like textured fish as they will hold up to high heat.

4. Prep the fish and cooking
Using any oils and cooking spices to your preferred taste. Place the fillets on the skin side down as this will help the fish hold together. It takes roughly around 3 to 5 minutes per side to cook.

5. Flip the fish and plate up
Use a metal spatula to flip the fish. Once cooked place on a plate and the fish should easily flake when poked with a fork and will be opaque all the way through.

It’s not all doom and gloom

Sometimes it is hard to see how the small things you do will make a difference so here are some positives;

• Deliveroo signed the ‘no shark fin’ pledge. This commits to removing ant shark-related products form restaurant menus on the platform.
• Indonesia pledges $1 billion to clean up the ocean
• In 2017 new Delhi banned all disposable plastic including plastic bags, cups and cutlery.
• Sea turtles are making a huge comeback, increasing their populations by 980% thanks to the endangered species act.
• The billion oyster project uses oyster shells to clean the polluted New York harbour. Oysters are natural purifiers and can cleanse 50 gallons of water per day. The group has restored 30 million oysters to the local waters but that is only a fraction of what was once there.

BBQ season will be in full swing in a few weeks and to give you some different types of BBQ inspiration here’s a look at how BBQ is interpreted around the world!

Japan

Firstly Yakitori. This type of BBQ style is a popular street food. The bamboo skewers are loaded up with chicken grilled over white charcoal. This burns longer at a lower temperature and doesn’t produce smoke. Yakitori is also a general term for grilled skewered meat but typically refers to either chicken or chicken innards.

South Africa

The South African braai centres on cooking meat, contributed potluck-style, with a wood-burning braai stand, or grill. Popular components include skewered lamb, sosatie, and boerewors, a South African sausage.

India 

A tandoor is s a cylindrical clay oven with a heat source that’s either wood or charcoal. It’s something of a cross between a traditional BBQ and a convection oven that gets hot, up to 900°F. The results are juicy skewered meats that are baked in their own smoke creating a smoky flavour. Bread like naan and cheese or fish marinated in yoghurt in a dry spice mixture are cooked in tandoors.

Indonesia

Ikan Bakar is a method of cooking fish over a bed of charcoals. The techniques vary throughout the islands but the fish is often butterflied, marinated in a spice mixture and placed between two grates or wrapped in banana leaves that go directly on the grill. The sauce often includes shallots, coriander, garlic, tamarind, turmeric and chillies, and can range from spicy-sweet to fiery.

Mongolia

Khorkhog is an ultraportable cooking method. Lamb or goat is put into a metal or sometimes a wooden bucket. Water is then poured into the bucket along with hot stones which create steam. This cooks the meat into something similar to a dry stew.  Alternatively, carrots and potatoes can be added into the bucket. As well as the bucket is sometimes heated from the outside.

Pacific islands

Earth ovens are among the most ancient ways to cook. While most of the world has moved on from using them, they’re still used commonly throughout the Pacific islands. While the cooking methods differ from island to island, cultures throughout the Melanesian and Polynesian Islands. The rest of the Pacific, still bury their meat in a pit in the earth. For this type of BBQ, the meat is generally marinated, finished with a savoury glaze and topped with tropical fruit.

New Zealand

Barbecues are a popular activity in New Zealand. Foods cooked include beef, lamb, pork, fresh fish, crayfish, shellfish, and vegetables. Additionally, sausages are a popular element of barbecues. A New Zealand barbecue is a mix of American, British, Australian, South African and Pacific Island styles. New Zealand’s Maori have the hangi, a type of earth oven, used for cooking on special occasions.

Korean Barbecue

This type of BBQ is a popular method of grilling typically beef, pork or chicken. Dishes are prepared on gas or charcoal grills built into the dining table. There’s no Korean barbecue dish better known than Bulgogi. This is served alongside fresh vegetables, made from thinly sliced beef sirloin and is marinated with sesame, scallions, soy sauce.

United States

Lastly America, there are Four major barbecue styles in the United States that are commonly known. North Carolina and Memphis that represent the oldest styles. Kansas City and Texas, which use beef as well as pork. The U.S. has a range of contemporary suburban barbecue equipment and styles. For instance, these consist of baking, grilling (charbroiling, grid ironing, or griddling), braising (by putting a broth-filled pot on top of a charbroil-grill or gridiron-grill), or smoking various meats.

The Uk’s wildlife is declining. 1 out of 10 wildlife species are at risk of extinction. In 2016 the number of critically endangered animals reached 165. The UK is now considered one of the most nature depleted countries in the world.

To learn more about UK’s wildlife check out the Wildlife trust!

These are some of Britain’s endangered animals and some you may not know!

Tortoiseshell butterfly

Butterflies have been in decline in recent years. However, the small tortoiseshell butterfly was once one of the UK’s most common butterfly species but in 2013 it was reported that there had been a decline of 70% in the past 10 years.

Hedgehog

These cute creatures have seen a dramatic decline in the last 70 years. There were an estimated 36 million hedgehogs in the UK at one point. However, they currently stand at a population of one million. You can help these much-loved animals by being mindful when creating a bonfire [make sure to use Firemizer and Firebuilder] as hedgehogs love to hide in piles of wood. As well as this when raking leaves, check the area first for any hedgehogs hiding in leave mounds.

Scottish wildcat

Already extinct in England and Wales due to habitat loss as well as being interbred with domestic cats they are losing their genetic identity. There’s only 200 left in Scotland and conservationist are planning to release captive European wildcats to try and save the species.

Red squirrel

They have been in decline since the early 20^th century and it is estimated they have dwindled to an estimated population of only 140,000. Compared to the American grey squirrel at 2.5 million, pushing the red squirrel out of most areas. Red squirrels are most commonly found in the far north of England and Scotland.

Turtle dove

Since 1970 the turtle dove has declined around 70% since the ’70s and now are on the global red list for endangered species. Scattered around southern and eastern England locations is where you could find them. Farmers were likely to blame for their decline however many are working with the RSPB to create feeding habitats for them. As well as this many turtle doves are shot by hunters in the south of Europe further reducing their numbers.

Hazel dormouse

These dormice have been around for than 10,000 years, they’ve been in the UK since the last ice age. Over the last 25 years, the population has decreased by 75%. However, there have been efforts to repopulate these animals. Breeding pairs were taken to a location in Warwickshire in hopes of introducing them into the wild.

How To prepare for a camping trip

Before you embark on your camping adventure it’s wise to check out this page from the Woodland Trust all about where you can camp.

Packing

Make sure to pack only essentials, sleeping bag, non-perishable foods, stove, first aid kit, sleeping bag and tent! For making a fire don’t forget to pack Firemizer and Firebuilder, they’ll keep you warm during the night for longer!

Food

When cooking try using the traditional campfire instead of a camping stove. You can use Firemizer in the campfire which will get your fire to cooking temperature much quicker.

Top camping foods

• S’mores
• Hot dogs
• Burgers
• Fish

S’more ingredients

1. Cracker, if no crackers use cookies
2. Chocolate or try chocolate spread, jam, white chocolate
3. Marshmallows (there’s no alternative get some marshmallows!)
4. Cracker
5. Bonus fillings – raisins, caramel sauce, and fruit.

Wildlife

• Keep bugs away by throwing sage into the campfire.
• Use lavender or cinnamon essential oil on skin.
• Sit away from standing water and wear insect repellent treated clothing.
• Build a fire.

How to build a campfire?

What you’ll need;

dry wood, a handful of tinder, fire ring, matches and a clear area of vegetation.

1. Place Firemizer underneath tinder bundle and use Firebuilder on top to help light the fire. Place the wood in the form of a tepee around the tinder.
2. Leave an opening in your tepee so the fire gets the air it needs and will blow flames onto the kindling.
3. The flame should rise to the kindles and spread throughout the wood bundle.
4. Add wood to the structure as it starts to fall. Add tinder to maintain the fire.
5. To extinguish sprinkle water on the fire to put out embers.

Firebuilder is waterproof and is perfect in wet or humid conditions.

As there is another bank holiday on the way (Thank goodness). Trying to decide what to do, especially if you have kids can be tough. So to help we have compiled a list of days out and activities you can do over the bank holidays.

Going Away

If you want to go away for the weekend why not visit the English countryside. Perfect for dog walking, fresh air and a place for kids to run around! You could always try a bit of camping, don’t forget Firemizer and Firebuilder they’ll help you keep nice a warm in the evenings!

Museums, castles and days out

What better way to spend the day exploring with the kids or out walking the dogs in a park. The National Trust has great places to see from castles and stately homes to woods and parks.

Beach

It’s not a bank holiday unless someone mentions going to the beach! Top up on that tan, have a dip in the sea and you can’t forget an ice cream or fish and chips. This could be the perfect way to spend a bank holiday!

Picnic

If you don’t want to spend too much a nice picnic is the way to go! you can use food already at home and find a nice park nearby to enjoy the lovely bank holiday weather (fingers crossed for sun)

Rainy days

let’s be honest who knows what bank holiday weather will have in store so it’s good to have a backup plan! Maybe create your own cinema, stock up on popcorn and cinema sweets, set up a comfy, cosy seating area full of blankets and pillows and you’re ready to go. Don’t forget the films though!

Whatever you plan this bank holiday or the next we hope you enjoy yourselves and your day off!

In recent months the topic around changing your lifestyle to make it eco-friendlier has been popular and for good reason.

The planet is struggling with pollution; 8 million metric tonnes of plastic ends up in our oceans each year, and carbon dioxide levels in the air are at their highest in 650,000 years. You can’t become zero waste overnight living in a plastic heavy world. But there are things you can do to help eliminate single-use plastics, reduce your waste and become more sustainable.

Watching your air miles

Flying contributes to around 13-15% of the UK’s impact of greenhouse gas emissions. On average the British person takes a short haul flight every two years and long haul every five years. Only a minority of regular flyers causes a substantial slice of UK emissions. So it is safe to safe you don’t need to give up your holidays just yet.

Firemizer and Firebuilder

Make your stove more environmentally friendly. Firebuilder is 100% green, made from recycled cardboard, contains no chemicals and emits no foul smells when burning. Firemizer can reduce fuel usage and reduce particulate emissions by 72%

Burning wood and coal

Bio-bean makes Coffee Logs that are an alternative for burning seasoned logs or coal. These logs are made from coffee grounds and are very environmentally friendly. The UK produces hundreds of thousands of tonnes of waste coffee grounds every year, most of which is disposed of via landfill where it emits methane, a greenhouse gas that is 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide. – Bio-bean. You can use these logs with Firemizer, read our review here!

Things you didn’t know contain plastic

• Biodegradable cutlery – This looks like it helps the environment hence the word biodegradable. However, these contain a mixture of corn starch and plastic. These can’t be composted by a regular old joe, the bioplastic needs to be broken down using very high heat. An alternative could be bamboo cutlery since these contain no plastic and are easily affordable.
• Tea bags – Plastic is used to seal the tea bag so they don’t come open in the box or in your tea. This also means they aren’t fully 100% biodegradable so composting them will leave bits of microplastic in the soil. However, not all tea bags contain plastic some use a byproduct of corn starch to seal their teabags. Unfortunately, these are still not suitable to be composted in your home.
• Coffee Cups – Takeaway coffee cups are hard to recycle mainly due to the plastic lining inside the cup designed to make the cup leakproof. An alternative would be a reusable coffee cup and you normally get money off your coffee for using one.

With all this in mind, it just about doing what you can for the environment whether that’s big or small changes. Everyone has to start somewhere!

References

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/apr/06/aviation-q-and-a

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-43739043

https://moralfibres.co.uk/is-there-plastic-in-your-tea/

https://ecolunchboxes.com/blogs/news/when-compostable-is-sometimes-worse-than-plastic