'A' Frame Shelter - Raised Bed

This is a great wee shelter to learn to build as it is very suitable for a lot of environments in which you want to get up off the forest floor, from boreal forests to jungles it's one the Bushcrafter and Survivalist should really practice building
 

Find a couple of trees the right distance apart, normally about 8 feet or so, and lash 2 stout poles to each tree so that they cross near the top, make sure you tie them securely to the trees

 



 

Tie a cross piece to each support using a square lashing about 2 feet off the ground, these will support the poles that will be the matress of your bed, so make sure you tie them at the right height and make sure they are level

then set a pole on top of the crosses you have made on your main supports, this will be the ridge pole for your tarp

 

 

cut enough poles to fill across the supports, if they are very tapered make sure you alternate them tip to base when laying them down, if you make the poles 2 inches thick or less they will flex when you lie down giving you a sprung matress!

 

 

load your bed with soft boughs, rushes or grass to make you more comfortable

 

 

put a tarp over the ridge pole for a quick roof or you can lean poles or thatch a roof if you have the time and materials

 

 

If you build it at the right height it can also function as your seat and living area

 

 

Then take a well earned rest! It is one of the most comfortable natural sleeping systems you can get

 

 

and if you are interested this shelter was built using the Gerber Gator and Bear grylls Parang in just over 2 hours, well worth it for the comfortable nights sleep you'll get.

 

Handmade Leather Pouches

I like these, they remind me a little of pioneer pouches used long ago,they are also easy to make and provide a pleasurable past time when you're stuck indoors!

 

 

all different sizes, some for use as tinder pouches some for use as food pouches, but I'm sure they'll all find a use somewhere!

 

Pickled Garlic

We picked some tricorn garlic bulbs today, they're good to gather and preserve now for casseroles or stews later on in the year

 

 

they are a good size and full of flavour

 

 

I wrapped them up in my bandana

 

 

washed, sorted and peeled and put in a jar

 

 

and topped up with dark vinegar for a deeper maltier flavour, they should be ready to go in a month or so.

 

Bushcraft and Survival Books

Here is a quick pic of my Bushcraft and survival library,

 

 

I realise it's modest in comparison to others out there, even though I do have another shelf full in my bedroom, still it's taken me many years to put this together...

 

 

I don't have that many rare books but some are more unusual than others..

 

If you have any ideas for other books that would fit in my collection please do let me know!

 



 

Modern Day Kephart

I've always loved the traditional Kephart style knife, and although I like using them I find the lack of a tapered point a bit of a hindrance with some wood carving tasks I might need to do, none the less it's a nice knife to use especially for food prep

 

This knife, made by the virginia knife company was originally similar in shape to the Green river/old Hickory bucher knives, but a little time on the grinder dropped the point and made it into a Kephart

 

 

the handle shape is different than the traditional Kephart but is still very comfortable to hold

 

 

I've thought about commissioning a custom Kephart before that cost around £200, but with a little time on the grinder I made this one and it cost £16..a much better deal I think!



Stormy Sea

I went out today for a wander along the shore, there have been reports of octopus and lobster being washed up due to the storms we've been having lately, so I wanted to see if I could find anything useful!

 

This is Blackhead bay on the Antrim Coast, some great wildlife about here, I've seen seals, dolphins, porpoise, minkie whales and even a basking shark!

 

 

water was choppy and a high tide so not much chance of finding anything washed up,but a forage along the shoreline revealed...

 

 



sea beet

 

 

and rather weather beaten, but still resiliant wild thyme..I've often used this to flavour the mackerel I've caught underneath the lighthouse! Those were good days.

Pistachio Tinder, Nuts or what?

Certain nuts have lots of fat in them which makes them combustible under certain circumstances, however you can also use the shells of Pistachio nuts which actually have flamable oils in them too

 

if you look closely you can see the oils escaping from the shell as it burns

 

 

 

 

and as you can see they burn quite well, another food with a useful dual purpose.