Yesterday morning the ESSP students carved bow drill sets and learned several ways of attaching the spindle to the string. We discussed the science behind friction firelighting, then everyone worked on perfecting their drilling form while breaking in the new sets. Then we moved onto percussion-based firelighting using flint and steel before working with more modern techniques like using ferrocerrium rods and prepared tinder. In the afternoon we spent an hour on edible and medicinal plant studies before heading into the woods with axes. We worked on the safe and powerful use of the axe in the four major operations: felling, limbing, sectioning and splitting. For dinner I made hand drill fire, then set up the fire irons and cooked a stir fry in the 21” frying pan. When we were done eating people used the coals from the fire to continue burning out their wooden bowls. And before turning in I added more photos to the gallery.