Food from the Fire
A day of firewood, fire and food: gathering and preparing wood the right way, building a cooking fire and sharing a meal around the hearth.
The day
We deliberately slow our pace and get to know the trees whose wood is best for lighting fires and for making the hot, steady embers that cooking needs.
You'll learn how to find dry firewood even on damp and windy days, where you have permission to gather it, and how to cross-cut and split it safely with a bow saw and camp axe.
Then we build a cooking fire and manage it down to a glowing bed of embers. Using simple traditional methods we'll bake breads and cook a meal over the fire.
As the food sizzles and rises we take time to enjoy the woodland around us, before sharing the meal around the hearth together.
What we'll cover
- Working safely with bow saw and camp axe
- Permission to gather and finding firewood
- Knowing your trees and their firewood
- Cross-cutting and splitting
- Building a cooking fire
- Cooking and sharing a meal around the hearth
You'll leave with
- Knowledge of the best native firewoods
- Safe saw and axe skills for preparing firewood
- The confidence to cook a meal over a campfire
What to bring
- Clothes you don't mind smelling of woodsmoke (no synthetic fleeces near the fire)
- A mug, plate and spoon
- Tell Jay about any dietary needs when you book
- A packed lunch and plenty to drink
Keep going afterwards
Every course has a matching book and activity guide collection, so you can keep practising at home.
A taste of the activities
Booking and safety
Full payment secures your place. You'll be sent joining instructions and a short health and personal information form to complete before the course. Please read the terms and conditions, including the cancellation policy.
Want this course for your own group, school or team? Talk to Jay.