Urban Rewilding - Fire-by-friction and coal-burnt spoon making

Urban Rewilding

Are you longing to experience a deeper sense of connection to the place, plants and animals where you live? 

To feel a sense of belonging to a wild community – even in the city? 

The Urban Rewilder invites us to experientially explore skills and practices that cultivate a sense of intimacy with the ‘wild’ within an urban context.  In this ‘age of separation,’ it is our important that we return to a more meaningful connection with the wider natural world, especially for the majority of us who live in the city. 

Join experienced facilitator and Rewilder, Claire Dunn for a deep dive into Urban Rewilding. 

'Fire-by-friction and coal-burnt spoon making' is a 1 day session that can be experienced on its own, or as part of the 8 week The Urban Rewilding course. 

Fire-by-friction and coal-burnt spoon making

This day will combine two very compatible earth skills: fire-by-friction and coal-burning your own wooden spoon. 

The creation of fire is one of the very things that makes us human and is a large part of what has allowed us to advance and evolve as a species.

Today we will focus on learning the traditional method of ‘hand-drill’ fire-by-friction - the fire making technique that has been used on this land for thousands of years. 

Many participants describe learning traditional fire making as a very powerful experience that significantly shifts their relationship to fire itself. 

With expert guidance you will learn about selecting suitable materials, carving them to make a hand-drill kit, preparing a tinder bundle and a tee-pee fire kindling structure, and the technique itself. This course gives you a great introduction fire by friction, with plenty of practice. Ideal both for beginners and those who want to go deeper into the practice. 

Once the fire is going we will embark on whittling and burning our own beautiful hand-made spoon out of local materials. 

8 week Course - Session Outline

Session 1 Deep Nature Connection Practices

An introduction into the core routines of deep nature connection including natural movement, wide awareness, sensory expansion and sit spot.

Session 2  Coastal foraging

Guest facilitator Christine Rockley, a self-taught expert on edible seaweeds, will takes us on a delicious mystery tour of Melbourne’s edible coastline. 

Session 3 Holistic tracking

An introduction to the art and science of holistic tracking during an excursion to Westerfold Park

Session 4 Traditional earth skills – Fire-by-friction and coal-burnt spoon whittling

Learn the art of ‘hand-drill’ fire making and whittling and burning a spoon from your first fire.

Session 5  Wild edibles

A wild foraging wander for native and introduced edible plants. Session include sharing a foraged wild lunch. 

Session 6 Wild Mind

An introduction to the philosophy and practice of eco-psychology 

Session 7 Natural Crafts – Basket Weaving

Begin your own traditional hand-woven basket using natural materials and learn the principles of the ‘honourable harvest’

Session 8 Urban Rewilding Adventure Challenge

A grand treasure and challenge adventure to celebrate and test your newfound rewilding skills!

A certificate of participation will be issued upon completion of at least 75% of the course.

What to expect

• Expert CERES Facilitators providing hands-on practical experience balanced with theory covering a variety of rewilding and eco-psychology topics.
• Practices cultivating sensitivity to the land and ecological literacy such as bird language, sit spots, natural movement and awareness, tracking and foraging.
• Dedicated space at CERES to put learning into practice.

What to bring

• Comfortable enclosed shoes/boots
• Appropriate weather gear eg sunhat
• 3 Inch non-serrated whittling knife
• Binoculars (optional)
• Pen and paper
• Lunch
• Enthusiasm to learn