NERTM NEW EARTH RESILIENCY TRAINING MODULE DON’T DESPAIR. BE PREPARED
By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. - BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
VOLUME ONE · FIRST EDITION · 2016
The City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program is the nation’s largest public art program, dedicated to the belief that art ignites change. For 30 years, Mural Arts has united artists and communities through a collaborative process, rooted in the traditions of mural-making, to create art that transforms public spaces and individual lives. Mural Arts engages communities in 50–100 public art projects each year, and maintains its growing collection through a restoration initiative. Core Mural Arts programs such as Art Education, Restorative Justice, and Porch Light yield unique, project-based learning opportunities for thousands of youth and adults. Each year, 12,000 residents and visitors tour Mural Arts’ outdoor art gallery, which has become part of the city’s civic landscape and a source of pride and inspiration, earning Philadelphia international recognition as the “City of Murals.” For further information, call 215-685-0750 or visit www.muralarts.org. For further information, call 215-685-0750 or visit www.muralarts.org. Follow along on social media: @muralarts on Twitter and Instagram, phillymuralarts on YouTube, and MuralArtsPhiladelphia on Facebook.
Tattfoo Tan’s art practice responds to issues of ecology, climate change, and nutrition. His unique art making process consists of learning new forms of knowledge, practicing them, and in turn teaching others. His decade long trilogy of projects, Nature Matching System, Sustainable. Organic. Stewardship. and New Earth had been shown widely and made into replicable manuals to inspire the public to take action. Tattfoo has presented, collaborated, published, and shown his works in various venues and institutions including: Staten Island Arts, Queens Museum of Art, The City of New York Department of Cultural Affairs Percent for the Arts, Eugene Lang College/New School for Liberal Arts, Parsons the New School for Design, Fashion Institute of Technology, 601Tully/Syracuse University, Macalester College, Creative Time Reports, Aljira - A Center for Contemporary Art, Project Row Houses, City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, Contemporary Arts Center - Cincinnati, Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, Ballroom Marfa, The Pulitzer Arts Foundation, The Laundromat Project, Gestalten, Thames and Hudson. He has been recognized for his effort, service, and artistic contributions to the community, and is a proud recipient of a proclamation from The City of New York. He was also given the Twenty-Eighth Annual Award for Excellence in Design by the Public Design Commission of The City of New York for his design and branding of the Super-Graphic on Bronx River Art Center.
Michael Konrad is a Philadelphia based artist and educator. Responding to the construction and decay cycles of the urban landscape, his work addresses the materials and functions of the built environment in a state of collapse. Michael uses everyday building materials such as bricks and lumber, along with discarded items such as plastic bags refashioned into fabric, to create shelters and survival equipment and re-imagine common street furniture and architecture. As a Lead Teaching Artist with the Art Education department of the City of Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Program, Michael works with high school aged students to create murals and other public artworks. He is a recipient of the 2010-2011 Fleisher Wind Challenge Award in Sculpture and Installation and regularly participates in exhibitions in galleries, art centers, and public spaces throughout the Philadelphia region and beyond. He is a member of the notable Philadelphia based artist-run curatorial collective, Grizzly Grizzly. Michael Konrad has created public artworks with the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, as a Recycling Artist-in-Residence at Revolution Recovery, and during a year-long community outreach project with Neighborhood Bike Works while in residence at West Philadelphia’s 40th Street AIR Program.
Concept, illustration, and design by Tattfoo Tan and Michael Konrad.
NEW EARTH IS FINDING THE EXTRAORDINARY WITHIN THE ORDINARY
NEW EARTH IS GOOD FOR FIGURING OUT LIFE
NEW EARTH: ART IS SOMETHING HUMANS DO ON PURPOSE
NEW EARTH OBJECTS, TOOLS, AND GAMES SERVE A PEDAGOGICAL FUNCTION HELPING US TO BE CONSCIOUS
NEW EARTH: THOUGHT ITSELF IS A FORM OF ENERGY, THOUGHT INFLUENCES ENERGY AND ENERGY INFLUENCES THOUGHT
NEW EARTH IS LEARNING FROM HISTORY IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD INTO THE FUTURE
New Earth Resiliency Training Module is a program that teaches an ethos of self reliance and of living closer to the earth, especially within an urban environment. Drawing upon its surrounding resources, it treats the city as a catalyst for building relations with various neighborhoods and communities. The program strengthens the resiliency of the neighborhood by activating young people and equipping them with skills, knowledge, and an adaptive world view. It also empowers youth by treating them as authorities of their own environment. Studying folk craft and tracing the genesis of ideas, objects, and beliefs is an effort to re-wilding ourselves.
Over the course of a year (2015) and dozens of site visits to Sayre High School and Mural Arts’ project site, Southeast by Southeast, Tattfoo Tan has worked with teaching artists Michael Konrad and Sarah Folger and their respective students of Mural Arts’ Art Education Program to develop the skills in this guide. Implementing his philosophy of “LEARN, PRACTICE, TEACH,” students gained hands on experience with the following modules: Knife Skills, Fermentation, Fire Starting, Sewing, Knot Tying, Modern Materials, Natural Materials, and Material & Tool Care. Together with the other modules in this guide, these experiences help build a foundation for creating independent and resourceful thinkers and doers. 1
NERTM
KITCHEN KNIFE SKILLS
REASON: There are many good reasons to cook at home. We save money by cooking in bulk and can share our food with family, friends, and neighbors. It is often healthier than eating prepared foods because we control the ingredients. Cooking is an essential life skill that will serve you well, and it is important to teach our young ones to prepare their own food by first learning proper knife skills.
PREPARE: Mise en place is a French term that means having everything in place and ready to use. Have your cutting board in front of you -- a thick, wood board is best; never use glass or metal. If your board is plastic and tends to slip, place a wet towel under it. The sharp knife goes in front of the board, not on top. Have your compost bin nearby. Peeler and other tools on your right, and so on.
TOOLS: Invest in a good full tang knife (full tang means the steel blade extends all the way through the handle). Get a honing stone and sharpen your own knife. A sharp knife is a safe knife.
HOW TO HOLD A KNIFE: Grip handle with the last three fingers of your dominant hand, and use your thumb and forefinger to pinch the body of the blade. This is the most balanced way to hold a chef’s knife. Your other hand should form a claw, letting your knuckles guide where the blade goes up and down as you use your thumb to push the food forward.
CUTTING TECHNICS: Practice your knife skills: Rock Chop, Cross Chop, Tap Chop
TYPES OF KNIFE CONSTRUCTION:
NERTM
BUSHCRAFT KNIFE SKILLS
TOOLS: A bushcraft knife doesn’t have to be expensive. It should have a Scandinavian grind (a wide, flat bevel) to easily process wood, and a full tang blade made of carbon steel. A full tang can withstand batoning, a technique to strike the handle of the knife with a stick to split logs. Carbon steel maintains a sharp edge, but requires care to prevent rust. As always, use a sheath to protect the blade. METHOD: Hold your knife with a foregrip hold (the standard way to hold the handle). When carving wood, work slowly, do not rush, and cut in small increments. Be aware of your surroundings and other people around you. If you are sitting down, lean forward and place your elbow on your knee to prevent cutting your leg. Or turn your torso and carve on your left or right side instead. When splitting logs use the batoning technique: drive the knife’s blade into wood with repeated strikes from a club-sized stick while kneeling down to prevent injury. Do not stab knife into log. Your hand could slip and cut yourself.
THUMB PUSH: Doing fine carving with just a push of the thumb, using the heel of the knife.
SCISSOR CUT: One hand holding the wood and the other the knife. Make sure the knuckles are touching. Use your blade holding wrist to rock back and forth while the wood is stationary.
CHEST LEVER: Lock your hand and elbow to the torso and align the hand horizontally. Carve outward by pulling away your hands but keeping the elbow as a hinge to the torso. Choke the end of wood next to your torso for more stability. Hold the knife in a reverse foregrip and place thumb on the blade.
REVERSE FOREGRIP: Hold the bent elbow of your dominant hand alongside your torso and grip the knife handle so that blade is toward you. Push the wood against your chest with your other hand. Carve wood using inward movements of the wrist only, keeping your elbow connected and locked to your waist.
PUSH CUT: Rest the end of the wood on a block. Lock your elbow and push down on the wood. Cut using the entire blade’s length.
KNEE LOCK: Rest your forearm on your thigh. Make sure your wrist is cleared of your knees. Lock your arm and thigh together. Only move the wood up and down to be shaved by the stationary blade.
Sharpening
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NERTM
FERMENTATION
REASON: Scientists have discovered that the micro-environment of our gastronomic tract is linked to happiness, and that a healthy gut leads to a healthy mind. One of the ways to improve our gut health is through eating fermented foods. Our ancestors are well versed in the art of preservation; it helps to save food for the winter months and also improves the taste. Some of our favorite foods are derived from the art of fermentation and preservation: wine, beer, cheese, bread, sauerkraut, sausage, and ham.
PREPARE: Peel the first and second leaves of the cabbage off and save for later. Chop up a head of cabbage and place into a large bowl. Add salt to taste (approximately three tablespoons). Massage cabbage and salt together until until cabbage is wilted and liquid from it’s cell starts to fill the bowl. Try the “squeeze test” - when you squeeze the cabbage, liquid should drop down. Transfer all the ingredients into a large glass jar or a crock. Pack down the shredded cabbage. Place the left over leaves to cover the entire top surface. Place a sanitized rock to weigh down the cabbage. Make sure the liquid covers all the leaves. Tie a bandanna or tea towel over the opening of the jar with a rubber band and keep in a cool dry place for a week or a month depending on your taste.
TOOLS: Large glass jar, big bowl, salt, herbs, cabbage, knife, bandanna, rubber band, a rock.
NERTM
PRESERVATION
PEMMICAN: An original power food of the Native Americans made during the summer months from dried lean buffalo, bison, moose, elk meat, and rendered fat. It is a way to preserve and store the meat for use during the winter months and while traveling. When it was discovered by frontiersmen it became a highly sought after commodity.
PREPARE: Purchase lean beef from the butcher. Cut it into smaller strips and let dry in a dehydrator at 100Ëš for 48 hours. Test the dryness by breaking apart a harder meat strip. If it snaps apart, then it is completely dried. Start to break the hardened strips apart with a mortar and pestle. It needs to be pounded into powdered form. Measure out a ratio of 50% meat to 50% fat and combine. Start to melt the fat, using either tallow or suet. Heat it up slowly with a double boiler if possible. Combine both ingredients. Combine well with hand and shape into a ball or fit into a container. Let cool over night. It will harden once completely cool. TOOLS: Dehydrator, mortar and pestle, sauce pan, big bowl.
VINEGAR: Dilute a few cups of sugar with warm water. Add your surplus fruits such as strawberry or raspberry into a large glass or ceramic container. Cover with handkerchief and fasten with a rubber band. Let ferment for 2 months. Taste and try as it progresses to judge the sourness. When the mixture is no longer sweet, it is done. Bottle and store inside the fridge. Use it as salad dressing. TOOLS: Big jar, sugar, raspberry, handkerchief, rubberband, spatula.
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NERTM
FIRE STARTING
REASON: Fire plays a significant role in our human evolution, and the power to control this element is like magic. It allows us to extend day into the night and places us in command of the animal kingdom. We have been building campfires and bonfires for millennium. Fire is an agent of purification and a symbol of passion and pureness. In survival situations, the ability to start a fire is crucial to stay warm and dry, to sanitize water, to act as a beacon of light and fence off wild animals.
CHAR CLOTH PREPARE: Cut some 100% cotton fabric from your old clothing into squares. Place them into a can that can be sealed. Punch a few holes on the top. Place the entire tin on a heat source or throw it into a bonfire. After a few hours, your cloth will be turned into char cloth. Keep it dry. VARIOUS TYPE OF FIRE STEELS
HOW TO START A FIRE WITH FLINT AND FIRE STEEL PREPARE: You need some flint, fire steel, char cloth, tinder and jute fiber (untwine the jute rope into fiber). METHOD: Grab the fire steel with your thumb, index, and middle finger. Strike down in a vertical motion, NOT knocking at the flint. Hold the flint with your left hand and angle it up 10 degrees. Place a char cloth between your thumb and top of the flint. Now look for a sharp edge on the flint and strike down with the fire steel. The friction of cutting the steel with flint will cause the steel to become red hot. Hopefully the char cloth will catch the ember. Transfer the ember to a pile of natural tinder. Use jute fiber if necessary.
HOW TO START A FIRE WITH BOW DRILL PREPARE: You need a shoe lace or natural vine, a flexible branch, a flat piece of dry hard wood, and cylindrical piece of hardwood as the drill and a rounded piece of wood as the socket. METHOD: Untie your shoe lace and attach to the flexible branch to make a bow. Twist the cylindrical piece of wood into the bow. Step on the flat plank with your foot. Hold the socket and start drilling by pushing the bow horizontally. First, some smoke will be visible and then you should collect the ember and transfer it to a tinder nest.
HOW TO START A FIRE WITH STEEL WOOL AND A 9 VOLT BATTERY PREPARE: You need steel wool, 9v battery, and tinder. METHOD: Simply put the two objects together, the negative and positive poles will spark and ignite the steel wool. Be careful not to store these two objects together in the same place.
FIRE WOOD PILE AND PROCESSING TECHNIQUES PREPARE: Tinder, twigs, branches, logs METHOD: Before you build your fire, you need to search for a few materials. Start with tinder. Look for a birch tree and strip the bark off. You can also scrape the fiber out of cedar bark. Look for milkweed seed pods that contain down or seeds - they are good tinder materials. Now, look for wood of various sizes. Start with twigs that are the diameter of a lead, then the diameter of a pencil. Continue to forage for twigs that are the size of your pinky finger in diameter. Move on to branches that are your thumb size and then wrist size, and finally some logs. You may need to split them by placing your knife horizontally on the diameter of the log and use another log as a baton. The split wood can be further processed as a feather stick. Use a push cut method by locking your arm and use your shoulder to move the knife. Carve out thin layers of wood on the same stick until it looks like a feather. This technique will enable the ember to ignite into a fire easily.
THE ARCHITECTURE OF FIRE PREPARE: Tinder, twig, branches, logs, knife, axe METHOD: Make an indentation on the ground and place dry bark on the ground. Start building a teepee structure using the thinnest branches and gradually progressing to the thicker ones. Make sure there is a vestibule so that the fire can be ignited at the center of the teepee. You can make the fire last longer by building a log cabin structure over the teepee structure. As the fire burns, it slowly consumes the logs and hopefully it will continue throughout the night.
REFLECTIVE HEAT PREPARE: Tinder, twig, branches, logs, axe, rocks, stone outcrops METHOD: Fire’s heat easily escapes and you need to reflect as much of the heat back as possible. You need to build a reflective wall by using logs that you can gather or stock pile. You can build a log pile wall by holding the horizontal sticks together with sticks that you nail to the ground. You can also use a vinyl tarp or a natural canopy and angle it to be part shelter with heat reflective functions. It may be easiest to find an outcrop of stones or a boulder or cave wall as a reflective surface in conjunction with a lower wall made from large rocks in the vicinity.
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NERTM
SOLAR POWER
REASON: Cooking enhances the flavor of food and kills off pathogens. An oven needs a source of heat energy, typically fuel such as gas or wood. Rather than using a non-renewable fuel, a solar oven is powered by the sun. Cooking with solar heat has no operational costs, produces no pollution, and the energy source is renewed daily without the need to store dangerous or flammable fuel. This makes for an inexpensive and environmentally friendly way to cook.
TOOLS: Two cardboard boxes that fit inside each other with a few inches to spare all around. Square boxes are best for retaining heat as well as simplifying the construction process, but rectangular boxes will also work. The inside of the smaller box will be the oven’s usable space, so make sure your cooking pot fits inside, but don’t make it larger than necessary or the oven will be less efficient. Get extra cardboard for reflectors and insulation. Get a glass pane large enough to cover the opening of the inner box, but not the outer one. You will also need aluminum foil, heat resistant black spray paint, spray adhesive, duct tape, and a box-cutter.
PREPARE: Cut a few pieces of cardboard to fit inside the bottom of the larger box for insulation. Cut 4 cardboard trapezoids to be used as reflectors; the shortest dimension should match the opening of the smaller box. Paint interior of smaller box with black paint.
METHOD: 1. Layer insulation pieces inside bottom of outer box so that the rim of the inner box sits just below the rim of the outer box. 2. Cut more cardboard sheets to evenly insulate the wall space around the inner box. 3. Use duct tape to join the adjacent edges of two reflector pieces. Repeat for the other two reflectors, taping the last piece back to the first one. 4. Use spray adhesive to glue aluminum foil to the interior sides of the reflector. 5. Tape reflector to top of box, surrounding the oven’s opening. 6. Place pot of food inside oven, cover opening with glass, and position oven so that the maximum amount of sun is reflected inside the oven. It is recommended to use a thermometer inside the oven to monitor heat, and to adjust the position of the oven as the direction of the sun changes. Solar cooking generally takes longer than using a regular oven.
NO ONE SAVES US BUT OURSELVES. NO ONE CAN AND NO ONE MAY. WE OURSELVES MUST WALK THE PATH. -Buddha
HUMANITY GROWS MORE AND MORE INTELLIGENT, YET THERE IS CLEARLY MORE TROUBLE AND LESS HAPPINESS DAILY. HOW CAN THIS BE SO? IT IS BECAUSE INTELLIGENCE IS NOT THE SAME THING AS WISDOM. -Lao Tzu, Hua Hu Ching
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NERTM
SEWING
REASON: Sewing is a form of meditation and can calm the mind. It is also a forgotten skill that is needed especially among our youth. We want to cultivate a frugal culture and not a throw-away one. We want to purchase goods that function well and are repairable, and hand them down for generations. We need to appreciate craftsmanship. It starts with this simple sandwich bag which is coated with mineral oil and beeswax. It is great for storing sandwiches and cheeses and can replace zip-lock bags and cling wrap. Our ancient ancestors sought to explain the relations governing the social order, the workings of the cosmos, and the mysteries surrounding birth and rebirth. The eye of the needle, for example, was understood as the entrance to heaven while the thread was the Spirit that sought to return to its Source. Creation is a kind of sewing in this version of the story as God wields his solar, pneumatic needle. Man is conceived as a jointed creature similar to a marionette or puppet, but held together by an invisible thread-spirit. When this thread is cut, a man dies, comes “unstrung,” and his bones separate at the joints.
TOOLS: Start a sewing kit. You will need a few spools of threads (white, black, gray thread) to start off. Needles, measuring tape, safety pins, some buttons, thread snippers, and seam ripper.
PREPARE: You will need a rectangular piece of fabric. Plain fabric is easier to see your stitching. You’ll need thread, needles, scissors, beeswax, and mineral oils. HOW TO SEW A BEESWAX SANDWICH BAG: 1. Cut the fabric about 20” length and 7” width. Keep the natural edge of the fabric on one side to save on sewing efforts. Fold the other edge to do a running stitch. 2. Fold the fabric three quarters over, from the right side. 3. Fold the left side over and leave about 2” from the edge. 4. Now fold the top and bottom edges over. 5. Start a zig zag stitch to secure the fabric from further fraying. 6. Invert the entire pocket. 7. Heat up beeswax on a double boiler and add some mineral oil. Dip and coat the entire pocket in the mixture. (See Beeswaxing page)
METHOD: Below are some basic stitches to learn and practice.
HOW TO SEW A BUTTON: 1. You need at least 12 inches of doubled over thread ending with a basic square knot. 2. & 3. Create an anchor X point in the front of the fabric. This is a marker and helps to release stress of the button. 4. Position the button on the X and push the needle through the hole and you can add the spacer which is another needle or tooth pick. Do six passes of thread on each set of holes. 5. For the last pass, you need to guide the needle to emerge from between the button and the fabric to create the shank. 6. Pull out the spacer and use the thread to wrap around the extra thread and dive back into the back of the fabric to tie off. Cut excess thread. TOOLS: Two needles, matching color thread (you’ll need about 12” to do the whole process. If you double your thread over (a bit stronger and easier to knot), use 24”. Use the original button if possible. Most shirts will have a spare set of buttons sewn on the inside of the bottom front. Scissors to cut the excess thread.
HOW TO USE A SEWING AWL: A sewing awl is great to use on heavy canvas, nylon webbing, and leather. It is easier to pre-drill all the holes that you need to stitch. - Pull needle through material and draw out enough thread to do the length of work involved, plus about 3” more. - Draw thread through material so that the full length of thread is pulled through the hole in which the needle rests. - Hold thread in position and pull needle back through the material and start it through a second hole. Push needle as far as it will go, then draw back enough so that the thread forms a loop as shown. Pass all the thread through this loop. - While holding thread taut in one hand, draw needle out with other hand. This forms a lock-stitch in the material. - Draw equally hard on the awl and the loose end of the thread. - Before taking another stitch, release more thread between the needle and the material to allow you to move the awl back and start the next hole. - Continue same procedure until finished. - On your last stitch, instead of passing thread through the loop, grasp loop and pull out about 3” of thread. Cut thread. Then pull awl and needle out of material. Now you have both ends of thread on same side of material for tying off. Use square knot. TOOLS: Sewing awl, scissor, leather or heavy canvas or nylon
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KNOT TYING
NERTM
REASON: Civilization is held together by knots. It sounds like a wisecrack — but if you take a look around, you can see that your shoelace knot with those two bunny-eared loops create an ingenious little mechanism—taut enough to keep your feet snugly sheathed but with a built-in quick-release that can free them in an instant, with a single tug on a string. Your necktie is a knot. Your hair itself might be plaited into a braid—another knot. On the breakfast table a cinnamon bun is another knot. Knots are an ancient technology. In other words, knots are ubiquitous — so threaded, as it were, into the fabric of everyday life that they are easily overlooked, hidden in plain sight. Knot-tying: an exercise in physics and in metaphysics, a homely everyday activity that can also be a science experiment, a work of art, and something along the lines of a spiritual practice.
SHOE KNOTS: Below are two basic knots that will be useful. The first knot is to manage the rest of the length of your boat shoe string. The second is to tie a quick release shoe knot that won’t untie on it’s own. *Shoe lace can be used to start fire in a bow drill. See Fire Starting page.
CARABINER LANYARD COBRA WEAVE: This carabiner lanyard extension is great because it extends your key rings longer to drop the noisy keys into your pockets instead of dangling around as you walk. It also provides you with cordage in emergency situation.
Boat shoe knot to manage the rest of the shoe string.
NON SLIP quick release shoelace knot / surgeon knot / sherpa knot
TOOLS: Carabiner, paracord, scissors, lighters, keychain rings.
Make an underhand loop.
Start with a normal half knot.
Coil free end up the loop.
Make two loops (bights) with the laces.
Insert the end of the lace into the loop.
Loop one bight around the other.
Slide the entire coil toward the end.
And continue to loop it a second time.
Now the lace is secure.
6 KNOTS THAT ARE A MUST-TO-KNOW
Pull tight to secure the lace.
1. Pull the left stand under the two central strands and over the right end.
2. Pull the right end over the two central strands and into the left loop.
3. Pull ends outward to tighten the first knot.
4. Now pull the right strand under the two central pieces and over the left end. Pull the left end over the two central pieces and into the right loop.
5. Again, pull ends outward to tighten the knot.
6. Repeat steps 1-5 until you get to the bottom or use up length of paracord.
KNOTS FOR YOUR TARP AND TENT: Please refer to Modern Material Module and Shelter Module for materials and structure design respectively. In this module we’ll cover the four basic knots you need to set up your tent or traps. 1. Start the ridge line with a Siberian Hitch, you can even do this knot with heavy gloves on. 2. You can end it with a tautline hitch. 3. Tie a bowline on the grommet and pull the line out to secure with a peg. 4. You can add a tautline hitch to make the tent taut at all times. 5. Make a prusik knot on the ridgeline and secure to the grommet with an overhand knot or square knot. Pull away to make the tarp taut.
SIBERIAN HITCH: Wrap the rope on your open palm twice. Point your hand downwards and then tilt it pointing frontward. Squeeze your thumb through the coiled rope and in the same motion grab the tail end of the rope and pull through to make a half loop. Pull the rope taut. Now you have a Siberian hitch with a quick release.
ANATOMY OF KNOTS
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NERTM
SHELTER
REASON: Shelter is a basic human necessity for survival, just as important as food and water. It provides us with shade from the sun, protection from wind, rain, and cold, as well as privacy to rest our body and recharge our mind. When traveling lightly, or in an emergency situation, it is important to know how to quickly create a basic shelter.
TOOLS: You can create a simple shelter with no more than a tarpaulin, vertical support system (trees, sticks, tent poles, tripod, etc.), rope, ground stakes, and some ingenuity. A tarp can be made of canvas, woven nylon tent fabric, plastic painter’s sheeting, or even DIY fused plastic fabric. Ideally it has a 1:2 width to length ratio, but other proportions can work depending upon the design of your shelter. PREPARE: Find a flat section of ground, cleared of any rocks or sticks that will making sleeping uncomfortable. Find 2-3 sturdy sticks, approximately 3’6” in length, to use as vertical supports. Alternatively find 2 healthy trees spaced 10-12 feet apart. Make sure there are no dead branches overhead which could fall on you. Consider the direction of the prevailing winds so that your shelter walls will provide maximum protection. METHOD: To create a simple lean-to shelter, first stake down the corners on the shorter end of your tarp. Prop up the other end of the tarp using a support pole positioned at the first grommet hole one space back from the corner. Loop a guyline rope over the pole’s tip and stake it out. Do the same for the other corner. You should have a basic lean-to structure with a loose flap hanging down the front. Stake out the corners to create an awning. Reposition supports and tension ropes as necessary to stabilize your shelter. Alternatively, to create a basic rain fly, string a rope horizontally between 2 trees, at least 4 feet off the ground. Drape the midline of the tarp over the rope lengthwise and stake out guylines from all 4 corners.
PRIMITIVE PEGS: Shape your wooden peg with a rounded tip and heat treat it in a bed of coal to harden the tip by drying the green wood. Pay attention to the head too. A tapped head prevents “mushrooming” when hit with an axe or stone.
MODERN TARP SHELTERS
PRIMITIVE SHELTERS: DEBRIS HUT. You may need a few hours to gather materials to build this primitive shelter but it is worth the effort in a longer term situation. Start with a long ridge pole around 15’ long and two Y shaped branches for structural support. Push the end of the ridge pole down to the dirt and combine with the Y poles at the other end. Start lining up the thick logs as walls along the ridge. Than add another layer of smaller branches and end with leaves and debris as deep as 2 feet thick. Select dry debris and start to pile it in the interior space as insulation and bedding. Finally remember to add a door. You can weave one from vegetation or simply use your jacket as one.
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HERBARIUM
NERTM
REASON: A herbarium press is a tool to dehydrate plant specimen that you have collected. After the plants are dried, you can study them further, display them, or make art out of them.
PREPARE: Select the type of newspaper you will be using. Based on that, cut the corrugated cardboard to size. Prepare plywood a bit larger than the newspaper and drill a bunch of holes on it for ventilation. I recommend the Fibonacci pattern. Go outdoors and collect your specimen and place them in between the newspapers. Once you are done, tie them together with rope or two belts. When you are home, press a brick or rock on top of the pile. Place in a dry, airy place. Change the newspaper if mold grows. TOOLS: Belts, drills, plywood, corrugated cardboard, newspaper. HOW TO DISPLAY: Once the plants are pressed and dried, you can use them to be displayed on a wall inside a frame or glue them on a card and mail it to someone.
SECONDARY VEINS BENDING TOWARD APEX
SMALL VEINS CONNECTING SECONDARY VEINS
VEINS ARRANGED AXIALLY, NOT INTERSECTING
WITH FINE HAIR
INDENTED BUT NOT TO MIDLINE
VEINS BRANCHING SYMMETRICALLY IN PAIRS
SECONDARY VEINS PAIRED OPPOSITELY
VEINS ALIGNED MOSTLY ALONG LONG AXIS OF LEAF
SMALLER VEINS FORMING A NETWORK
WITH ROUNDED TEETH
TEETH FORWARD-POINTING
SEVERAL PRIMARY VEINS DIVERGING FROM A POINT
IN PELTATE LEAVES, VEINS RADIATING
WITH SYMMETRICAL TEETH
WITH FINE SERRATION
WITH FINE DENTITION
WITH WAVE LIKE INDENTATIONS
SERRATE WITH SUB-TEETH
WITH SHARP STIFF POINTS
EVEN AND SMOOTH
WIDELY WAVY
Horse Chestnut is a saponin rich plant and can be used as soap. Plants produce saponins as part of their immune system to deter insect attack and to act as natural anti-microbials, protecting their life bearing seeds. Hunter gatherers still exploit the soap-bearing plants for their medicinal properties and for cleaning. Simply harvest a bunch of fresh leaves and roll them into a ball with water and scrub with them.
Mugwort is very common throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, mugwort has a rich history of use, both as a medicinal and metaphysical ally. In the middle ages, it was known as Cingulum Sancti Johannis, because Saint John the Baptist famously wore a belt of it whenever he traveled through the woods. It is referenced often in Celtic and Norse mythology as a magical plant that can ward off evil, and was hung in doorways and burnt as incense to clear stagnant air and prevent illness. Mugwort is known as “Molush” by the Chumash Indians of California, and its Paiute name translates literally to “Dream Plant”. It’s often smoked in indigenous ceremonies, and interestingly, is also hailed by various tribes for its power to ward off evil, bad spirits, and disease. Known for its dream-enhancing effects. For thousands of years, we humans have placed a ton of value on the content of these bedtime reveries, deriving inner wisdom and even premonitions from them. Dreaming feels like a birthright, an extra sense that allows us to process our experiences both rationally and spiritually while our body rests up. You’ll often find it underfoot, whether in the woods or walking through an overgrown urban environment. Is it sheer chance that this sacred herb that reportedly heightens consciousness is sprouting up all around us? Preparation: Like the two plants mentioned above, Mugwort is quite often taken as a tea. The leaves of the Mugwort plant are what contain the active chemical constituents. I wish you wonderful and wisdom-packed journeys tonight, and many nights thereafter. Remember, like any good herbalist, we each need to do careful research on the medicinals we choose to work with – this is a central pillar of the plant path.
Pine Needle tea has long been a favorite of traditional and indigenous peoples, both for its refreshment and for it’s medicinal values. You may not realize that Pine Needle Tea contains 4-5 times the Vitamin C of fresh-squeezed orange juice, and is high in Vitamin A. It is also an expectorant (thins mucus secretions), decongestant, and can be used as an antiseptic wash when cooled. So not only does it taste good, but it’s good for you! Each varietal of pine has its own flavor to impart, so experiment and see which needles you like best. And feel free to mix and match.
Pine pitch is pine tree resin that acts as a defense to close wounds from insects or cuts. The sap provides a protective layer or sealant over the injury. The sap hardens forming an amber glob which turns dark in color over time. On fresh wounds, you’ll notice a whitish layer of sap covering the damaged area. With time, large clumps form making it easier to harvest. Pine sap properties include: antiseptic, astringent, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial. You can use it to treat wounds – apply it to cuts like you would super glue. Follow first-aid protocol for cleaning/flushing first. Other uses are hafting arrowheads, fletching arrows and gluing other primitive tools and weapons. Waterproof boot seams, canoes, and containers. Patch holes in tents and tarps. You can also make pitch sticks as makeshift candles. Melted or liquid sap poured over a dried mullein stalk works as candle/torch.
Cattail is easy to harvest, very tasty, and highly nutritious. It was a major staple for the American Indians, who found it in such great supply, they didn’t need to cultivate it. As the shoots grow up, they are peeled and used like asparagus. The head when dried can be used as tinder or as a torch. The pollen is edible too.
Sassafras The root tea is a cure for a sour stomach (not viral though) and a stimulant for the immune system. It’s leaves are also the thickener in gumbo. A decent friction fire wood too. Crushed leaves rubbed on skin act as an OK insect repellent including flies.
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APOTHECARY
REASON: The knowledge to work with plants is our birthright, but this knowledge has been lost. We wanted a miracle pill, but plants work at a slower pace. Plants require a relationship, as you need to see how they grow, where they grow, and how they can be harvested.
COMFREY SALVE
DANDELION FLOWER OIL
Comfrey is an herb that heals skin, muscle and even bone. We use it to heal cuts, scrapes, bruises, sprains, sore muscles and we’ve even seen it work wonders on a broken toe. It has transdermal healing properties, meaning that it soaks through the skin, into the tissue and bone. Whatever is injured, comfrey is our herb of choice to heal it quickly.
Dandelion flower oil can also be used as a fabulous moisturizer for the body, and a deep relaxant and tension reliever. Dandelion oil makes a great choice of oil for receiving a full body massage. It has the ability to help release stored emotions that are being held within our muscle tissue, which can cause us deep tension and stress. It also works well on achy sore muscles, joints, swollen breasts and tense backs and necks.
Although some people use comfrey root, the leaf is easier to work with and makes a beautiful green healing salve. *Caution* Comfrey should never be used on an infected or dirty open wound. It increases healing so quickly that it could cause tissue to heal over the top of bacteria and leave an abscess. PREPARE: 2 cups comfrey leaf 2 cups oil 1 tablespoon grated beeswax whisk 1 quart mason jar with a metal lid fine mesh strainer containers for the finished salve (jar, tins, etc.)
PREPARE: 1. Collect full bloom dandelion flowers and dry them completely by spreading them out on a screen. 2. Put the flowers in a jar and fill with olive oil and let all air bubble out. Place in a dark place. 3. Steep for 2 months until ready to use. 4. Check if the oil went rancid by smelling it.
Allow the comfrey to infuse into the oil for at 2 months. Once the oil is dark green, put the grated beeswax into the medium saucepan. Pour the oil through the fine mesh strainer and into the saucepan with the beeswax. Ladle or pour the oil into your chosen containers and allow to cool for 24 hours, then apply the lids.
CALCIUM SUPPLIMENTS FROM AN EGG SHELL You can dissolve a clean and empty egg shell in vinegar. Preferably raw apple cider vinegar. Drink the solution to add calcium to your diet.
FIRE CIDER Fire Cider is a traditional remedy with deep roots in folk medicine. The tasty combination of vinegar infused with a powerful decongestant and spicy circulatory movers makes this recipe especially pleasant and easy to incorporate into your daily diet to help boost natural health processes, stimulate digestion, and warm you up on cold days. Because this is a folk preparation, the ingredients can change from year to year depending on when you make it and what’s growing around you. The standard base ingredients are apple cider vinegar, garlic, onion, ginger, horseradish, and hot peppers, but there are plenty of other herbs that can be thrown in for added kick. Spicy jalapeños, turmeric powder, and fresh lemon peel is a nice combination. Some people like to bury their fire cider jar in the ground for a month while it extracts and then dig it up during a great feast to celebrate the changing of the seasons. Fire Cider can be taken straight by the spoonful, added to organic vegetable juice, splashed in fried rice, or drizzled on a salad with good olive oil. You can also save the strained pulp and mix it with shredded veggies like carrots, cabbage, broccoli, and fresh herbs to make delicious and aromatic stir-fries and spring rolls! Take 1 tbsp each morning to help warm up and boost health, or 3 tbsp if you feel the sniffles coming on. INGREDIENTS 1/2 cup fresh grated organic ginger root 1/2 cup fresh grated organic horseradish root 1 medium organic onion, chopped 10 cloves of organic garlic, crushed or chopped 2 organic jalapeño peppers, chopped Zest and juice from 1 organic lemon Several sprigs of fresh organic rosemary or 2 tbsp of dried rosemary leaves 1 tbsp organic turmeric powder 1/4 tsp organic cayenne powder Organic apple cider vinegar Raw local honey to taste
DIRECTIONS Prepare all of your roots, fruits, and herbs and place them in a quart sized jar. If you’ve never grated fresh horseradish, be prepared for a powerful sinus opening experience! Use a piece of natural parchment paper under the lid to keep the vinegar from touching the metal, or a plastic lid if you have one. Shake well! Store in a dark, cool place for one month and remember to shake daily. After one month, use cheesecloth to strain out the pulp, pouring the vinegar into a clean jar. Be sure to squeeze as much of the liquid goodness as you can from the pulp while straining. Next comes the honey! Add 1/4 cup of honey and stir until incorporated. Taste your cider and add another 1/4 cup until you reach the desired sweetness.
LEMON BALM ELECTUARY Electuaries are medicines that make it easier to take other medicines. This might not sound very important, but getting herbs into a kid (or an adult, for that matter) is an awful lot harder if it tastes gross or is really unpleasant in some way. But lemon balm electuary is delicious. PREPARE: 1. Collect lemon balm from your garden. 2. Let dry on screen of dehydrator. 3. Put lemon balm in a jar and add honey. Push out all air bubble and make sure all the leaves are coated by the honey. 4. Let crystallize for a month. Spoon up a spoonful and add to hot water as tea. 21
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NATURAL DYEING
REASON: You might take it for granted that colorful clothing appears in a store. However, synthetic dyeing, or the process of putting color on clothes, is very toxic and uses a lot of water. Let’s explore some natural dye that you can find in your kitchen, garden, or by foraging. Dyeing is a lengthy process, as it takes time to prepare your fabric, harvest your materials, and prepare your dye bath in order to achieve good results
SCOURING Scouring removes impurities from your materials and ensures an even dyeing result. It can be done in a washing machine or over a stove. Use a ph neutral soap and wash for an hour. Keep temperature at 160 degrees. SOAKING Soaking opens up the fabric. The fiber you are working on needs to be fully wet before you can place it into a mordant or dye bath. Soak for a least an hour. MORDANTS Mordant is a material that allows your fabric to accept the color which you are trying to dye. Alum is a common mordant. Weigh your dry fabric and add 12% of mordant in relation with the weight of the fabric into bath. Bring into heat at 160 degrees for an hour. Let sit for a day.
PREPARE: Prepare the raw ingredients in a few bowls. Prewash the silk fabric. Open the fabric up and treat it like a painter’s canvas. Sprinkle or place each ingredient on it with care and intention. You can prepare the listed ingredients below ahead of time. Fold the left and right side of the rectangle 1” toward the center. Then roll the entire pouch together. Insert a small stick before you end the roll. Tie the roll up with some string. Let steam in a steam bath for an hour. Keep pouch overnight up to a full day. Untie and be amazed by the results. TOOLS: Large stainless steel or enamel pots, bowl, raw fabric, 5 gallon bucket, stir rod, a strainer, gloves, thermometer, stove, water.
DYE BATH Natural materials have a myriad of growing and harvest times for the dyeing process. Some can be grown and used right away, some need the plant to be fully bloomed and some you need them to be mature for several years. Be willing to experiment and you will get a unique result every time.
NATURAL DYE INGREDIENTS
RED/PURPLE
TAN/DARK BROWN
ORANGE
BROWN
BROWN/WARM GRAY
YELLOW
YELLOW
PINK/GRAY
PURPLE GRAY
YELLOW/GOLD
BLACK
YELLOW
PURPLE GRAY
RED
SHEMAGH: Shemagh (pronounced “schmog”): The Shemagh, also known as a Keffiyeh or Ghutrah, is a length of material that is wrapped around the head, commonly worn by Arabic or Middle Eastern desert dwellers to protect from the sun and sand. The Shemagh can be a multi-use tool, and is invaluable in all climates to regulate temperature and protect from extreme temperature exposures. Shemagh can be used as: head wrap, face veil, scarf, sunshade, sling, footwrap, carrying pouch, towel, short rope, filter, pillow, compress, washcloth, feminine hygiene, toilet paper, handkerchief, blindfold, knee pad, lamp wick, bear bag, signal flag, trail marker, tourniquet, fire starter, bug cover, pot holder, strainer, belt net. Cheese cloth has multiple culinary uses too, including straining soups and sauces, basting turkeys, making cheese, forming packets for herbs and spices, straining jams and jellies.
Let’s make our own shemagh by using a cheese cloth. We can dye the cloth with natural dye. Optimum size is 40” x 72”. Make sure the cheese cloth is #90 weave. This is the tightest weave. Try to dye the fabric with black walnut hull to achieve a khaki color or fennel with iron mordant for a green hue dye. Pokeberry makes a maroon color. Did you know the Declaration of Independence was written with pokeberry ink? How to wear a shemagh? Fold the fabric diagonally halfway into a triangle. Flip it over your head with the horizontal fold covering your forehead. Pull the end of the left side fabric under your chin and up near your ear and hold. Now pull the right side over your face and covering your nose all the way around your head and meet with the other end. Tie a knot. Now you have a Balaclava.
NO PROBLEM CAN BE SOLVED FROM THE SAME LEVEL OF CONSCIOUSNESS THAT CREATED IT. -Albert Einstein 23
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REASON: The skill of making cordage from natural fibers is one of primitive man’s oldest skills and a necessity for the survivalist. Our Earth Mother has been generous in that plants which contain strong fibers are found in abundance in all climates throughout North America (as well as elsewhere), and are easily gathered and processed into cordage. Suitable fibers are generally found within plant stalks or sometimes in leaves, as is the case in some desert plants. Plant stalks are best gathered after they have dried in the field, although stalks can be harvested while green and then dried. Cut the dried stalks close to the ground, removing any branches. Flatten the stalk along its whole length and open it up to form a wider strip. Break off the woody core in short sections to separate from the fiber ribbon. Roll the fiber ribbon between your palms to flake off the outer bark, resulting in a bundle of soft individual fibers.
CORDAGE
Fibers contained within leaves are best collected while green and processed by using a method called “retting�. Retting can also be used with plant stalks and tree barks, and is typically used when the fibers need to be soft, as in cloth. This process involves soaking the plant in water, causing the plant cells to swell and burst to facilitate removal of the fibers. Then the fibers are rinsed and dried to stop further decay, which would weaken the fibers, making them useless. Once dried, the fibers are ready for twisting into cordage. Here is a list of excellent cordage plants: dogbane, stinging nettle, milkweed, velvet leaf, wild-hemp, giant reedgrass, bulrushes - all of which have fibers in the stalk; yucca, agave, and cattail - these plants have fibers in the leaves.
METHOD: Tie two fiber strands into a knot at one end. Start twisting the first strand. Then twist the two strands forward together so that the first strand is under the second. Repeat, twisting the second strand and then continue twisting the two strands together so that the first strand is back on top. Continue repeating until the end. You can splice the strand with new fiber with about an inch overlap. Start twisting again.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAVE THE WORLD FROM THE DEGRADATION AND DESTRUCTION IT SEEMS DESTINED FOR? THEN STEP AWAY FROM SHALLOW MASS MOVEMENTS AND QUIETLY GO TO WORK ON YOUR OWN SELF-AWARENESS. IF YOU WANT TO AWAKEN ALL OF HUMANITY, THEN AWAKEN ALL OF YOURSELF. IF YOU WANT TO ELIMINATE THE SUFFERING IN THE WORLD, THEN ELIMINATE ALL THAT IS DARK AND NEGATIVE IN YOURSELF. TRULY, THE GREATEST GIFT YOU HAVE IS THAT OF YOUR OWN SELF-TRANSFORMATION. -Lao Tzu, Hua Hu Ching
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CARTOGRAPHY
REASON: With a smart phone in our hand, we tend to lose our sense of location. The city grid is not natural and is actually man-made. We need to reorient our senses to where the sun rises and where it falls. Maps are related to geography and land ownership and all are man-made concepts. Sometimes when traveling, we are drifting where our journey is unplanned and open to chance encounters. We can learn and embrace entirely new experiences. We need to drift and never walk the same path to our school or work place. Always venture another route even if it is longer a route. PREPARE: Think of a topic to make your map.
5. How many routes you can find from your school, home, or work place to here?
1. Try making a map that shows where to get fresh produce. 2. Try mapping where you can find a stoop or bench to sit in your neighborhood. More people on the street makes the neighborhood safer.
TOOLS: You need any drawing tool: pencil, pen or markers. Paper, fabric, cardboard, compass.
3. Try mapping out how many community gardens or home gardeners there are in your community. See if the birds, insects, or bees follow your geometric city grid planning. 4. Try mapping out the local attractions. Either a mural, an altar, a road side memorial, or an interesting signage.
USE YOUR WATCH AS A COMPASS IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE If you are located in the northern hemisphere, you can use your analog watch as a makeshift compass. Hold the watch horizontally and point the hour hand at the sun. The point halfway between the hour hand and the 12 o’clock mark is south.
WHAT IS A LEGEND? Make sure the readers understand the markings you create. Provide a chart on the side of the map to indicate what they mean.
USE YOUR WATCH AS A COMPASS IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE Hold the watch horizontally and point the 12 o’clock mark at the sun. The point halfway between the hour hand and the 12 o’clock mark is north. Note that the watch compass described in this article works best in the Autumn and Spring and can be inaccurate near the equator. HOW TO DISTRIBUTE YOUR MAP: Photocopy them and distribute at your local cafe, library, bike shop. Hand them out to your neighbor or at the farmers market.
HOW TO FOLD YOUR MAP: Make an accordion fold. Label each quadrant with a letter of the alphabet, but eliminate the use of (I) - it is confusing and might be mistaken for (L) or (1). Cut a horizontal line as shown in the below diagram. Now you can flip between the four quadrants with ease without opening up the entire map.
NERTM
WATER PROCUREMENT
REASON: Water procurement is arguably one of the most important subjects in survival, bushcraft, emergency preparedness, or backpacking. After shelter, the next element is the procurement of water from a reliable source.
TREE SAP: Trees (Maple and Birch) can be tapped in spring when the ground starts to warm up and trees are sending up sap to the branches to produce leaves. Taps can be located anywhere on the tree trunk but ideally between two and four feet above the ground for convenience. Drill a 5/16 diameter hole at about 1.5 to 2 inches in deep into the trunk. Be careful not to damage the heartwood of the tree by drilling too deep. Slant the hole slightly downwards to allow sap to run out and prevent sap from collecting in the hole. Clean the hole before putting in the tap and when you are done collecting. Only one tap per tree for trees that are 18 inches diameter and no more than three on a large tree. Collect sap with a spout (wood, metal, or plastic) and a collection container. Drink accordingly. Do fashion a wood plug the same size as the hole drilled and tap it back in the wound. Saw off excess wood and flush to the bark. Cover with beeswax for extra protection. Express your thanks and appreciation to the tree for providing.
TRANSPIRATION BAG: We know that plants take carbon dioxide and convert it into organic compounds using sunlight. During photosynthesis the leaves open to allow passage of carbon dioxide and transpiration occurs when water evaporates from a plant. The plant will absorb water through the roots. The minerals and nutrients are carried through the plant and during this process both oxygen and water are released. In short, transpiration is a process in which water from the ground is carried through the plant to carry nutrients and cool down. This process releases oxygen and water to the atmosphere. By placing a plastic bag over a bunch of leaves, it captures the moisture the leaves release. Be careful not to do this on plants that are poisonous.
There are several advantages to the transpiration bag: - Little effort is required to place the bags, therefore not much energy is spent. - The water from the plants will be a clean source of water. - The bags collect water while you work on other important tasks such as shelter building.
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MODERN MATERIALS
REASON: Plastic is a versatile synthetic material that is widely used in modern society. Plastic grocery bags are durable, abundant, and very inexpensive. As a result, we tend to use them too often and dispose of them unnecessarily. Plastic does not decompose very easily, so it ends up polluting our cities, landscape, and oceans. It is best to avoid using plastic bags. Instead try to reuse and recycle them in creative ways. By using heat to fuse plastic bags together, we can create large sheets of plastic which are more durable, waterproof, and easily repaired. Fused plastic fabric can be cut and sewn to make tarp shelters, clothing, and protective packaging for your gear, as well as almost anything else you can make with fabric.
FUSED PLASTIC TOOLS: You will need many plastic bags, a clothes iron, parchment paper (newsprint or craft paper will also work), and a good pair of scissors.
PREPARE: Cut handles off bags, and cut bottoms of bags open. Turn bags inside out so printed logos don’t bleed ink when heat is applied. Sort bags by color if you want to make colored or patterned fabrics. Pre-heat your iron to medium heat (polyester and cotton blend settings works best for most plastics). Make space on a large, flat table and keep your bags and tools within easy reach.
METHOD: Place 2 prepared plastic bags on table, between 2 sheets of parchment paper. Each bag is 2 layers of plastic, so you will be fusing 4 layers at once. Place the hot iron on the parchment paper and move it continuously over the plastic. Don’t let the iron rest in one place for more than a few seconds or the plastic will crinkle or burn. After ironing the entire area, check if the bags are fully fused. If not, repeat the process. It helps to turn the plastic over and iron from the other side. Make the fabric more durable by layering additional plastic bags up to 8 layers thick. Make the fabric larger by overlapping the edges of fused plastic with the next bags to be fused.
TIPS: 1. Different plastics require different heat levels and times. Test and experiment. 2. Avoid waxy plastic bags. 3. Cut and sew fabric: try adding zippers or velcro. 4. Punch holes into fabric and reinforce with grommets. 5. Iron on more plastic to patch unwanted holes.
TYVEK: Synthetic modern fabrics, such as fused plastic and Tyvek can be used to create durable, water resistant bags for storing your gear. Tyvek is a non-woven plastic fabric, similar in appearance and feel to paper, but highly tear resistant and impermeable to liquids. It is most commonly used as a weather barrier called “housewrap” in the building industry, and is easily found as the material of many shipping envelopes. Tyvek can be cut, sewn, taped, or glued to construct all types of gear. It should be machine washed first to create a softer texture and reduce crinkling noise. One of the easiest and most useful things to do is convert a Tyvek shipping envelope into a stuff sack by simply adding a drawstring to the existing opening.
Fused plastic fabric and Tyvek housewrap can also be easily converted into tarps that can be tied up and staked out as shelters by simply adding grommet reinforced holes. Square and 1:2 rectangle tarps are best for most shelter designs. Purchase a grommet kit and use the included hole cutter to punch holes in the four corners and any other positions around the perimeter depending upon the needs of your shelter. It is best to increase the tarp’s thickness in the spot where you plan to add the grommet, either by double folding the tarp’s edge (and sewing it down) before punching the holes, or using a thick fabric washer or two cut from an old piece of denim. Place a grommet on the anvil and insert it through the hole with a metal washer on the opposite side. Use a hammer to tap the setting die down on the grommet to complete the installation.
Add grommet holes to any fabric (fused plastic, tyvek, canvas, etc.) to make a tarp.
For a more waterproof design, consider making a rolltop bag. A rolltop closure is better at keeping water out than a drawstring, but requires sewing some type of buckle or latch to the bag. To minimize sewing and maximize waterproofness, start with a cylindrical bag made entirely from heat fused plastic, and simply stitch a webbed strap with buckle to the opening. You can attach a buckle and straps scavenged from an old backpack.
If a grommet fails in the field, or you want to tie a tarp at a point where there are no grommets, you can fold a small rock into your tarp and tie it off with rope to create a strong anchor point.
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NATURAL MATERIALS
REASON: Wool is water resistant, moisture wicking, breathable, and a great insulator. Wool fibers have a hard, water-repellent outer layer that surrounds each hollow fiber, overlapping like shingles on a roof. The fiber’s core absorbs up to 30% of its weight in moisture vapor without becoming damp or clammy, while the hard outer layer protects against outside liquid moisture. Wool has a very wide comfort range, essential for adapting to changing weather conditions. This unique property makes wool the perfect fiber to be used in the production of outerwear, because it has the versatile ability to warm in colder conditions and cool in warmer conditions. Invest in a 100% wool blanket, as it can be used as a blanket, a cape, a sleeping bag, a hammock, or a pillow.
WOOL BLANKET ROLL
WOOL BLANKET CAPE
Lay blanket flat on the ground. After placing any items inside, roll blanket tightly, and tie off at both ends and near middle. Force roll into a circle and drape over shoulder and across to opposite hip or on the top of your backpack.
Place the longest edge of the wool blanket over your head and form a hood by pinching the edge and secure it with knots or stone knob. Tie a rope or belt over your waist. Now you have a warm cape.
WOOL BLANKET WRAPPED SLEEPING BAG Follow the below instruction to make your own sleeping bag with a wool blanket.
NERTM
MATERIAL CARE
REASON: It is a pleasure to use tools that will maintain and last forever. Buy the best you can afford. Research the product before you decide. Make sure there are replacement components. Take care of your tools. Sometimes you might need to purchase both hand tools and power tools. Some jobs need the precision of hand, some need the power and speed of a powered tool. Always consider using a traditional tool before a modern one. Be careful when using tools, know their limits. Always wear eye, ear and hand protection as needed.
WATER REPELLENT BEESWAXING Melt beeswax in a double boiler. You can use a metal prep bowl on top of a sauce pot filled with boiling water. Add mineral oil once beeswax is melted. Scoop up the mixture with a rag and apply to boots, bags, jackets to form a coating to repel water. TOOLS: Rags, beeswax, mason jar, mineral oil, double boiler
CAST IRON SKILLET SEASONING Cast iron pans and skillet are the best cooking tools out there. They might be heavy but they last forever and are something that can be handed down through generations as an heirloom. They distribute heat evenly and are naturally non-stick. You do need to take care of this surface by heating a thin layer of oils (flaxseed oil) in an 400˚oven. If the coating is worn off, repeat the process. Don’t soak the pan in water for too long. It is made of iron and can rust. Don’t worry, just wipe it off and re-season. Use a wooden spatula to avoid scraping those natural coatings.
TOOLS: Cast iron skillet, rags, oil, oven
MOLASSES DE-RUST Take a molasses bath to remove any rust that has developed on iron. The process is known as Chelating and is slow compared with other methods like electrolysis, various other acids, or abrasives. Surface rust can be removed within a few days, while heavy rust will require at least a couple of weeks. However, there are several advantages. 1. The ingredients are inexpensive. You just need 2 bottles of molasses and a bucket of water. 2. There are no dangerous chemicals. Unlike some of the other methods, there is nothing that can burn your skin or eyes. 3. There are no toxic by-products. The solution can be used repeatedly, for many months, but when it’s time to dispose, you can safely pour out onto the lawn. The only draw back is that the molasses will start to ferment and have a strong smell. 4. Coat exposed metal immediately after it dries.
LINSEED OIL COATING Your store bought hand tools usually come with a polyurethane coated wood handle. While it protects the handle, the coating will cause blisters when you use the tool for a long time. The best practice is to strip the coating off by sanding and coat the wood with linseed oil. It is a slow drying natural oil. Make sure the handle is clean and dry. Apply a few coats of linseed oil. Let each layer soak in and dry. You can also use linseed oil on wooden furniture and wooden cutting boards. Some say it is best to use mineral oil for cutting boards. You can purchase mineral oil from your local pharmacy. Be careful with the rags soaked in oil. Dispose of them after use; they are a fire hazard. *You may find the label to be “Boiled Linseed Oil” beware it is not boiled but a certain solvent is added to create a faster drying time. TOOLS: Rags, linseed oil
TOOLS: Molasses, water, a big bucket
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RESILIENCY LIBRARY
REASON: We have lost our knowledge of the natural world, but some of our ancestors’ wisdom is still intact in the form of a book. Let’s start our rewilding process by learning from teachers, elders, and books. Learn it, practice it, and teach it. Keep a well stocked library of field guides and start to make your own.
GENERAL CONCEPT How Should We Live? Great Ideas from the Past for Everyday Life, Roman Krznaric
Green Pharmacy: The History and Evolution of Western Herbal Medicine, Barbara Griggs New York City Trees: A Field Guide for the Metropolitan Area, Edward Sibley Barnard
Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth, R. Buckminster Fuller The Earth has a Soul: C.G. Jung on Nature, Technology & Modern Life, Meredith Sabini
Healing Secrets of the Native Americans: Herbs, Remedies and Practices that Restore the Body, Refresh the Mind and Rebuild the Spirit, Porter Shimer
Intuitive Thinking as a Spiritual Path: A Philosophy of Freedom, Rudolf Steiner
Plants, People, and Culture: The Science of Ethnobotany, Michael J. Balick Paul Alan Cox
Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, Richard Louv
NATURAL DYEING A Weaver’s Garden, Rita Buchanan
FOOD PRESERVATION Natural Dyes and Home Dyeing, Rita J. Adrosko The Art of Fermentation: An In-Depth Exploration of Essential Concepts and Processes from around the World, Sandor Ellix Katz
Harvesting Color: How to Find Plants and Make Natural Dyes, Rebecca Burgess
Trail Food: Drying and Cooking Food for Backpacking and Paddling, Alan Kesselheim KNOT TYING Putting Food By, Ruth Hertzberg The Thread-Spirit: The Symbolism of Knotting and the Fiber Arts, Mark Siegeltuch PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND HERBALISM Knots Useful & Ornamental, George Russell Shaw Stalking The Healthful Herbs, Euell Gibbons Trees of North America, Christian Frank Brockman
The Handbook of Knots: A Step-by Step Guide to Tying and Using More Than 100 Knots, Des Pawson
Tom Brown’s Guide to Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants, Tom Brown
SURVIVAL SKILLS
Edible Wild Plants: The Complete, Authoritative Guide to Identification and Preparation of North American Edible Wild Plant, Oliver Perry Medsger
Shelters, Shacks, and Shanties: The Classic Guide to Building Wilderness Shelters, D. C. Beard The Book of Woodcraft, Ernest Thompson Seton
Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wild (and Not So Wild) Places, Steve Brill The Herb Book: The Most Complete Catalog of Herbs Ever Published, John Lust
US Army Survival Manual: FM 21-76 FireFox series of books, Eliot Wigginton Woodcraft and Camping, George Washington Sears (Nessmuk)
The Complete Woman’s Herbal: A Manual of Healing Herbs and Nutrition, Anne McIntyre
Flintknapping: The Art of making Stone Tools, Paul Hellweg
Camping and Woodcraft: a Handbook for Vacation Campers and for Travelers in the Wilderness, Volume 1 & 2, Horace Kephart The Traditional Bowyer’s Bible: Volume 1, Steve Allely, Tim Baker, Paul Comstock, Jim Hamm, Ron Hardcastle, Jay Massey, John Strunk
ONLINE Primitive craft www.primitiveways.com Tarp design http://equipped.org/tarp-shelters.htm
The Traditional Bowyer’s Bible: Volume 2, G. Fred Asbell, Tim Baker, Paul Comstock, Dr. Bert Grayson, Jim Hamm, Al Herrin, Jay Massey, Glenn Parker
Sheath making https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvX_r9m4VOY
FIELD GUIDES
How to Camp Out, John M. Gould http://www.gutenberg.org/files/17575/17575-h/17575-h.htm
A Field Guide to the Birds: Giving Field Marks of all Species Found East of the Rockies, Roger Tory Peterson
Various uses of Borax http://urbansurvivalsite.com/surprising-uses-for-borax/
A Field Guide to Animal Tracks, Olaus J. Murie
Solar power http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles/radabaugh30.html http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/Cooking/cooking.htm#Cooking
A Field Guide to Trees and Shrubs: Field marks of all trees, shrubs, and woody vines that grow wild in the northeastern and north-central United States and in south-eastern and south-central Canada, George A. Petrides A Field Guide to the Ferns: and their Related Families of Northeastern and Central North America with a seection on species also found in the British Isles and Western Europe, Boughton Cobb A Field Guide to the Mammals: Field marks of all species found north of the Mexican boundary, William Henry Burt and Richard Philip Grossenheider A Field Guide to WIldflowers of Northeastern and North-central North America, Roger Tory Peterson and Margaret McKenny
PROJECTS IDEAS The Food and Heat Producing Solar Greenhouse: Design, Construction, Operation, Rick Fisher 101 Things to Do in a Shed, Rob Beattie
SPIRITUALITY The Way of the Shaman, Michael Harner Awake in the Wild: Mindfulness in Nature as a Path of Self-Discovery, Mark Coleman Awakening Spirits (Religion and Spirituality), Tom Brown The Power of Awareness, Neville Goddard Green Man: The Archetype of Our Oneness with the Earth, William Anderson The Book of Chuang Tzu (Penguin Classics), Martin Palmer, Martin Palmer (Introduction), Elizabeth Breuilly (Translator) Hua Hu Ching: The Unknown Teachings of Lao Tzu, Brian Walker Worldly Wonder: Religions Enter their Ecological Phase, Mary Evelyn Tucker 33
INTERNATIONAL RADIOTELEPHONY SPELLING ALPHABET
ALPHA
BRAVO
CHARLIE
DELTA
ECHO
FOXTROT
GOLF
HOTEL
INDIA
JULIET
KILO
LIMA
MIKE
PAPA
QUEBEC
ROMEO
SIERRA
UNIFORM
VICTOR
WHISKY
X-RAY
ZULU
NOVEMBER OSCAR
TANGO
YANKEE
KITCHEN CONVERSIONS
1
1
1
8
4 2
1
1
1
16 2
4
1
1
1
1
1 +
48
+
5
2
1 1
3 3 6
12
16 18
2
4
8
6
1
12
1
1 1
1
1 1
1
1
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