Foraging & Firemaking Workshop with Christopher Nyerges

Christopher demonstrating primitive firemaking at a previous Ojai workshop. Photo: Lanny Kaufer

Please use the REGISTER link to sign up before securing space with the PayPal link at the bottom of the page. If the event sells out, PayPal will display a message that says this event “is not available at this time” and you will be returned to this page. If that happens, be sure to click on the REGISTER button below to sign up for the waiting list. If spaces become available they will be filled based on date and time of registration.

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Join me and renowned author/forager/survivalist Christopher Nyerges on Saturday, May 1, in Ojai for an outdoor Foraging & Firemaking Workshop. This workshop is based on Christopher’s new book released in March, 2020: Guide to Making Fire Without Matches.

Participants will:

• learn to identify edible, medicinal, and useful plants
• learn the 4 basic principles of making fire and practice 2 or 3 ways of matchless firestarting
• make their own wooden hand drill and hearth and practice hand drill firemaking
• try bow drill firemaking with Christopher’s kit
• enjoy a foraged meal cooked over a campfire
• process black walnuts for eating, time permitting

The workshop will begin with a morning herb walk among the native plants on the fringes of Euterpe Farms, bordering the Ventura River Preserve. The afternoon workshop will take place under an oak tree (see photo). Everyone will have a chance to participate in all activities.

The following COVID-19 safeguards will be in place unless conditions and state requirements change by then:

• Attendance will be limited to 20 participants.
• Those with flu-like symptoms will be asked to remain at home.
• Forehead temperatures will be checked upon arrival.
• Everyone will be required to wear a mask or face covering and observe 6 feet of physical distancing.

Christopher Nyerges is an author, forager, survivalist and ethnobotanist with a lifelong interest in how native peoples lived off the land. He has been teaching classes and leading field trips since 1974 to over 40,000 students. Nyerges has authored nearly two dozen books, including Foraging California, Guide to Wild Foods, Guide to Making Fire Without Matches, How to Survive Anywhere, Extreme Simplicity, and many others.  He most recently was the editor of American Survival Guide magazine, and served as editor of Wilderness Way magazine for 7 years. He has written several thousand newspaper and magazine articles in such publications as the Los Angeles Times, Pasadena Star News, Pasadena Weekly, Whole Life Times, Countryside, Mother Earth News, Acres USA, American  Survival Guide, and others.

Christopher has appeared on the late Huell Howser’s public television series, KCET’s “Life and Times,” and National Geographic’s “Doomsday Preppers.” For two years, he appeared on Fox TV’s “X Show,” where he demonstrated survival skills on the streets of Los Angeles. He currently serves as a consultant to the “Naked and Afraid” show on Discovery.  Christopher Nyerges’ web sites are at ChristopherNyerges.com and SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com.

REGISTRATION INFO:
Please note: This workshop will go on RAIN OR SHINE with the exception of a heavy downpour in the morning and/or a 100% chance of heavy rain that day. No dogs or smoking, please.

Paid registrants will receive a confirmation email with all necessary info, including weather forecast and parking directions, a few days prior to the workshop.  They also will receive a follow-up email afterwards with a list of all plants identified and used, recipes, and more.

The cost for the workshop, including all materials, is $85. Please use the REGISTER link at top and bottom of this page to sign up before clicking on the PayPal button. Please note: online payment includes PayPal fees. If you prefer to mail a check, please let me know when you register.

If the event sells out, PayPal will display a message that says this event “is not available at this time” and you will be returned to this page. If that happens, be sure to click on the REGISTER button below to sign up for the waiting list. If spaces become available they will be filled based on date and time of registration.

REGISTER