December 2009

Hair clip made of nature

Here is a simple hair clip that I fashioned from cutting an oval shaped piece of birch bark and making two holes in it. I then whittled a wooden pin. I have just written a fun article about the different things you can make from this beautiful tree, which will be published in the next issue of "The Bushcraft and Survival Skills magazine".

Bushcraft is all about enjoyment, not about being macho ;)

Annette

Fire by friction tips which I have found
to help

Use a slightly harder wooden drill with a softer wooden hearth. Willow drill and Alder hearth works well.

Carve a drill thumb thickness and no greater.

Being positioned in the sunshine when attempting helps warm things up.

Use a bow where the diameter fits comfortably in hand.

Get some great cordage that won't slip or burn easily- like what they sell at a boat chandlery.

Gripping the string with your hand if the cord starts to loosen will allow you to not have to stop to tighten it up every time.

Don't forget to breathe! Some students attempt the Bow drill whilst holding their breath- now although impressive is harder work.

When in storage keep the Bow drill kit in a dry place. The Bow I am using in the photo is my original Bow I made some 14 years ago.

Try to use natural tinder's that you have found in the woods, like dry bracken or inner Sweet Chestnut bark, rather than like some folk who depend on shop bought hay. In doing so you will learn about the gathering and preparation of different tinder's, which is part of fire by friction success.

Happy fire lighting!

Annette

October 2009

Birch Bark

There is a love/hate relationship going on when lighting Birch bark. I have watched many enthusiastic students light their Birch bark with a spark only to watch in dismay the bark fold on itself with the heat and extinguish the flame. So what I discovered most useful is the “Nettie stick” ;)

It is having the right tool for the job in hand. Simply find a dry small stick and have it ready when you light the Birch bark. Then place it in between BEFORE the bark starts to curl. The “Nettie stick” will prevent the bark curling on itself and gives the camper a few crucial seconds to get their kindling alight.

Happy fire lighting!

Annette

September 2009

Spoon Holder

Here is a simple spoon holder for the camp kitchen, as you can see it is very easy to make.

I love to experiment with nature's materials. I will be putting some of my camping ideas up on here over the coming months, just little things around the campsite I have made I will share with you, to hopefully make your camping experience more enjoyable.

No one wants to eat off a dirty spoon!

Annette

August 2009

TV Documentary - The Horse Teacher

I have started training my young horse "Bowdrill" ;) with the intention of him becoming a pack horse. Outdoors TV will be documenting the training over the next four years.

SEE THIS SHORT INTRODUCTION VIDEO
Meet Bowdrill and find out what I hope to do »

May 2009

Bright yellow,
You have no fear,
Standing out,
With a cheer,
So useful to us,
Can't we see,
You are far from being called
"Just a weed".

By Annette Stickler

April 2009

Playing with Food!

Allowing children to simply "play with their food" allows them to discover so much more and develop their own knowledge, finding out where food comes from, how to prepare it to eat by using tools and then having self satisfaction by cooking it for themselves and then finally eating it!

What also happens is children find out for themselves that fish are slippery, they have beautiful colours, have teeth etc and so they must be allowed to poke and prode the dead fish to understand it.

I truly believe it is not disrespectful to the fish. What does happen though is that this kind of play creates a valuable interest in nature with young people. It is this interest that young people then choose for themselves to want to conserve the river that the fish swam in, because fun and conservation are linked.

March 2009

Oh feathered leaf,
So small and fair,
Sit in my hand,
Without despair,

With your scent,
So sweet and strong,
You give me hope,
To just hold on.

By Annette Stickler

February 2009

MOUNTAIN MOON MAN
Oil on Canvas (right)
February 2009

SUNSET
Oil on Canvas (below)
January 2009