In this hands on workshop you’ll learn the essentials of building fire. You’ll leave this class with a complete bow drill kit and ferro rod.
You’ll need a knife for this class. If you don’t already have something, I recommend picking up one of these. I may have some available for purchase at class, contact me ahead of time to check availability.
In anything more than a short term survival scenario, away from the luxuries of dietary preference- you will need to supplement your diet with animal protein to maintain health. You don’t need to be a master hunter to secure meat for your stew- traps work for you while you sleep and focus on other tasks.
For this class you will need a knife to make some of the traps. If you don’t already have something, then I recommend picking up one of these. I may have some available for purchase at class, contact me ahead of time to check availability.
This class will focus on creating fire by friction between two pieces of wood. We’ll learn how, why, when, and where to make our fire. Creating cordage(rope) from plant fibers and using stone tools will be covered in class. This is a full day intensive of working skills. Some people may successfully make fire during class, but everyone will leave with a clear path to becoming proficient at creating fire.
This class will focus on expanding our awareness of the natural world and minimizing the disturbances we create. You will learn to experience nature as a greater collective of intertwined parts, rather than a confusing mass of individuals. You will learn to see the world as our ancestors did, where things exist together in harmony.
In the past, we had to remain intensely aware of our surroundings to avoid being hunted by enemies and predators, to hunt our prey, to locate resources and find opportunities for our survival. Now this state of awareness has largely atrophied within us thanks to the overly-comfortable lives we’ve created, and is wreaking havoc on us all. In this class, we’ll step into that awareness and learn to once again move as a part of nature.
Let’s get back to the basics! Learn how to make your knives razor sharp the right way. This is a free event, just bring your sharpening stone and a knife and learn how to sharpen knives the way your great-grandparents did.
For a sharpening stone I recommend some sort of ~1000 grit whetstone. You really don’t need anything finer (2000+), but if your edges look like swiss cheese(or have any chips) you’ll need a coarse stone as well.
In anything more than a short term survival scenario, away from the luxuries of dietary preference- you will need to supplement your diet with animal protein to maintain health. You don’t need to be a master hunter to secure meat for your stew- traps work for you while you sleep and focus on other tasks.
You’ll need a knife to make your traps. If you don’t already have something, I recommend picking up one of these. I may have some available for purchase at class, contact me ahead of time to check availability.
Cordage is the art of twisting multiple individual fibers together- weak on their own, but strong together. Cordage is crucial for making bowdrills, lashing shelters, trapping and much more.
Learn how to make primitive friction fire with a bow-drill. Knowing how to make fire is a crucial skill whether you want to know how to survive without modern luxuries of lighters and firestarters or if you’re on a path of integrating yourself more deeply into the natural world.
At the end of class you’ll have a clear path laid ahead of you to becoming proficient with fire.
Being able to build a fire can mean the difference between life or death in a survival or primitive living situation. It can also offer fresh perspective on the interconnectedness of all things.
*Some people are able to make a fire with their bow drill during class, but often this is a skill that takes a lot of practice before figuring out. Don’t be discouraged, commit to regular practice and eventually you’ll have the skills!
In this class we’ll cover the basics of making fire without a lighter or matches. We’ll discuss finding everything you need in nature, and you’ll make your own bow-drill kit to practice with and take home.
You’ll need a knife for this class. A 3-6″ fixed blade knife will work well, though other knives may be fine. If you’re interested in buying an affordable yet quality knife, I recommend the Mora HD companion. I may have a small number of these for sale at the class, email me at mnnatureschool (at) gmail.com ahead of time to check availability.
Class will be held outside near the twin cities, so dress appropriately for the weather. This one is for adults only.