Primitive Cooking ⌖
Cook Like Your Ancestors
The Primitive Cooking Workshop teaches you how to prepare real meals in the wild using nothing but fire, stone, and skill. From fire-roasting and steam pits to clay baking and coal cooking, you’ll learn to turn raw ingredients into satisfying, backcountry-ready meals—without a single pot or pan.
This workshop is about more than food—it’s about connection to tradition, resourcefulness, and the art of slowing down and cooking with intention.
Workshop Overview
This full-day workshop begins with fire management and cooking theory, including ember control, natural insulation, and heat zones. From there, you’ll dive into hands-on techniques like stone boiling, clay-wrapping, coal-roasting, and pit steaming. Each participant will contribute to a group meal using multiple primitive methods.
By the end of the day, you’ll have the skills to cook in the wild without modern tools—and enjoy a shared, fire-cooked feast made entirely by hand.
$149.99
Includes instruction + all group materials
Detailed pre-trip gear + packing list
Access to post-workshop field notes
What You’ll Learn
You’ll learn how to manage coals, build cooking fires, and use techniques like stone boiling, plank cooking, pit steaming, and clay baking. We’ll cover ingredient prep, natural wraps and containers, and safe, effective methods for cooking meat, fish, and root vegetables in the wild.
You’ll also learn how to adapt these techniques for different environments, whether you’re on a solo trip or feeding a camp crew.
Fire-to-Table
Use heat from coals, rocks, and steam pits to cook full meals without modern cookware or utensils.
Traditional Techniques
Explore clay baking, ember roasting, stone boiling, and other primitive methods passed down through generations.
Feast in the Field
Come hungry—we’ll end the day with a communal fire-cooked meal prepared and shared using the techniques you’ve learned.
Learn clay baking, coal roasting, and pit steaming
Master fire and ember control for cooking
Use natural tools like bark, leaves, and stone
Prep, wrap, and cook wild-style meals
Build confidence in campfire cooking
Includes hands-on group meal prep and feasting
What to Expect
This full-day outdoor workshop is equal parts skill-building and slow-food celebration. You’ll gather natural materials, prep ingredients, manage fire zones, and cook alongside others in a backcountry setting. It’s active, earthy, and incredibly rewarding.
Bring your appetite and your curiosity—we promise you’ll leave with full hands, full bellies, and a whole new appreciation for what fire and patience can do.
Primitive Cooking Workshop FAQ
Wondering what’s on the menu—or what you’ll need to bring? Here’s what most folks ask before joining the Primitive Cooking Workshop.
Do I need cooking experience?
Nope! This workshop is beginner-friendly and focused on hands-on learning. We cover each technique step-by-step, and no prior experience is needed.
What should I bring?
Bring outdoor clothing, a knife or multitool if you have one, water, and a container for leftovers (optional). We provide ingredients, materials, and all cooking supplies.
What kind of food will we cook?
We use hearty, backcountry-friendly ingredients—usually including meat, fish, vegetables, and root crops. Menus vary by season and availability.
Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?
We do our best! Let us know when registering, and we’ll plan accordingly. Some parts of the workshop are adaptable for different diets.
Is this a survival course or a cooking class?
A bit of both. You’ll learn primitive techniques that are useful for both survival and campfire cooking—whether you’re out for a week or making bannock in your backyard.
Does the workshop run in bad weather?
Yes, unless conditions are unsafe. We cook with fire no matter the weather—just like they did for thousands of years. Dress for the elements and bring a good appetite.
