[ironrosefarms]

I am going on a mission trip to a orphanage in Jamaica next summer. My original purpose was to help with maintenance of some equipment they own. Things like a John Deere tractor and mowers and some wood working equipment that is in non operable condition. Anyways, tonight my pastor called and asked me if I might be able to teach some blacksmithing to some of the older boys from the orphanage. The orphanage is continually looking for ways to generate income and to teach the young men and women ways to support themselves upon leaving the home.

In talking with pastor further, I convinced him that building a forge is not much of a problem as with a bit of imagination I have seen just about anything made into a forge. I was already planning on taking tools down to leave there so adding a couple HF cross peins wouldn't take much more. As for an anvil, I know they have some I beam cut offs from some construction so I have already asked that those be saved.

Now for my what I am not sure of... here I use coal, from what I can find from looking at the international energy council website coal and coke is basically not available in Jamaica. So that puts me to homemade charcoal. I need to find out what woods I will find there that may work to make a decent charcoal??? If not charcoal then what, by my understanding propane is also not a possibility. The orphanage is a 2 1/2 hour drive from Kingston and about the same from Montego Bay (the two bigger cities). I am told that tools and such are incredibly expensive and for many to far away to obtain. This might actually make a forge a worthwhile venture if a fuel source can be worked out.

So thoughts and ideas on a fuel source? Anyone here from Jamaica?

Thanks in advance
James