This primitive pine resin lamp is simple and burns well. You will need the following items:
Pine resin: dries to a sticky or hard ball on pine trees and has many uses, both practical and medicinal. Get into the habit of looking out for it when you walk in pine woods; you can break bits off with your hands and build up quite a collection!
Reindeer lichen: grows on heathland and moors and gives off a wonderful aroma when burnt.
You can also use Usnea lichen, known as old man’s beard.
Use a clay pot, tin or shell to hold the candle. I like using a big oyster shell.
1. Fluff up the dry lichen and place it in the shell; make a small indent in the centre.
2. Break up the pine resin and place in the centre of the lichen.
3. Use your firesteel to send sparks into the lichen.
4. The lichen will catch and help the pine resin to ignite.
Make the candle last longer by feeding in more lumps of pine resin.
