Found a good book at my local library a while ago and spent the next few months trying to find a copy. The book was Northern Bush Craft by Mors L. Kochanski. It goes into some good detail of how to survive in Northern Canada. Many of the techniques he talks about require some practice but it is well worth the time. This is possibly one of the few books I might have considered buying, to bad it is no longer in print and the ones I found were rather over priced to say the least.
Others I have found cover subjects from Home brewing to making your own knifes, making baskets, tanning hides, medicine, herbs and an abundance of others as well. As someone once said "Knowledge is power." We don't necessarily need to spend a lot of money on the things we think we need, we need to spend time on learning the things that will help us make the things we need. Food, shelter, water, protection, etc... All the information is out there, but the technology that we are handed has us thinking that the only need is to buy the stuff. Most of it is relatively simple to make with a little research and time. Now is the time to do that research and discover that you can make it yourself. I am a disabled ex-trucker. Not many skills, but when I started reading up on different things I discovered that even I could do it.
Many of us are on the lower side of the income bracket, and think that we can't afford the preps we need. Personally, I used to think that way too. I have since found that the exact opposite is true. Look around at the things that people are spending money on and see how things are made. Then try making it yourself instead of giving your hard earned money to some big box store. You may surprise yourself as I did. Many of the parts I use for things I get from friends or family, or I find at the local dumps reuse store and only pay a few dollars as compared to the hundreds I might have paid some place else.
Buy it if necessary, but at least consider reading, learning and trying it yourself first. If you don't succeed, so what? Try again and again until you do. Did you know how to read the first book you picked up? Or write a book the first time you put pen to paper? Somehow I doubt it, so don't let a few failures stop you from trying. You can do it, it just might take you a while.
That's my, sorry no more pennies, 2 nickels. 😉
The difference between a man and a warrior is simple, a warrior will stand between harm and all others.
I agree with you 100%. There is a lot of satisfaction in learning how do do something rather than going out and buying it. A couple of times (or more 🙂 I do it twice before I get it right but at least I've done it. I like to repurpose as much as I can. I am fortunate to have a friend looking after the dump so I often get him to keep an eye out for something I'm looking for to save some money. BTW I am amazed at what people do throw away when they get into the housecleaning frenzy!
Bushcraft is out there on the net if you are still looking for it at a very reasonable price ($0) PM me if you still cant find it
I too am amazed by the things that people throw out. One of the few things I kinda miss having moved from Lower Mainland to BC interior is the "Spring Clean-up" when municipalities allow people to put out anything to be picked up. Could get almost anything if you had the time and ability to travel around a little.
I did find Bushcraft, as part of a 12 gig torrent file on self sufficency. Some of the others cover everything from gardening to electronics and nearly everything else that you could think of. Be more than happy to share them if you would like just pm me. I'm a firm believer in sharing knowledge and helping out others.
The difference between a man and a warrior is simple, a warrior will stand between harm and all others.
Its amazing the things we can make ourselves when we have a little knowledge, I make alot of my own things, its just the way I like to do things.. but if there is one thing that I have figured out over the years, it may sound great in a book but its always a good idea to make it a time or two or 2 dozen to see if it will in fact work in real life.. you would be amazed at how something so little can have such a huge impact on things.
Just a little tiny real life example..
I have canned tomato's pretty much since I can remember with my folks, learn on grandma's knee, and with my mom or aunts working along side, so it would not be a surprise that I make alot of canned tomato products, about seven years ago, I grew a lovely hertiage yellow tomato, it was non-gmo, it was not hybred and I paid a pretty penny for those seeds, it was perfect, such sweet and yummy nice big tomatos... only one issue, so low acid, as to be unsafe to can, the ones that I added acid to and make into a sauce with salt, sugar and acid added and pressure canned made it, but both the basic (add acid) and water bath can and the o so yummy yellow tomato/sugar/spices jam that was water bathed canned both went bad on me..
When I acid tested them, it was very clear what the issues was, but if I had grown that tomato and had planned to put up a two year supply on it, I would have been SOS within a few months and it was not even good for critter feed..
Now when I read and research my different tomato's, I read for acid content but I also test myself to confirm it, and I do my best to only grow and save seed that can be used the old fashioned safe way..
Research is awesome, hands on life experance.. priceless..
Hope you will share with us on any of the bush craft projects you take on this year and show the pro's and con's.
http://livingmydreamlifeonthefarm.wordpress.com/
All to true. The knowledge has to come from somewhere, but the experience will make it work. Unfortunatly, to many people seem to want to hoard the knowledge rather than share it, at least this has been my experience.
The goat hides I tanned turned out quite nice, for a first attempt. This years major project is brain tanning, moose or deer depending on which I am able to harvest. Other than than, I need to learn to make breads, pastas and another wheat based item without wheat as I am sensitive to the stuff. Would rather take the time to learn new things than deal with migraines every day.
I'll post a few pictures in the fall, once I start tanning a hide.
The difference between a man and a warrior is simple, a warrior will stand between harm and all others.
I need to learn to make breads, pastas and another wheat based item without wheat as I am sensitive to the stuff. Would rather take the time to learn new things than deal with migraines every day.
Maybe this should be a new thread, but is it wheat or gluten you have a problem with? I have a celiac mother-in-law and a wheat sensitive son, so I've got info on both...
Sounds great about the hides, we have a hide thread in hunting area,
As for the wheat, I have found barley works in so many ways, I even replace barley with rice in many, many ways.
The thing I would try, you might be able to do this in B.C. but seek out a family farm that stone grinds and does not use GMO, my mom gets a really nice barley flour and a buckwheat flour and while she reacts to regular store bought flour, she does not react to their homegrown, homeground wheat flour, which means she can use small amount of it mixed with their other flours when baking..
http://livingmydreamlifeonthefarm.wordpress.com/
It is the wheat itself I have a problem with, don't seem to have any difficulty with any other gluten.
Great idea farmgal, I hadn't thought of that. We have a farm close by I can get barley from in bulk and fairly cheap too.
The difference between a man and a warrior is simple, a warrior will stand between harm and all others.
We use barley flour almost excusively at our house, as my son reacts to most of the others. Some other flours to try are oat, spelt, kamut and rye. The benefit of these ones is that they have gluten - it is the glue that holds your baking together and keeps is moist. Anything gluten free I have ever tried is dry and crumbly.
If you can stay out of the gluten free world of xantham gum and potato starch you'll be a much happier camper!