HARVESTING THE FIRE

 In 2009 I headed out to Kenya East Africa and worked with a wide range of blacksmiths throughout the country.
Buying a bike on arrival I would cycle around the villages or be hanging on for dear life off the back of a jeep over rugged red sand roads and rocky terrain to see blacksmiths of all skill levels all over the country. I learnt so much from them as we traded skills,
Their main product was forging arrow heads for hunting and protection. Entering the street markets you would find a huge array of arrows for sale next to farm tools, it was quite a shock. Each smith had their own style.
 On leaving I parted by donating smiths in different reigons selected metal stock and safety equipment to further their productions, rather than a hand full of money so it gave them the incentive to progress the business.
Alongside the smithing I also distributed mosquito nets to malaria and AIDS infected areas and connected completely isolated villages to mains water supplies having to close roads in the process. And dig ridiculously long trenches for the pipes to sit in. The smiles on those faces as the first trickle of water came from the end of the pipe still flashes into my mind to this day.
An unbelievable life changing experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In fact on returning from Kenya i had a massive culture shock, returning to England, when i walked into a Woolworths store down a dvd aisle and completely spinning out at the bright advertisement and  all this electrically charged junk separating us from our surroundings and connection with nature and our fellow human beings. it was intense! i had to leave immediately.
3 weeks later i arrived at a community in the mountains of southern Spain. It was heaven, i was donated a round house and spent the next 3 months living in harmony with nature discovering the true simplicity of life and what you actually need to do to live. Collect fire wood to keep warm and cook, build a shelter over your head to keep off the rain and collect water from the earth to drink and feed the plants that is all. It was a deeply spiritual experience.
While here i set up a simple forge just the same as the tribes people of Kenya...out of objects found on the streets and would trade for food and goods.
I went onto hitch all up through Portugal and walk over the Pyrenees  into France, after seeing The Wailers perform in Pamplona at the bull run festival, a memorable night Waking to two police officers and a gun holster at the entrance to the tent!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North Africa Morroco: during travels in the Sahara desert I stayed out in the desert with a bunch of lads doing camel treks, they needed window frames making so i did this for rent and stayed with them for a good few weeks longer living in the desert and learning to ride a camel, the trip to get the metal was an adventure to say the least as we broke down on the moped on a long long long stretch of  deserted road with no one or nothing in site for miles, eventually getting it going again to continue the journey.
Ireland: I moved to Ireland for 2 years doing a permaculture course to connect myself to the earth more. While there I set up a little workshop making draw knives and tools for tutors and students on the course. Later on giving a lecture on the course on African styled smithing which proved to be very successfull. I was also commissioned by local villagers to make a selection of wares.