Credit the idea to my friend Matthew Tait. I found a dry dead leaf of Cabbage Palm (Sabal palmetto) in Florida. I played Grandfather Stalking Wolf’s game and made a bow drill coal with it as fast as I could. Used my steel knife. Bow: random dead branch on the ground (I think Lyonia sp.) Cordage: my shoelace Spindle and fire board: Cabbage Palm leaf stalk Coal catcher: leaf of Saw Palmetto Lubricant for pressure hand brace: crushed green leaf Pressure Hand Brace: random slab of dead wood. Note how thin it can be if your bow drill wood is very soft.

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Had fun today using ragweed to make coals for the first time. Two separate spindles I recently collected in Illinois. Mouth drill, and hand drill with the pressure thumb brace. Both on white fir (Abies concolor). Fun!

At my in-law’s. Storm is coming. Getting cold out. Squeezing in some dirt time. Yucca on Pine. Brought the coal inside. My mom-in-law wanted to check it out :)

Last weekend I was lucky and had the great honor to visit the PhyreDojo in person for the first time. I’m grateful for the camaraderie of the Dojo, the Giant Drills, Qapla Drill, Yo-Yo Drill, Mouth Drill, the Teppanyaki Grill, and for Joe Lau’s mentorship. If you know him, you’re blessed. I was truly grateful for receiving my PhyreDojo White Belt. Wow! And the Phamily PhyreBox. Wow! Most importantly, I’m grateful to my wife Sarah for holding down the fort and allowing me this opportunity.