I’ve just been reacquainted with this fire-by-friction method recently and enjoy the simplicity and ease-of-use to create an ember/coal so I wanted to share it with others, enabling them to try it out for themselves. Folks who tried it were delighted with how quickly they could create a coal that could be placed into a tinder bundle to create fire. The more hefty the firecrafter the quicker the ember would be created when a person’s weight over the top board would cause greater friction when passed over the tinder roll.

 
In the course of the day some videographer’s from UNC-TV Public Media North Carolina arrived to capture footage for the program North Carolina Weekend (Airing Thursdays, at 9 PM, on UNC-TV) and I was able to demonstrate this fire-by-friction method as well as shared my thoughts on Turtle Island Preserve, Families Learning Together, and Eustace Conway. I was glad to give a positive report! I was featured (for a whole two seconds worth! starting at 2:19) along with a host of other folks that day. Click on the photo to see the finished video production that captured the day’s events.

It is always fun to share my knowledge and skills but just as importantly to learn from others who have come to share their knowledge and experiences. I highly recommend this annual event as a destination for you, your family, and friends next year. Perhaps I’ll see you there.

Edith Marie Ferguson Carter, owns and operates Whippoorwill and organizes Daniel Boone Day each year with the help of other volunteers. There were many vendors and demonstrators including flint knappers, knife makers, and quilt makers among others. Other activities included Civil War reenactment, musicians, period theater actors and more. It was nice to hear live music throughout the day.

In my area I demonstrated primitive and survival skills. Because Whippoorwill Village has a bamboo grove, I collected bamboo stalks and emerging shoots then boiled the shoots in a bamboo pot that I made over my campfire. I also used a pair of clam-shelled tin cans that produced a perfectly baked potato. My cooking demos provide me with my day-time meals. I also had the opportunity to try on a bear hide that came from a neighboring county. It made me ponder the fauna of the early days of Daniel Boone.

A number of folks expressed to me that they look for the teepee and follow the campfire smoke to the Survivaltek booth. It’s always fun to connect with friends, both old and new. At the same time I get to learn new things when people share their experiences. This is a great annual event that I highly recommend.

The day began with a tour led by Desere, the office manager of TIP. She has been there for eight years now and is a walking plethora of information. We as a group walked past many structures built throughout the years with differing materials and for different purposes usually with reclaimed materials or timber from the land. There is a saw mill on the premises that produces lumber, and on this particular day there was a separate volunteer crew led by Eustace Conway and Preston Roberts who were busy constructing a massive lumber storage building.

The focus of our group was the up-coming Families Learning Together (FLT) event being held on April 26th where folks can purchase tickets for a day to learn more about heritage skills and crafts. You can find more information and purchase tickets by visiting the TIP FaceBook EVENT PAGE or CONTACT them through their website.

The photo above shows the volunteers and interns as they gathered at “Nacho Mama’s” kitchen area where great food and fellowship was shared. I have been privileged to participate in various classes and demonstrations over the last several years and can attest to the awesome events, opportunities and experiences available to visitors. I am planning to demonstrate both primitive and survival skills at FLT and would love to see you there.

Aside from brushing elbows with the famous, I was able to meet many new festival visitors and demonstrated various ways to make fire using friction, percussion, and solar methods. For lunch I prepared fish for baking by covering it with mustard green leaves then covering that bundle with clay and placing it on coals. It normally takes about 45 minutes to bake with abundant coals but with the modest amount that I had generated the time had to be extended a bit. The results were great. I handed out chop-sticks to the adventurous folk who eagerly waited to pull off a piece of tender fish.

One of the fun aspects of this event is that I get to erect my Cheyenne style teepee and my 5 foot long fish “pillow” on a tripod. Both of these displays draw lots of interest for “photo ops”. I try to let the photographers get in their family photos too and occasionally become the photographer for them. Of course it is an honor to be a subject of their photos and I would like to thank all of the folks who share them with me as I get so involved that I forget to take me own photos of the event.

The Brushy Mountain Apple Festival is held the first Saturday each October. Perhaps I’ll see you next year?!?

After introductions I initially spoke on the scenario of a local power outage and how it could effect living conditions. I suggested helpful equipment and associated provisions that the audience could acquire in preparation for such an event. I also brought samples of improvised tools like a can that was turned into a pot for cooking or for purifying water. And, of course, what would one of my events be without some type of “fire”, so I demonstrated how an empty flintwheel lighter could be used to make a fire as well.

One of the things that I enjoy about these events is that I get to meet new folks and I often learn things from their experiences and so we have a great exchange of knowledge and ideas. Part of this event was open for discussion and we were enriched because of it.

Throughout the day I met CTA members and some had traveled from as far away as Maine. From my area I could watch activities underway such as trap shooting and static clay pigeon target shooting. There were special events for kids as well. It was a treat to see the variety of bows, arrows and associated equipment made by vendors and members alike.

At each event that I attend where I set up a campfire, I like to start the fire using different techniques. This particular morning I used a “trash” broken car headlight reflector. By placing tinder where the bulb used to be and pointing the reflector at the sun, I was able to get a coal burning in short order. I also demonstrated this method using a metal mixing bowl as a reflector as illustrated in the photo.

In keeping with the genre of the event I demonstrated a more traditional fire method using the bow and spindle. The first demo went fast and easy but a second demo later in the afternoon was hampered by windy conditions. I made several attempts while a group of volunteer firemen watched. Growing tired, I offered one of the fellows a chance to continue the process. On his second try he created a beautiful coal and was successful in achieving his first bow and spindle fire. Now he can make fire AND put it out!

I enjoyed myself at this great event and look forward to participating next year. You can check out the Carolina Traditional Archers website at: http://thecta.org

Yesterday was my first time participating as a vendor at the Wilkesboro Open Air Market and had a totally great time. I had the opportunity to meet many local friends and website visitors. I was able to teach solar and flint & steel fire methods to those who had previously never tried it and were successful in making their first fire using those techniques. They walked away standing a little taller, being better prepared for future fire needs. We had a lot of fun. I demonstrated bow and spindle technique using Red Cedar fire kits. I’ve discovered that Red Cedar will heat quickly, but it also cools quickly, and takes special care in the process. It took several tries throughout the afternoon, but in the end I had success as the on-lookers applauded.

All Open Air Market events take place in Historic Downtown Wilkesboro in the town-owned parking lot near Havana Dreams (except for the Oct. 22 event, which will be held in Cub Creek Park.) Baring any unforeseen circumstance, I plan to be a regular vendor located at the far end of the lot. Just follow the camp fire aroma to my booth.

Heritage crafts of that time were demonstrated throughout the day that included cooking, spinning, blacksmithing, flint knapping, Indian skills, and Civil War drill re-enactments. My part in this event was to display my era-associated items such as my Cheyenne style teepee and stretched deer hide. I brought a 5 foot “fish pillow” replica to add to the atmosphere by hanging it on a tripod as if ready for cleaning. Although I was prepared to demonstrate era cooking skills, my interest in firecraft and flint napping took precedence for the day and I enjoyed meeting many friendly people.

If you find yourself in this area next May, it would be well worth your effort to experience this celebration. I expect you’ll see me there having fun.

I was scheduled to set up my teepee outside where I could perform firecraft and cooking, but there was a driving rain all the way to the fairgrounds where the event was being held. Although teepees are portable shelters, they don’t store well when wet, so I was not inclined to set it up when I wouldn’t be able to let it dry out with eventual sunny weather. I spoke to the event coordinator about the possibility of setting it up inside the exhibition hall, and to my delight, there was both height and space available.

In lieu of a campfire, I decided to perform Flint and Steel fire making demonstrations using my fire tray as my portable campfire pit. I had invited a family friend, Jeremiah, to join me for this event to assist in handling equipment and interfacing with attendees. After several demonstrations, he was able to take a turn and was able to make his first Flint and Steel fire. Way to go! He also provided the photo for this blog.

I appreciated the opportunity to share my passion. If you are able to attend any of the events that I post in my calendar, I would love to have you contact me during your visit so that we can meet and chat.