Storm kettle

These are fascinating things - they boil water with a tiny fire in the chamber at the base. The water is poured into the spout on the side and the hole in the middle is a chimney. I think it's all to do with there being a thin skin holding the water so there's a large surface area for the fire to heat.

We were using a storm kettle today at work during a John Muir sharing session: two of the gardening staff have been running a John Muir group which is broadly about appreciating nature, and experiencing its spiritual side. John Muir is thought of as the father of today's conservation movement and he was instrumental in the founding of Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks at the end of the nineteenth century. He was born in Dunbar which is a seaside town about 30 miles from Edinburgh and spent his early childhood there before moving to the USA at the age of 11.

Today members of the group talked about what they had done and we went out and had tea round a bonfire, then built bug houses under their instruction. And I'm paid to do this!