A hard day in the beantin office

Monitoring Solihull 6th form Gold DofE qualifying expedition, 4 days in the Cheviot.

Les beans?

Oh, monsieur you spoil us.

Flaring off

The coating should be burnt off before using the beantin to cook.

Wild luxury

Leave no trace with a beantin fire

• punch some holes around the bottom edge of a catering sized bean tin
• put the tin on a rock or pile of earth or upturned sod to protect the ground
• build a fire inside the tin, in the usual way, tinder to kindling to increasingly thicker firewood (up to about half wrist thickness)
• the chimney effect draws air through the bottom and flames burn cleanly out of the top
• little and often re-fuelling is the secret to a bright smoke-free fire
• use a pot grab to move the fire if necessary
• when you strike camp replace the turf, sweep the area over with some green twigs and leave virtually no trace
• take all rubbish with you - do not hide or bury it

 beantin offer weekend courses in camp craft covering:

• how to choose a wild site
• erecting and sleeping in a lavvu (tipi style tent)
• erecting and sleeping in a tarp
• staying warm and dry in wild weather
• secrets of success with a beantin fire
• how to get wood sustainably
• how to use and protect fresh water sources
• useful knots
• access and trespass

email for details/booking

Tarp times

Somewhere between Ray Mears and your parents' favourite caravan site is the quiet, comfy and cosy world of wild camping. No need to rough it and eat bugs when you can dine on a fine meal cooked from fresh ingredients, foraged from local suppliers. Relax by the beantin fire and enjoy a brew against a back drop of stars, is that the milky way or just steam on your glasses, ah..

The tarp weighs 785g (less than a goretex bivi bag) and sleeps 1 in palacial comfort, 2 in luxury, 3 comfortably or 4 at a push. A bit of an art to erect but will shed weather to the point that I have been more worried about the tree it was fixed to than the tarp itself. The pitch can be varied from high overhead shelter to securely battened down against the elements. Under a tarp you are not sealed off from your surroundings in the way that you are in a tent, you feel immersed in the landscape, whilst being fully sheltered from wind and rain. The ventilation reduces humidity and condensation and the beantin will keep the midges away. The beantin Bug-Bag will keep the little blighters away through the night and keep your sleeping bag clean too.

The beantin tarp is made to order by a local sail-maker, email for details.

Remember remember

These hardwoods burn well and slowly,
Ash, beech, hawthorn oak and holly.
Softwoods flare up quick and fine,
Birch, fir, hazel, larch and pine.
Elm and willow you'll regret,
Chestnut green and sycamore wet.