Wanted to see if I could start a fire with my fire steel today using only what natural tinder material in my yard. Talk about a lesson in humility!!

After about an hour of striking the fire steel into tinder bundles made of dried grass and when that didn't work, dried pine needles crushed up, I finally gave in and used my lighter just to try and redeem myself.

I always carry some jute in a little pocket medicine vial along with some matches. My lighter stays on a dummy-cord in my pocket at all times. There are lighter scattered throughout my pack and my fire pouch that I wear on my belt when I'm out hiking has cotton balls w/vaseline in addition to a magnesium stick. So I always have some "non-natural" tinder on hand with back ups. But I wanted to see if I could do it "au natural". Good thing I carry the artificial stuff. If I had to rely on being able to do it w/ just what was lying around, I would've been screwed....