Judy, you will get lots of hot tips about starting your smoker and keeping it
going.
 
1. Choice of fuel - fuel must be dry and free of plastic content
.a.) Burlaps bags used to be made of hemp, now they're largely plastic.If you
do find an old burlap bag grab it, cut it into 3in squares, we will talk
about its use soon.
 
b.Wood shavings. If there is a saw mill or wodcraft shop nearby they may be
happy to give you plenty just to get rid of it. Saw mills selll  alot of
their chip and shaviong to the press board industry so pick on a small one
where this product is to small for marketing.
 
c. pine needles, pine straw , pine cones. Depending on where you live there
should be plenty of these around or none at all. The Atlantic coast has many
areas of pine.
Gather some store it in a dry ventilated place .
d.dried grass clipping
e. tobacco leaves or other large leaves well dried.
2. igniting  bunch up a  small amount of new paper and push into into the
bottom
of the smoker, light it with a match squeeze a couple of slow pufffs on the
bellows
when it is really flaring,add chips, pine needles or drygrass.a little at a
time keeping the flame going,with small puffs. after it begins to flame again
add more fuel and pack it down with a stick. Soon there should be lots of
smoke. Put the lid in place and keep slow puffs going.  Some sparks may come
out , slow down. As you go from your work area to your hives.keep little
puffs going making sure that the smoke smudges well. Before using open smoker
and add as much fuel as you can get in,
pump bellows again until flame occurs. Then pack in some fresh grass whcih
will smolder but usally not burn.This serves to cool the smoke coming out so
that you do not burn the bees.Close the smoker once again some puffs pn the
bellows. T
 
The fire is now well established and can be used for many hours. If you are
going to take in in a truck or car still burning put it in a large covered
metal can. Have fun