I have often looked at different materials with which to improvise a fishing lure. I saw a post with the suggestion of using a microfiber washmitt for this purpose. The chenille microfiber looks like sea anemone tentacles of which one could be cut off to mount on a fish hook. I decided to take this to a test. A trip to the local dollar store provided the mitt so I removed one of the many protruding parts and attempted to attach it to a fish hook like I would mount a worm, but as similar as it looks like a worm, it is not hollow but rather a fuzzy string. The tip of the hook could pierce some o ..read more

Whether you use canned goods or acquire food in the field it’s nice to not need to use your fingers directly in order to cook, serve, or eat food. If you carry flatware such as spoons or forks this isn’t a problem, however, if you forget to pack them or if they are lost or broken here is a simple solution… chopsticks! Most folks are familiar with them from takeout meals or from restaurants and have acquired the skill for using them. For those who aren’t I would encourage them to become acquainted and develop the skill as they have been used for millennia in other cultures quite successfully. I ..read more

Recently while watching a video of a birthday celebration some trick candles were used that would re-light every time they were extinguished when blown out. I thought that type of candle could be used under breezy circumstances when starting a Campfire. I set out to acquire some at the local grocery store and discovered that today’s version differed from my childhood variety which were wax with an infused wick. This current type appears to be a very thin infused plastic rod so I purchased it to see what it could do. To begin my experiment I stood at the kitchen sink and lit one, and was sorely ..read more

The first time that I heard the word “tourniquet” was in relation to first aid. It was a device that applied pressure by constriction to a person’s limb to stop excessive blood flow. It consisted of cordage or a strap that surrounded the limb in a loop slightly larger in circumference with enough slack to allow a stick to be inserted and twisted to enable the loop to begin the constriction process. This constriction process has other applications as well. A tubeless tire that has lost air will typically withdraw from the wheel rims thus losing the seal and preventing inflation. By placing cord ..read more

Recently I was visiting my extended family and was surprised to see that my Niece pulled out a wallet made of duct tape! Apparently she learned from a friend how they were made and over the years became proficient in their construction. I inquired about what motivated her to use one and her response was that it was inexpensive to make, easily repairable, and somewhat a renewable resource. This made a lot of sense. Duct tape is such an amazing resource, and any prepper generally keeps some in their provisions. She demonstrated how to adhere 5 layers together to form the outside and 4 layers to ..read more

We are blessed to have the conveniences of power tools in this day and age, but there was a generation that used only manual tools. Recently I was able to fell a dead oak tree using a battery powered chainsaw. A few days later a friend cut it up using a gas powered chainsaw. When he came to the stump, his bar was too small to completely cut trough. I have a 3 1/2 foot bow saw that could easily span the stump width so that I could saw on the core that remained. I learned that it helps to have a wedge behind the blade to prevent blade pinching and also having sharpened teeth that can make a sign ..read more

It was my honor to have my niece and her family visit us from California. It is a rare treat to connect in person versus on-line chats. Virtual interaction has it’s place but in-person can’t be beat. These family members are aware of my passion for primitive and survival skills and indulged my passion for sharing them. They had stayed with my son and his family for a few days and on their last day I offered to do a little demo work. We started by handing out some soda bottle caps to use as whistles (see “Improvised Cavity Whistles“) and after making some awesome sounds we then proceeded to my ..read more

Once in a while went walking through the woods, and often close to a water, I have picked up empty turtle shells. This would be the upper dome or bone called a carapace, often without the scales or scutes similar to keratin of fingernails that protect it. I have often wondered how they could be used in an survival or emergency situation. The immediate use that comes to mind is that the inverted shell can be used as a cup for containing water or just to hold other things such as berries or other food items. I have used some natural materials in which to boil water (see “Boil Water In A Cabbage ..read more

When I am “out and about” shopping for groceries and such I often find things that can be used in potential camping and survival scenarios. I happened to come across a collapsible compact drinking straw. I remembered how I had used a hollow stem for a straw (see “Natural Straws…“) in the past but this metal straw came in a kit with a collapsible cleaning brush in an aluminum “pill case” that could be used for other purposes. This kit was small and light weight and could easily be carried when out in the field. I had to try it out. I built a small fire that I let burn down and revived it by blo ..read more

Hosta Plants are often used for landscaping because of their large decorative leaves. They are perennials that re-emerge each year and require very little care. They prefer partial shade but can grow in lighter and darker environments as well. They are not native to North America but were introduced in the 1800s via Europe from the Orient and there are many varieties. I mention hostas as an edible because they can be a fall-back food source should food supply lines become interrupted, meanwhile they can grace your yard with beauty. They may be also known as Plantain Lilies because of their lea ..read more