In early December we packed up the family and headed to Auckland for a bushcraft/survival class and set up camp in the Hunua ranges for three days. The beautiful thing about the knowledge that we share in all our classes is that it is a basic truth knowledge that is applicable for any where we might go.
And so it was, stepping into a new place and having to find what it offers in the way of introduced wild foods and native wild foods, along with the medicine they provide. We tasted around 10 plants and found many more that weren't ready this time of year. A concerted effort by all to build a shelter with the realisation of what it would actually take if you were out there by yourself. Friction fire making is always a highlight of how blessed we are to have lighters and matches and flint-strikers. Many a fire was lit well with only one fire coming from rubbing two sticks together. Such a dedicated group of folk that came to learn these skills and to step out of the busy-ness of the city.

A word in your ear:

" "I really enjoyed the course, it had a good rhythm, lots of information, hands on throughout, great food, and You, Jen and the children are inspiring in walking your talk. But most of all I enjoyed your compelling invitation to immerse myself back into nature and slowly begin to feel to be a part of it. Thanks again, Karl."
Karl Cooper - Connect Urban Design, Auckland

OPEN FIRE COOKING

What a wonderful feast it was. 24 of us came together as a tribe for the day cooking, laughing, story telling and eating around the fire just as our ancestors would have done it.
On the menu were pan breads, coal cooked breads, toasted hazels, vege stew, kahawai over the coals, rock boiled eggs, rock fried eggs, rock fried steak, coal cooked tree fern fiddlehead and toasted mandarin and apple. We laid down a small hange which wasn't so successful with only the chicken getting cooked and not the veges. So into the coals they went and were roasted instead. We even had a few small broad billed prions that had died in a recent storm, not a lot of meat and slightly fishy tasting but delicious bar-b-qued over the coals.
From 9am -3.30pm we worked with the elements of fire, wood, steel, rock, water and breath(wind).

Here's what some of the folk said about the day:

"the most amazing adventure. Being a part of this gives me the feeling that I can do it."
Ruth, Raumati

"Great time, learnt lots, had to drag the children away. A wonderful day."
The Dewhurst family, Reikorangi

"I always walk away from here feeling inspired." >
Janet, Levin

TEEN vs WILD

This was our answer to the enthusiam that Bear Grylls has given to everyone around survival skills. Something that we noticed though is that television is still just television and you can only find out the truth by getting out there yourself.
A 10 strong tribe of teens came together for two days and were willing to step out of their comfort zones and experience what it's like to get cold, how to warm up, how to light fires and how to cook on an open fire.
We slept under tarps and sat on the Earth. There were wild foods and plant medicines to learn and a relationship was begun with the Otaki River. The day before the camp it snowed here so the river was snow-melt cold, it was like a thousand pirahnas biting at our skin when we swam in it.
Good food and crazy conversation was shared around the many fires over the two days.

"It's fun and everyone should try it."

"It was new to me and taught me some useful skills."

"thanks for the offer of dropping at the train station, great to know there are still companies out there who are happy to go beyond the call of duty!"

For more information and dates for these classes go back to Classes