APPENDIX D: FIRE BY FRICTION, HUMILITY AND ATTUNEMENT 157
- Acceptable stalks: yucca, mullein, cattail (if these stalks are
not available, you can experiment with any long straight plant
stalk in your area)
The fire-board
- Approximate dimensions: 1–2 inches wide, 6–8 inches long,
and ¼–½ inches thick - The board should be about as thick as the spindle diameter
(⅜ inch preferred) - Acceptable wood: basswood, tuliptree, white/soft cedar, pine
(if you can’t find these woods, experiment with other soft
woods)
Fire materials
- Tinder nest: tuliptree or basswood inner bark, dry grass,
cedar bark - Kindling: pine straw, aged evergreen branches such as thin
hemlock sticks, or wood shavings - Small pencil-sized sticks to build up the fire
Tools
- Pocket knife or multi-tool with a small fine tooth wood saw
- With softer woods, a sharp flint rock will work well also
Time and space requirements
This skill can take a lot of practice to develop enough comfort to
teach others. The authors practiced for months to become proficient,
though general competency can be developed after a week or two of