Inauguration of stove with birch bark

The day started by gathering one of nature's greatest fire starters:  birch bark.  We have plenty!

The stove requires a break-in period to help the iron get used to thermal expansion.  Today, the top plate only got to  250 degrees.  We'll go to 350 tomorrow.

When harvesting birch bark, never take it off the tree.  This can harm the tree.  There's plenty of bark around just from old stumps and on the ground.

While out harvesting bark, this frozen stream caught our eye.