johnsunter.com >> outdoor >> bushcraft >> native 2
Woodsmoke's first native course (2/2).
Ben gives a general interest talk on hunting and fishing.
He shows us a small bow and arrow, used by African bushmen.
Next to the bow, is a blow pipe and darts, which were amazingly accurate.
There was also, a traditional crossbow, but this isn't in the picture.
I have made an otter board before, but this is one made by a craftsman (Ben).
It features 4 special holes, so a toggle holds the fishing lines in place.
It also had a stone underneath, to keep it upright, and a sail made from a piece of bark.
A whole day of the course was devoted to basket work, and featured guest instructor, Phil Bradley (Phil is the one speaking passionately about basket making).
One of the good things at Woodsmoke, is that there is always boiling water for a brew.
Here Lisa stops for a quick brew.
In front of her, are a selection of the baskets that Phil had previously made.
Another lad on the course called Phil, made this fish smoker.
The fish that came out of it, tasted delicious.
A Roycroft pack frame. The design is brilliantly simple.
The one on the right, was made by Lisa in Utah.
Lisa show Jeremy, Pete and me about making nets.
Obviously nets can be used to catch fish, but they also compliment the Roycroft pack frame, to make a functional rucksack.
Making a gypsy well.
Unfortunately, this one didn't work, and as Ben pointed out, there is no perfect formula, you just dig a few of them, and wait until one fills up with water.
This one worked, and had reeds around the outside, so the water was cleaner.
A lot of the self help books I have read, encourage you to think like a child.
The idea, is that when you are young, you have dreams, and that as you get older, people encourage you to be "realistic" and in actual fact kill your enthusiasm.
When I was at school, I remember a teacher talking down to me, and telling me "I bet you are one of those people who think you can get water just be digging a hole in the ground" !.
Mr Evans, from 1st year science at Moston Brook, back at you pal !.
Ben demonstrates rock boiling, in one of the Swedish Doe bowls, constructed on the Axe workshop.
Note the Y shaped sticks used to put the rocks into the bowl.
The water is fully boiled, and is safe to drink.
Dirt from the stones, however, makes the water a bit grey.
Something I had read about many times, but never seen in real life
A box is constructed from bark and held together with small wooden pegs.
As long as the flame doesn't go higher than the water, the bark container will not catch fire, and the water will boil.
Apart from Jammie Oliver, I don't know anybody that looks this happy in a kitchen !.
