Cattails: Nature's Duct Tape

I was doing a small amount of testing this week with what I believe is nature's miracle plant. The good old Tyfa Latifolia, or in simple English, Cattails. I was on a walk and decided to cut some dead shoots and use them back at my place for some testing and creative brainstorming. Cattails right now are out of season, but are still "around". This means the fully grown ones are standing dead and newer ones will begin to grow soon. The mature Cattail can be identified by the green long stem shoot with a brown "corn dog" looking mass of fluff on the top of the plant. There are literally hundreds if not thousands of uses for the mighty cattail and you could probably write an entire book on it, however the key elements for basic survival are outlined below.

Fire: The fluffy seed pod on the top of a cattail is an outstanding fire starting material. One small spark and it ignites like wildfire and burns for a decent amount of time (if used correctly). If you need dry kindling in a wet Michigan spring thaw the cattail is your ally.

Food: The cattail is more than a pyromaniacs bff, when in season cattails can provide a crazy amount of edible calories per plant. Let's first identify the edible sections.

• Roots: The underground "roots" are packed with carbohydrates, and have a rather starchy taste (very potato-esque). 
• Shoot: When cattails are young and tender, the base of the leaves and shoot can be eaten like any regular vegetable and have a taste similar to a cucumber. This section is also rich in carbohydrates, protein and vitamins
• Seed Pod: I have never done this because it straight up weirds me out but I have read that the seed pod on young plants can be boiled and eaten like corn on the cob...  no thanks, I'll stick with roots and shoots. 

Shelter: The fluffy seed pod section can be used as a liner of insulation for gloves, shirts, shoes etc. in cases of extreme cold and lack of proper cold weather clothes. Essentially that seed pod can give you that warm fuzzy feeling only nature can provide :)

So if you ever find yourself in a pinch out in the great wilderness, the cattail is your best friend!

Utility Belts Aren't Just For Batman: The Bushcrafters Kit

Like many trades or hobbies, there is a usually a list of basic equipment needed to get started. Bushcraft is no different. The biggest question is: "What should I pack?". The answer to this question can be highly debated between practicing bushcrafters, however I have come to a solid conclusion: there is no "standard bushcraft kit". Essentially you need to find a system that works for you. I will start out by giving some thoughts to consider when making your bushcrafting kit, but, make no mistake, this is not the end-all-be-all definitive bushcrafting kit.

Missing: 5.11 Tactical Nylon Belt,

1L Nalgene or Aluminum Bottle

Tilly Brimmed Hat

Bushcrafting by it's very nature is minimalistic. My whole setup fits onto my "utility belt". When I created my setup, I used 6 basic items to gauge whether I should use it or not: Fire, Shelter, Food, Water, Warmth and Protection. If it can help provide one or more of those items I would take it. Then after a process of trial and error I found a set of items that works for me. My kit is as imaged (courtesy of Alphonse Photography) to the left:

• Belt: 5.11 Nylon Tactical Belt
• Hat: Tilly Canvas Full Brimmed Hat
• Hatchet: Truper w/ Hickory Handle
• Knife: Ka-Bar Hunter
• Container: 1L Nalgene or Aluminum water bottle
• Fire-steel: Light My Fire 3000 strikes
• Cordage: 24 feet para-cord in a bracelet

Here are my reasons for picking most of these items. 

• Belt: light weight & will hold all of my gear & won't rot. 
• Hat: Keeps my head warm & dry
• Hatchet: Split firewood, shelter making
• Knife: wild game & food processing, shelter & fire making
• Container: holds water, cook with
• Fire-steel: lights fire quickly for warmth, saves calories
• Cordage: shelter and fire making, game processing

For my kit, the hatchet and knife are two of my most important tools. If you chose use either of these (and I highly suggest you do) they should hold up to a torture test. My torture test is all wood preparation: Splitting, batoning, and cross cutting. Below are images of my torture test.

Splitting: Take your hatchet and drive it through a log (like a boss)

Batoning: Take a fresh wet thin & heavy log as a "baton" and use it to drive your knife through a seasoned log

Cross Cutting: Use previous "baton" and cut another log in half against the grain.






If your tools don't break after this torture test, then congratulations you have quality tools that will withstand the rigorous tasks involved in bushcraft!

Split like a champ

That wear is just character!

An Introduction to Bushcraft: The Forgotten Art

The forest holds a special place in my heart. Its beauty and provision paired with its power and unforgiving nature can make the wilderness a powerful friend or a bitter enemy. This is where knowledge and respect for all things wild become critical variables. This is where bushcraft becomes a necessity.

Let me start by saying bushcraft is not survival. Survival implies unintentionally exposing yourself to the elements of nature through a series of unfortunate events that leads to a negative, cruel and ill-prepared wilderness experience. Bushcraft is just the opposite. Bushcraft is intentionally exposing yourself to the elements of nature, prepared and armed with knowledge for the sole purpose of learning, meditating, relaxing and growing. It is an art and skill set that is unfortunately increasingly hard to find in our sleek, modern and fast paced society.

Allow me to give you a little background on myself. I am a clean cut young professional in a highly competitive business climate. I attend college and work in a thriving and bustling urban environment, however I was raised and still reside in the country or "the sticks". I was taught from a young age the basics of survival, utilizing the provisions of nature and respecting the natural balance of the wild from my father. In a nutshell, I am an educated, intelligent, clean cut bushman. I am a beardless caveman

In mathematics, the term "Constant" refers to a value that does not change. Bushcraft is my constant. It's relieving to me to know that no matter how stressful, hectic or chaotic my busy urban life can get, Bushcraft never changes. A spark starts a fire, a fire provides warmth. A blade builds a shelter, a shelter provides safety. A plant that is edible provides me with strength. A stream gives me water and keeps me refreshed. These basic elements of bushcraft are my constants, they provide a clear understanding of how simple life really can be. This blog will take you into the art of bushcraft and give you an understanding of its basic elements.