A skills rendezvous ? odds and ends

First, I want to thank everyone who participated in the last 101 workshop. The weather was perfect and you guys were really a great group to be with. The next 101 will be scheduled for early spring 2019 but if anyone wants a special workshop over the winter let me know. 

A previous student and I were discussing having a primitive skills rendezvous. This would be a gathering of like minded primitive skills enthusiasts who would spend the day practicing/sharing their skills. No charge, just a small donation to cover the cost of venue rent. If there is sufficient interest I will keep working on it. Let me know. 

We talk of mental discipline as one of the most important skills to have in any emergency. I just watched 'The Martian' for the third time. The character played by Matt Damon exemplifies all the mental skills that we should strive for in our lives. He never gives up, he's always trying to figure out what the next problem is to solve and he keeps a positive attitude. Good movie !!

For you fire makers out there, now is a great opportunity to go outside with your bow and handhold and make friction fire. It feels like it has rained everyday for the past 6 months. It is wet, go out and make your tinder bundle, find dry kindling, and find/make your fire board/spindle. Put your skills to use, practice, practice......Something to add to your fire making kit, get the birthday candles that don't blow out. They would be really good on those wet/windy camping trips where the fire is so hard to get going. I also carry a wad of 0000 steel wool to help that ember/ferro rod spark ignite. It sure looks like magic the way that stuff burns. 

Winter reading. I found this book by accident and it is really good. ' The Ultimate Bushcraft Survival Manual' by Tim MacWelch.  It covers primitive skills but also throws in the bush craft alternatives. 

Deer season is here, save those hides for winter skills projects. Good rawhide comes in handy in so many ways. 

Again, keep studying and reading and practicing. Look at all instructors/classes, all the different books. Everyone has some bit of knowledge or experience that no one else has. My goal is to use the blog and my Facebook page    www.facebook.com/primitivesurvivalskills/?ref=bookmarks    as tools to share info and events. Please like on us Facebook and if you tire of these emails just let me know.   Steve