The Science and Art of the Hand Drill
A workshop series over four Saturday mornings (Aug 31, Sep 7, Sep 14, Sep 21)
Darebin Parklands, Melbourne
“The sheer simplicity of picking up one stick and spinning it on another to produce fire was the most improbable and stunning act of human creation I could imagine. I wanted it, badly.”
Have you experienced the electric feeling of creating fire out of just a stick and a piece of wood? Perhaps in a group? Or maybe you’ve seen others do it, or read about it?
Did you feel a burning inspiration to practise this skill on your own, but not know where to begin?
For millennia, our ancestors used their bodies, and the bodies of the local trees and woody shrubs, to produce fire, with this most ancient and timeless technology of hand drill. Requiring meticulous attention to detail, the hand drill also has its own mysterious and ever unpredictable nature. Every single hand drill coal seems to have its own personality, some emerging quickly and joyfully into the world, others stubbornly resisting their birth at all costs.
There is a science to hand drill. Not just any two pieces of wood will cooperate to birth fire. The notch must be a certain width and the board just the right thickness, to ensure the optimal balance of airflow and containment. Humidity of wood, air, and ground have stark impacts on the result. Hands and body must be stable but flowing, moving together in perfect synchronisation.
“Skill is a visible form of prayer.”
But so too is it an art. We will succeed only if we approach the hand drill humbly, in service to learning as much as possible of its magical and mysterious ways. The aim of making fire is present, but secondary. Patience is key, as is a willingness to think outside the box. Feeding and tending to the relationship over time, we allow the practice to be a meditation, a prayer, an act of devotion.
For the second time, Nature's Apprentice is offering a four-part workshop series to go deeper into this skill.
This course is suitable for everyone from complete beginners to more experienced folks who would like to practice in different conditions with different materials.
We will cover:
The sacredness of fire and how to approach this skill with humility and non-attachment
Knife safety
Carving your own kit
Tinder bundles
Technique and body posture
Finding the right materials
Troubleshooting common problems
Strategies for success in different conditions
Optionally experimenting with different materials
Circle time for sharing breakdowns and breakthroughs
Facilitator
Emily Coats
Emily has been working at Nature's Apprentice since 2021 and is committed to sharing with the world her passion for deep nature connection, ancestral skills, and soulcentric nature practices including Vision Quest. She has studied at Tom Brown Jnr's Tracker School and with bird language experts Jon Young and Andrew Turbill and has also trained as a Vision Quest Guide and holds an Advanced Diploma of Transpersonal Counselling.
In 2022 Emily spent a ‘fortnight without matches’ in the NSW bush where she put her hand drill skills on the line and found that when her warmth and dinner depended on this skill, it got a whole lot harder. While by no means professing to be a master, she is excited to share what she has learned and help ignite enthusiasm in others.
Program info
Location: Darebin Parklands, Melbourne
Dates: Saturdays: Aug 31st, Sep 7th, Sep 14th, Sep 21st
Time: 9:30am-1pm
Testimonials from the 2022 Science and Art of Hand Drill
“Emily has created a really enjoyable and comprehensive course. The four weekends is the perfect amount of time to engage deeply with the content, practice, ask for guidance and share experiences. The group was so friendly, encouraging and fun. Emily is a patient, enthusiastic and supportive teacher. Her passion for this skill is present in each step of her sharing it.”
—Ingrid Gerrard
“This course was great. Having it be multiple weeks to return to the skill as opposed to a once off experience really helped ground the learning and the layers involved. It also enabled a deepening of relationships amongst those journeying together. Emily is wonderful facilitator. Her patience, dedication, anecdotes and support were second to none. Thank you Emily and all those involved. I look forward to working with and learning from Emily again soon.”
—Xander Donnelly
“Emily brings story and her real life experiences to this ancient practice. She teaches the skill in a way that is patient, enjoyable and nurturing at all ages and abilities.”
—Shau Teo
“The art of the hand drill was a timeless space to connect with the materials and mission of making fire with a small community. I’m leaving feeling patient and determined to play with the skill and get that coal.”
—Kathryn McCallum
Cost:
Early Bird (before August 7th): $245
Full price: $295
Includes materials for the hand drill kit and tinder bundles
Please BYO knife (we will also have some available for purchase for $35).
Cancellation Policy:
Refunds available until 14 days before course starts, minus $25 admin fee.
After this point if you can no longer attend, we cannot offer refunds but you may sell or gift your ticket at no extra cost. Please let us know the name and email address of the person who will be taking your place.
***Thank you to Max Roux for the images on this page***