School of Self-Reliance

MIDDAY FIRE WORKSHOP -- hands-on
2026-02-26 12:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Thursday, February 26, Noon.
LUNCHTIME FIRE WORKSHOP

SURVIVAL, BUSHCRAFT, SELF-RELIANCE!
Primitive skills are very popular, and the ability to make fire without matches is at the top of the list.
We will practice a few of the primitive methods of fire-starting methods, and you will learn some of the secrets that come from years of experience.
You will get to practice the bow drill, the hand drill, flint and steel, and the fire piston.

We will also go for a short walk (if time) so you can see the types of woods that are best for making fire, and the tinders that are best for getting your fire to light.
And enjoyable gathering. Bring a bowl and water.
And yes, you will learn about a few wild plants at this class as well.

Location sent when you register — most likely Hahamongna.

OJAI "OUTDOOR SURVIVAL SKILLS" WORKSHOP
2026-02-28 10:00 - 16:00
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 10 a.m.

Join me (Lanny Kaufer_)and renowned author/forager/survivalist Christopher Nyerges on Saturday, February 28, at Euterpe Farms in Ojai for an outdoor Foraging & Firemaking workshop. This workshop is based on Christopher’s many books, including Foraging California and How to Survive Anywhere.
Participants will:

learn to identify edible, medicinal, and useful plants and mushrooms
forage wild foods for our meal
learn the 4 basic principles of making fire and practice 2 or 3 ways of matchless firestarting
learn and practice hand drill firemaking
try bow drill firemaking with Christopher’s kit
enjoy a foraged meal cooked over a campfire
process acorns and/or 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 in a grassy area. Everyone will have a chance to participate in all activities.

Javier shows the three book special

After the workshop, Christopher and I will have our mobile bookstores on display, including copies of my book, Medicinal Herbs of California, and several of Christopher’s many books, available for sale and signing.
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, How to Survive Anywhere, Guide to Wild Foods, Nuts and Berries of California, Extreme Simplicity, and many others. Chicago Review Press, the publishers of the late Larry Dean Olsen’sOutdoor Survival Skills, asked Christopher to lightly edit the 7th edition of that classic book and add color photos and a new foreword.
Christopher 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.
He has appeared on the late Huell Howser’s public television series on California, 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 site is SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com.
REGISTRATION INFO:Registration at https://herbwalks.com/event/foraging-firemaking-workshop-with-christopher-nyerges-2/. 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 for adults and $45 for children under 18 (one per adult).

FIBRE-CRAFT 101 (including introduction to basketry)
2026-03-28 10:00 - 14:00
Saturday, March 28, 10 a.m. FIBRE-CRAFT 101:
The Art of Turning Plant Fibres into Bags, Baskets, Nets, String, Sandals.
We’ve had some requests for a BASKETRY Workshop. This class will include Basketry basics, though this class will not be only basketry.
The art of working fibre is nearly a lost art. You’ll learn to recognize some of the common plants which yield a useful fibre, and learn how to work them into strings, and baskets, and nets, and sandals, and more. In the old days of the Southwest, the lives of the people were literally tied together with fibre: for shelter, for clothing (hats, belts, shoes), fishing nets, bags, weaponry, fire-making, brushes, looms for fabric.
In the past, most people had a more intimate connection to plant fibres. There are so many practical applications, though today someone makes everything we use. So it’s become a lost art.
You will learn how to process a few plant fibres and how to make them into a usable product!

Actual networking!

We will do a short walk (if time) and learn about some of the plants that are useful for weaving, and making cordage.
You will then learn by making some of the useful products.
Along the way, you’ll also see many of the other useful and edible plants of the area.
NOTE: PLEASE RSVP SINCE WE NEED TO PLAN TO BRING SUFFICIENT SUPPLIES!
$65 (Seniors and students $45)

WATER SURVIVAL: Learn the Essential Water Skills for wilderness or city
2026-04-02 12:00 - 14:00
LUNCHTIME WATER SKILLS
April 2, Noon

This will be an overview of WATER in the City and Wilderness. HOW to find water, how to purify it, how to store it.
Let’s learn and apply the skills that allow you to survive in the desert (and other) environments. Water, of course, is paramount. You’ll learn how to obtain water when none seems present, methods such as the well, solar still, transpiration bag, plants, etc.

Water is the most critical element of survival, and so you will learn the necessity of storing water, and how to store water.
How much water should you store? What sort of containers should you use?
How about rain water? Are any special precautions needed?
How about water purification? Learn different ways to purify water, under different circumstances. Learn how to make a make-shift water filter in an emergency.
An essential survival skill, in the wilderness or the city.
Depending on our time, we might learn to identify a few wild plants too.
You can apply this class towards our Certification program.
Location given after registration. Class fee $45. (Seniors/students $30)

Books and tools available for purchase at all classes…

PRIMITIVE & MODERN TECHNOLOGY: FIRE WORKSHOP
2026-04-18 10:00 - 14:00
PRIMITIVE & MODERN TECHNOLOGY: FIRE WORKSHOP
WE’LL BE COOKING TOO!
April 18, 10 a.m.
Angelo’s favorite book on FIRE
We will take a walk and you will see the woods that are used to make the most basic methods of fire-production: The bow and drill, and the hand drill. You will also see flint and steel. You will learn by doing. You will work to make an ember, and you will learn which woods are best, and how to process your woods. A short walk included to see which plants are best for your fire-making kit. This is a timeless bushcraft skill.

We expect that each person will be able to collect and process most of your kit during this class. You will learn this fundamental bushcraft skill by doing! An excellent overall survival skill, since fire is at the very heart of survival: signalling, purifying water, cooking, etc.
BONUS: Once we make a fire, we’ll cook some wild foods at the grill for each of you to try.
Location 2, Hahamongna.
Exact location sent with registration

LUNCHTIME CANDLE MAKING WORKSHOP
2026-04-23 12:00 - 14:00
Thursday, Noon, April 23
Candle-making is one of the pioneer arts that goes back in time. Not exactly Bushcraft, but a Pioneer Self-Reliance skill. It’s how people lit their homes in the days before electricity.

You will learn the 3 methods of making your own candles: rolling, dipping, and molds.
You will take at least a few candles home that you made.
Javier making candles by dipping
This is a great skill to teach children, and there is also the possibility of creating a product you can sell at craft faire, or barter with your neighbors.
Diann with a candle made with a mold
As a bonus, you will also learn how to make a very simple slush lamp, used for millenia to light the night.
Hahamongna Watershed Park.

URBAN PREPAREDNESS -- in view of the many recent Disasters
2026-05-02 10:00 - 13:30
Urban Survival Guide, by Nyerges
Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m.
Urban Preparedness can mean a life of self-reliance! But it also means you’re a bit more prepared for disasters such as an earthquake, or a flood, or a fire.
We will cover some of the basic elements that you should know in order to take care of yourself at home. This class is all about urban preparedness.
We’ll cover issues about WATER and how to store water in Los Angeles County. What FOODS should you store, and grow. We will also show (and cook) some wild foods. We will share how to COOK in your backyard if you can’t use your indoor stove. We will address first aid only minimally — we suggest you take a Red Cross course. We will share TOILET alternative that is relatively easy. We will also show some of the alternate devices to ELECTRICAL devices. And we’ll talk about the notion of a “bug out bag,” and some common sense, such as the benefits of joining Neighborhood Watch, or starting one, if one is not active in your neighborhood.
This class will include a short PLANT WALK to learn about edible and medicinal wild plants.
Location sent with registration
Books and products will be available for sale

SURVIVAL SKILLS INTENSIVE -- An Field Overview of all the Skills you NEED
2026-05-23 10:00 - 15:00
May 23, Saturday, 10 a.m.

SURVIVAL SKILLS INTENSIVE
May 23, 10 a.m.
$75 ($55 for seniors and students)

Here’s a chance to practice all of the basic skills that are considered the essential skills. We will do a little bit of everything, and try to keep hiking to a minimum.
Knowledge of plants and their many uses is a critical skill that relates to every other skill. You will learn how to identify key plants, and how to use them for food, medicine, fire-making, cordage, and more.
Fire-making is an essential survival skill, and you should always have a few ways to make fire. On this class, you will practice primitive fire-making, as well as cooking, and water purification.
Along the way, you will learn about emergency shelters, how to make cordage, and more.
A great day to get into the mountains with like-minded people.
Location details sent upon registration. Bring a bowl, knife, and water.

Books by Nyerges available at class.

TRADITIONAL ARROW MAKING
2026-07-04 10:00 - 14:00
Dude on right, discusses a new traditional arrow made by Paul Campbell.
Saturday, July 4, 10 a.m., TRADITIONAL ARROW MAKING
$65 ($45 for seniors and students)

BUSHCRAFT SKILLS
This is one of the fundamental bushcraft skills that all hunter-gatherers needed to know. You might make a new bow every year, but you had to make arrows all the time.
In this class, you will learn the basic parts of the arrow, and how an arrow can be very simple, or more complex.
You will learn at least two common methods that arrows were made in the past. You will learn each step of making the traditional arrow, and then each student will make one. You will learn all the steps along the way, from selection of wood, shaft straightening, to adding the nocks, points, and feathers.
Bring your knife, and fine files if you have them. Otherwise, tools will be provided.
What’s more important? The bow, or the arrow? Obviously, the arrow, since it is the projectile that flies through the air. It must be straight, and properly aligned.
Nearly every society of the past used archery for hunting, and that meant LOTS of arrows. You’ll learn that there are several ways to make an arrow that will shoot straight, and you will make at least two.
Again, bring whatever tools you might have.
Cost is $65, with a senior and student rate of $45.
Be sure to RSVP. LOCATION 2. Hahamongna Watershed Park, on Pasadena’s west side, bordering with La Canada. Enter the park from Oak Grove and Foothill, and drive into the park, staying on the upper road (do NOT make that left turn and drive downhill), until you see the outdoor bathroom. Park there.

Copies of books by Nyerges and Paul Campbell will be available.

WILD FOOD COOKING and SURVIVAL discussion
2026-07-11 10:00 - 14:00
Saturday, July 11, 10 a.m.
WILD FOOD COOKING and discussion.

On our walk, we will learn to recognize wild foods of the area, and we will collect samples for our meal. Previously collected foods will be brought also for you to prepare into our meal.

Besides our short walk, you will then make a fire, and prepare a salad, soup, a mixed dish, pancakes, and a few other dishes, depending on what we find. Then we can sit around the table and talk, ask questions, consider the future. We’d love to have you join at this end-time of the year.

Bring your bowl! And bring water for the walk.
Location sent out to registrants.
$65 ($45 for students and seniors)

TRADITIONAL BOW MAKING WORKSHOP -- an ancient and universal skills
2026-09-05 10:00 - 15:00
BOW-MAKING WORKSHOP
A time to meet like-minded folks, and to discuss the important issues……..

September 5, 10 a.m.
In our class time, we will cover all the basics of making your own archery bow. You’ll learn how to select a piece of wood for making a bow.
You’ll learn the basics of creating a long bow (aka self bow). You will learn how to determine the belly from the back, how to slowly reduce, how to tiller, make nocks, etc.

Your goal will be to learn all the steps involved in making a functional bow. If you rush because you simply want to take a bow home, you might be disappointed. We will supply the staves for you to use, and we have extra tools.

If you have tools, such as sharp axe, draw knife, files, rasps, etc., bring them. We do bring tools if you don’t have any.

Location given upon registration. This class requires a bit more prep, and so please RSVP. Limited to 14 participants.
$75. ($55 for seniors/ students).

TRADITIONAL CONTAINER WORKSHOP: MAKE A BURN-BOWL
2026-10-17 10:00 - 14:00
Saturday, October 17, 10 a.m.
CONTAINER WORKSHOP: LEARN TO MAKE AN EXPEDIENT BURN BOWL
Julia Han shows a burn bowl made by Christopher from a burl

As part of our Container series, we have taught how to make clay bowls (from local clays), how to make baskets, how to process gourds, how to make yucca and agave quivers, how to make soap stone bowls (yes, a slow process!), and this time, how to make a burn-bowl. A burn bowl is a piece of a log that we slowly burn out with coals, and then scrape it out to create a useful bowl. You will learn by doing.
We begin with a dry log, and cut select pieces. Then we split them, and you will slowly burn them out to create a functional bowl. In fact, there are many items that can be made by this process.
We will create coals in our fire, which you will then carefully put onto your wood. You let it burn a bit, and then you scrape. You create a little hole, and then you add another coal, and repeat, and repeat. Bring a spoon for scraping. Bring eye protection too.
Sometimes this goes quickly, and sometimes not, so bring your water and a snack.
Probably Hahamongna, but we will send location to registrants.
Limited participation.
$65 ($45 seniors/students)
