Kodiak
Registered: 05/07/09
Posts: 4
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Reply with quote | #1 |
First off I just wanted to say hi and thank John for sharing his in-depth knowledge of primitive living with us all. I just got finished watching all of his and Geri's videos and am astounded at the wealth of knowledge this man possesses. I have become a huge fan and hope to gain as much knowledge from John and Geri as I possibly can. Their knowledge and skill seem to be endless.
I've been studying survival/bushcraft/primitive living for a couple of years now and hope to spend a year alone in the wilderness, hopefully starting next spring/summer. If I can make it a year then I plan on living there permanently.
One of my problems are glasses. I wear glasses and will need to have them replaced each year most likely due to scratches and damage caused by living in the bush. Without a source of income this would prove to be impossible. I've considered trapping but I may not be able to get a trap-line going (legally) in the area of the wilderness I have chosen to live. Well, that and I don't know how to trap...yet. What other methods, besides trapping, would be at my disposal to have a small income while living in the wilderness so I can afford glasses and other possibles I may need?
Any help is greatly appreciated. |
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prariewolf
Moderator
Registered: 11/28/06
Posts: 105
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Reply with quote | #2 |
Kodiak;
Ambitious plans. You want to spend a year alone in the wilderness and if successful extend that to a lifetime. Lots of things for you to ponder to make that a reality. #1 would be to realize that a trip like that cannot be done primitively from scratch by but a very few people on this planet. And even then it would be touch and go for the best of them unless placed in a pretty moderate climate.
To approach this matter further would require more time and space than I have here but let me try to help you with the basic question you have of income whilst living out.
You cannot live any sort of primitive/self sufficient lifestyle such as you propose without having some funds to assist - most basically if nothing else w/hunting, fishing, trapping permits. And beyond that with funds to bail you out of jail if you elect to go without such permits. You will need to stay withing boundaries of seasons and limits also - this ain't “the good old days” as we all would like it to be. Unfortunately if you go without you will at some point likely be caught and prosecuted. So - point - you'll need income for more than just glasses.
Make trinkets for the tourists. Seriously. You will find, if you are knowledgeable enough to be out there, that you'll have free time in excess to make such things as tools, fire kits, necklaces - trinkets. Sell or trade them at the local trading post, post office or WalMart parking lot. You also may have furs to trade from trapping - legally, with a license and in season. These can be sold as raw pelts or turned into “Indianish” trinkets.
The short of it is that you just cannot locate a place that would be “liveable” anywhere these days. You can do this to an extent but will have to stay within certain boundaries.
Don't let this squelch your plans - it isn't meant to to such. Just look at this and approach it realistically and you'll have a fine adventure - or more.
john
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Kodiak
Registered: 05/07/09
Posts: 4
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Reply with quote | #3 |
Hi John:
Thanks for the reply. Your advice is greatly appreciated. I realize that my plans are ambitious, VERY ambitious to say the least. And there is a good chance that I may not succeed...Canada isn't exactly a moderate climate to say the least and its certainly possible I may be overestimating my skill level...in fact, I am sure that I am. I'm hoping that in the next year, or two, I will have been able to further hone those skills and increase my confidence level.
I'm not deluding myself into thinking that I will be able to live completely primitively, in fact, I know that isn't truly possible in today's day and age. I know that to start I will definately need some modern gear such as knives, a good saw, even some cordage, etc to help me along. I'm also sure that there will be times when I'll need to purchase some clothes, footwear, or other supplies such as licenses for trapping and hunting as you pointed out. I just want to be able to live as primitively and as secluded as is possible.
Your idea of making fire kits, tools and trinkets to sell is brilliant and I thank you for your encouragement and ideas. Any advice or ideas that you can offer to help me along is always appreciated.
Thanks again John and I'll keep you posted as to how things are going.
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prariewolf
Moderator
Registered: 11/28/06
Posts: 105
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Reply with quote | #4 |
Kodiak;
A coupla basic tests of your ability to get along in the out of doors.
FIRE - Using only materials you can locate on your outing, make one match fires - or better yet, fires using the popular Swedish Fire Maker spark thrower type of apparatus for your ignition source. This will work your abilities of making fire from the ground up using basic steps of tinder/kindling/wood. Do this in all weather conditions and in varying terrains (variety of resources available). Oxygen + heat + fuel = fire. Don't consider it a successful attempt until a fire is established. This way you'll become more proficient in finding and utilizing various types, sizes and shapes of natural materials and the order in which to use them. Varying terrain/areas can open your eyes to gathering materials as you move about - and help reinforce the importance of containers in the circle.
SHELTERS - In many cases some sort of shelter may be necessary in order to protect you enough from the elements to make the fire. Using existing materials (no blueprints are necessary or available - just knowledge of what's available in nature). Make a shelter from scratch that goes beyond the lifesaving, cocoon of the common debris shelter. Large enough to at least sit upright in, roomy enough to stretch out and integral with the fire. (Here yes, I will recommend our book and/or video on this subject. Most shelters made from natural materials will vent smoke out so higher can be better. Keep the fire small enough for safety purposes and use small, dry, non-sparking wood. More flame than smoke. Big logs equal slow burning and thus much smoke - more than might be allowed to vent out. NO FIRES WHILE YOU SLEEP!!!
These two skills, far from being the only ones necessary for the accomplished woodsman, primitive or otherwise, would be the ones that I suggest you perfect first.
j
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Kodiak
Registered: 05/07/09
Posts: 4
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Reply with quote | #5 |
Hi John:
Thanks again for your feedback. Its always handy having an experts advice and guidance 
As far as fire goes, I think I'm pretty adept at that skill. When I go camping or backpacking (usually 2 - 3 times a month) I always practice my bushcraft skills in one way or another and I always have one rule at my camp. "No matches, no lighters" I usually use a fire steel, as you suggested in your previous post, and only use materials (tinder, kindling, etc) that I can find in the great outdoors. My tinder is usually old man's beard, dry grasses or fluffed up inner bark from the black poplar tree. I've accomplished this in a variety of different camps at different times of the year and weather conditions including rain and snow. I've also made several fires using the Bow/Drill method. However, I've never used natural cordage doing this. I've always used para-cord. I've made lots natural cordage before using different materials I just haven't used it on a bow drill to start a fire....yet. To this day I always feel a great sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when I am able to start a fire using primitive methods. I usually practice making deadfalls and snares, as well.
Shelter, however, is a different story. I've made several survival shelters before and I'm pretty decent at it, too. But it doesn't take too much skill to make a shelter of that type. I've only ever made 1 semi-permanent shelter before. It was an A-frame type teepee made from all natural materials, except for the cordage...para-cord again. I'm actually heading out to the bush this weekend and if the ground has thawed I'm going to make my first wikiup. I'll definately let you know how it turns out. By the way, I've watched all of your videos including Primitive Semi-Permanent Shelters and they've all been a fantastic help.
I've been doing quite a bit of research on log cabin building, too as this is the type of shelter I would like to build when I attempt my year long excursion into the wilderness. I'm just not sure that a wikiup will be sufficient in our cold, crappy Canadian winters. I'd like to find more info on primitive log cabin building but there just isn't that much info out there on the subject and what there is seems to be incomplete at best.
As an aside, when I do my year long trip and then, hopefully, extend that to a lifetime I will be bringing out some modern tools. Such as an axe, bow saw, knives, cordage and a couple of containers for water and cooking. As time goes by, I'm hoping that my skill-set will have improved to the point where I won't need to rely on those tools.
Thanks again for your suggestions. Any advice or guidance that you can offer is always greatly appreciated.
Ryan (aka Kodiak)
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old_heli_logger
Registered: 06/11/09
Posts: 11
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Coon4492
Registered: 06/15/09
Posts: 37
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Reply with quote | #7 |
do you play an instrument? If I was going to do this I would go to a populated tourist area and play my banjo or guitar people could toss some change or a little cash in your instruments case. Might not be alot but maybe enough to get some kind of hunting or fishing license
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Kodiak
Registered: 05/07/09
Posts: 4
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Reply with quote | #8 |
Hey Steve, Alone in the Wilderness is my favorite documentary of all time! Dick Proenecke was an amazing individual. I'd kill to have a few minutes of time to talk to him or to John.
I've been posting on several sites my dream of living in the wilderness to get suggestions from people. I need to make about 6 grand a year to live primitively enough to have the lifestyle I dream off, yet still be able to purchase supplies and licenses, etc.
John suggested selling primitive items at the market every month or so. I've also had suggestions of panning for gold, selling wild foods, trapping, etc. I'm an apprentice electrician and most likely the smartest thing I could do is complete my apprenticeship; work in a camp up north for 3 months or so a year; spend the rest of the year in my bushland paradise. However, I think thats too much time spent in the civilized world. But it may also be the only way I can achieve this dream. Another idea I thought was interesting was creating a "fan club" where perhaps I might be able to receive donations from like minded individuals. ANother suggestion, was bringing in "tourists" or customers who may want to share this lifestyle for a week or two, maybe even teach them some bushcraft.
I'm not talking about PURE primitive living or PURE survival. But close to it with a safety net thrown in for good measure. I don't want to die out there...I want to live out there.
I'd be hunting, fishing and gardening for food. Any food or supplies I require and can't provide myself can be purchase with the 6 grand a year.
Coon4492, the only instrument I play is the radio....that's an instrument isn't it?
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dixieangler
Registered: 06/11/09
Posts: 72
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Reply with quote | #9 |
Quote: Originally Posted by "Kodiak"
I've also made several fires using the Bow/Drill method. However, I've never used natural cordage doing this. I've always used para-cord. I've made lots natural cordage before using different materials I just haven't used it on a bow drill to start a fire....yet.
John uses two single natural cords, one for the burn in on the baseboard, and one for his final run. One single natural cord will not take the stress of the firebow from start to finish as far as I know. At least I have not found one yet that can. I double three lengths of natural single cords into one single length of a doubled cord. To do this, I use the same cording method but in reverse order. I twist in the direction of the single natural cord twist counterclockwise and wrap clockwise. Splice in the same way John shows on the DVD but remember this operation is in the opposite direction from splicing in with a single cord. I then break the cord in or test it for weakness and stretch it out before I actually use it to make a coal. The three types of natural fiber I use mostly right now comes from Cocklebur bark, Yucca leaf, and Velvetleaf bark. Cocklebur and Velvetleaf bark are seasonal so you will only be able to use these just when the stem turns woody (here that is in the Fall and Winter). Out of season (Spring and Summer) and the woody fibers become too brittle to use as they begin to rot and break down. I do not know about using Velvetleaf bark when its green but I have tried to use Cocklebur bark when its green and it was too stiff and difficult for me to cord (probably good for lashing and binding though). Yucca leaf can be used year round and I like to use green leaves scraping the leaf coating off both sides before separating the fibers to cord. Hope this helps some.
Here is a previous thread link of one of my firebow sets with natural cordage:
http://prairiewolf.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=3524457
Quote: Originally Posted by "Kodiak"
I've been doing quite a bit of research on log cabin building, too as this is the type of shelter I would like to build when I attempt my year long excursion into the wilderness.
If for only a year or two, have you considered trying to make a semi-permanent (year or two) Hogan? For longer though, I imagine a log cabin would be the way to go.
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old_heli_logger
Registered: 06/11/09
Posts: 11
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Reply with quote | #10 |
I agree, Dick Proenecke's DVD and book are among my all time favorites...not the same caliber as John's book, but still a great read. He was an artist when it came to building with wood; his wood hinges and door latch/lock is incredible.
Is it possible to file a mining claim in Canada?
Good luck and take care,
Steve
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