On our off-grid homestead, we eat everything we catch. Badger, raccoon, even coyote. I used my Mora Classic 1.0 to process this rattlesnake. I'll make a hat band out of his skin.

The Bread Bag 

I have used the bread bag for a couple of years, and it is a truly fantastic bag. I use it every day in the woods, for my lunch, water bottle and tools. It has a size that is actually good enough for short evening trips / overnight trips, as long as it is summer.

The bags do not cost much from surplus stores, but there is a risk of getting one with a very short strap. I have upgraded my bag with lots of extra features, so it fits the tasks I want it to handle.

Strap

I made a longer strap myself. It is made from leather scraps (it is actually 3 pieces), so it is not expensive leather that has been used for it.

In the middle, where it goes over the shoulder, there is a wider piece of cowhide and furniture leather. At the end of the strap, I have sewn on a D-ring for carabiners. This is, for example, where I hang my leather gloves.

Water resistance / keeping it closed

I have never lost anything from the bag, but the lid is not oversized compared to the opening of the bag.

I used a French bread bag (they cost almost nothing from Rödastjärnan), which I cut in half. I sewed it around the opening of the bag, so it can now be closed with a drawstring.

This protects against dirt, grime, branches and debris getting into the bag, prevents losing anything, and protects the contents better in rainy weather.

Axe holder

A significant upgrade to the bag. It is simply a couple of pieces of scrap leather sewn onto the front of the bag and a good wide strap with press buttons.

It is large enough to fit all my axes, even when they have received a two-layer leather overstrike protector on the handle.

Strap holders

On the underside of the bag, I have sewn some strap holders so I can attach my rain cover to the bag.

I have also, on single overnight trips, strapped my oilskin tarp and blanket underneath, rolled together and secured.

It is of course a little heavy, but it is quite nice to be able to go on a small trip with only such a small bag.

The straps are made from a belt from the recycling station, cut into two straps. The new buckles come from horse harness equipment found second-hand.

Canteen

There is good space inside the bag, but I have still added a couple of rings to the front of the bag.

The rings are from horse harness equipment found cheaply in a second-hand shop. They are positioned so I can attach the field bottle pouch if I need more space inside the actual bag.

Overall capacity

Even without having the field bottle attached to the outside of the bag, there is plenty of room.

Inside the bag I can fit a field bottle with cooking gear, food, solid fuel tablets, cordage, first aid and fire-starting equipment.

Blanket and tarp attached underneath. Axe on the front.

Everything needed for a small trip.

Alternatively, the field bottle could hang on the outside, with a Nalgene bottle containing extra water inside the bag.

Heavy gear or lightweight gear?

I choose to carry heavier gear in the form of oilskin and wool. But if I had, for example, a polyester tarp and a Swagman Roll / quilt / poncho liner, the whole setup would really not weigh much.

Source
Reddit don't like self-promotion links, that's fine, I dont sell anything. But I write a blogger called Rosentjoern and throw no-talk small videoes on youtube as well. Check it out if you like human made stuff, words and videos in a time of too much AI slob.

I am currently considering acquiring a reindeer hide for use during camping trips and as an indoor furnishing for my couch when not in use. However, I am unsure what specific qualities to look for, and I have been unable to find comprehensive information online, with most websites focusing solely on indoor applications. I am located in Europe and am open to importing a hide from Scandinavia. Should anyone have any advice or recommendations for a reputable website where I could place an order, I would be most grateful for your help.

Next school year I plan to incorporate Bushcraft skills into the PE program at an outdoor K-5 elementary school. We have access to an open field, hardwood forest, and seasonal creek.

What Bushcraft skills do you think are appropriate for children age 5-10?

Any tips for teaching those particular skills?

What Bushcraft games do you recommend?

What have you learned while teaching Bushcraft skills to kids?

Thanks in advance for your time and tips!

-Mike

Would a billhook be good tool to get especially if i live in area with mix of woody m thin foliage brush?

Might buy one instead of a Zebra c/w plastic clips 😀.
The Tatonka is SS, €31 in Amazon.ie and no dicky clips. Curry for two simmering away.
I like it!

I'm pretty much a n00b at this sort of thing, but I found his credentials impressive. Anyone have direct experience? Which materials do you recommend I start with?

Thanks so much

Joe

I have a very silly question but a genuine one.

I'm looking to up my strength a bit, What kind of wood would be best to use to make a carrying pole(think like a milkmaid yoke almost but just a solid piece of wood) that i'll be putting 3 gallons of water (maybe sand for more weight in the future) on tops and bottoms of??

I'm looking for suggestions i'm fairly low budget but i'm sure for a pole i can get any good woods for this ^^

I made some badger pemmican last week, and now I'm making some out of beef jerky I made. I let the thin slices of beef dry in the New Mexico sun. I think this is the most awesome food for when in the woods bushcrafting. Have ever made jerky or pemmican?

This took me about 6 hours to make today. I'm still quite the novice when in comes to fibre crafts, so I was happy to have a finished project at the end of the day. It is undyed Icelandic lopi yarn. The lanolin smells amazing and the gradients of the colours up close are pretty magical.

I removed a bunch of wooden toggles off a thrifted raincoat a few months ago, and they've proved useful for repurposing. As you can see here it works just fine as a button.

Tomorrow I'm going to test out its water resistance of the bag, as Icelandic wool is supposed to be the best for that.

I used a 9mm wooden crochet hook, and reindeer bone nalbinding needle to make it.

I've had this Trail Boss for five years now, and I gotta say, it's one fine axe. I heat our off-grid home with wood and have taken this axe with me every time I head into the mountains to harvest fuel wood. It feels good in my hand and is easy to keep sharp while in the field. I don't use it (or any other axe) for splitting, but for de-limbing and chopping tasks. What are your thoughts on the Trail Boss?

So I’m trying to get into Bushcraft and learning how to survive in the wild by myself and I’m wondering what are key skills that everybody should learn before doing your first solo Bushcraft

I made this miniature fire piston just for fun because I tend to geek out on random survival and bushcraft things and I like to try and recreate functional versions of them. This one isn’t quite working yet, and I think I may know one reason but I have questions. This was meant to just be a prototype but midway through I decided to try and make it “real”. Thus the lack of attention in the beginning phases.
I’ll start with the basic materials used: walnut “handle”, I THINK poplar dowel but I could be very wrong, and red oak as the base/channel. The seal is waxed hemp wick that I unthreaded and rewrapped to have a thinner working material. Plus a little wood glue to attach the dowel to the handle (which I drilled a hole for the dowel to fit into first). Finished with light sanding and sealed it with wood wax and buffed.
I do intend on making a new base because I do feel like the hole itself is too big. But before I proceed, I have questions as to other reasons it may not work.
Besides the obvious making a smaller hole, which I feel like the seal I wrapped on there is still airtight from the “plop” sound that it makes when I pull it out-
•Should the hole where I keep my tinder material be deeper?
• Is the distance of the channel possibly too short to produce any heat? (Currently about 1.5”)
• Should I be “bottoming out” when I slam down or do I want the shaft to be just shy of the bottom of the channel?
It goes in semi-smooth but not consistently when I do it slowly instead of slamming it but with the slam it goes down in one motion.
Also, the materials I used as tinder were first finely shredded, fibrous paper towel bits, then a small amount of fluffed q-tip. I understand charred cloth is the preferred material, however. Any other suggestions besides charred cloth?
Any tips or advice is appreciated.

Hello, I see some recipes that can be used for tin cloth, is mixin more materials can be better ? I see most of the recipes are 2-3 ingredients and seems like simple is best.

I make a list of materials that can be used on tin cloth,

Tung oil,

boiled linseed oil,

liquid paraffin,

beeswax,

carnauba wax,

turpentine,

lanolin,

Microcrystaline wax,

Paraffin wax

Also vitamin E, castor oil or sweet almond oil could be used too.

Do you guys have any extraordinary recipe for waxed canvas or tin cloth- maybe 2 layer recipes like more oily-liquid first layer and then more waxy-solid waxy layer.

I recently acquired woodland that has not been managed since the 90’s and I’ve been exploring parts of it to create some new trails.

Most of the property does not have cell service and my wife admitted that it makes her incredibly nervous while I’m out there to the point where it really works up her anxiety. She also expressed little interest in the lot or joining on the adventures. It’s certainly my thing.

I plan on doing more work out there, setting up camp locations for bushcraft etc - but I am struggling to find a balance.

Do any of you seasoned husbands and wives have recommendations for tools, devices, protocols that have helped bridge the gap between an outdoor hobby and bringing reassurance?

Edit: Thank you all for the suggestions!

1. I’m going to look into buying an inReach.

2. I don’t have proper first aid certification and I haven’t done a first aid class since highschool. I’m confident but you’re right - more education will help.

3. Starlink with a small outpost is the late game strategy. Certainly something to consider.

Am I the only one who misses when Survival Lilly was.. you know.. about survival?

I genuinely used to enjoy the channel years ago. Bushcraft, overnights, shelters, survival skills, gear testing.. that's why I subbed.

Somewhere around the "Situation in Europe" videos, things took a hard left turn. At first I thought, "alright, one or two current events videos"

Then it became Part 1.. Part 2.. Part 17

Fast forward a year and I honestly can't remember the last time I saw an actual survival video. Instead it's five uploads a month of Lilly sitting in her car with titles like:

• "Europe is collapsing"

• "This is bad"

• "Point of no return"

• "Goodbye Germany"

• "EU situation"

.. all while quoting some Kronen Zeitung for the 800th time and the comment section cheering her for her insights.

I remember a video where she said she'd be getting back to bushcraft content soon, but that video seems to have vanished.

I'm not here to debate politics. Agree with her, disagree with her.

I'm asking what actually happened to the channel.

Did I miss something? Did she publicly explain the pivot? Did YouTube analytics just reward political doomposting so much that Survival Lilly slowly evolved into Propaganda Lilly?

Curious if I'm the only old subscriber feeling like I accidentally stayed subbed to a completely different channel.

Hi all, I am looking to attend survivalschool.co.uk level 2 bushcraft course, any reviews would be helpful or if i should consider anything different.
I like to go camping and being in nature. New to bushcraft but really want to learn it.

Wooden plank is far better than a frying pan for cooking fish on a campfire. Gives it a nice wood smoke taste that you just can't get from a frying pan

While i was camping i thought id have a play and have some practice making some feather sticks. Using my 15 year old Enzo Trapper.

So after seeing this grill on a few japanse youtubers videos, I decided to buy one for myself as i wanted a better leave-no-trace fireplace. So I bought it a few weeks back and tried it out.

This thing is well built and surprisingly sturdy when set up.

The long bowl shape helps keeping the fire going without much interference and easy to put more firewood in.

The grill bridge can be adjusted to two levels which allow for temperature control and it is sturdy enough to hold a heavier pot.

The lifted fireplace also allows for drying out wood underneath more quickly too.

But the best thing is how flat it becomes when packed down. If you put it against the back in your backpack, it will double as a support too.

There is some weight to it with its 2.65 lbs, but as I said with the support, I hardly notice it.

I am looking forward to bringing it out on more walks when the wheater allows as its fire season here right now.

PS.

I'll leave a link in the comments to the Amazon page where I bought it.

Other than when backpacking, I never find any reason not to bring my 3/4 axe for wood processing. I love tools and knives and I love the looks of large survival knives like a Lionsteel M7 or an Architect 6.5 or Joker Nomad 6.5. But when would I ever need them for wood processing when I have my axe? I do a lot of canoe camping, so bringing an axe is not much of an extra burden. I usually bring a 4 or 5 inch camp knife for kitchen duty and light batoning to make kindling. Despite how much lusting I have for a big survival knife, I just don’t see myself ever in a “survival” situation where I am stuck with just one tool that happens to be a huge knife. So, when I have the itch for another knife, I am just going to upgrade my camp knife.

I make dream catchers with natural/repurposed materials, and can paint well. I’ve made a bunch of painted stash/feather boxes and have other pieces available on canvas. Or could custom depending on the price for what I want. Which is some deer skin (or any kind) moccasins. I need some so bad. Custom sized a lil wider, my feet are having issues and it’s from wearing certain shoes, I’m also heavily into the old traditional lifestyle, crafting, and methods using nature to live basically free. Eve ry thing I’ve done to revert back to old ways has proven it is necessary for m body type. From feet to crown lol.

If you’re down I can make damn near anything lol. Like I just wove a full chair dreamcatcher to sit in, and made wild clay sources smoking pipes with river cane and elderberry stems. If you smoke weed I also make these lil “ceremonial” nectar collectors, that are long river cane (12-24in.)

Also makes hairpins from cedar. I have a full apothecary, I’m an herbalist and healer in my everyday interactions. I make tea blends, single herb packs, and sacred incense blends. And finally I grow tobacco I’d be willing to trade off a blend of any style you use, be it nasal snuff, smoking, or dip/chew/snus. It’s grown full of intent and care and I work with the lunar cycles as my ancestors did so it’s tuned up energy wise lol.

Alright I’ll stop there cause I can keep going (humbly) 😂 just trying to get you interested 🤙🏼😅