Looking for a fun family activity to while away the hours during the holiday lull? Have the kids run you out of tinder for your fireplace? Maybe its time to show them how to create one of the world's oldest fire starters: the humble featherstick. History The origins of the featherstick, as is usual with such simple forms of technology, are rather vague. Many civilizations … [Read more...] about Fabricating Feathersticks
Homesteading
Wintertime Rainwater Collection
Water access is one of the most overstated, yet still somehow underrated components to a successful homestead. Everyone knows its important, but its almost impossible to fully fathom just how much it is. From watering plants, to animals, to keeping your own self healthy, water is truly the basis for life. In the winter, however, water access (and specifically retention) can get … [Read more...] about Wintertime Rainwater Collection
At-Home Alternatives to Commercial Cleaners
As we enter the cold season, plenty of people's minds are on germs and flus. Namely, of course, people are focused on how to avoid them. But lots of folks are also leery of the sort of harsh, and often toxic household products used to keep surfaces clean. Luckily, there are some easy way to whip up non toxic variants. Read on for a few natural analogues to your favorite … [Read more...] about At-Home Alternatives to Commercial Cleaners
Staying Warm in the Woods
If there's one thing non-hunters have never understood about life afield, its that sitting stationary, waiting on deer is actually the hardest part about hunting, not the easiest. Humping a pack, making a shot and dressing a deer are all downright enjoyable in comparison. This hard part tends to get a whole lot harder if you're cold, wet and otherwise uncomfortable. As such, … [Read more...] about Staying Warm in the Woods
Making Fig Wine
As you may have noticed from a few previous articles on this website, your humble author is obsessed with figs. Perhaps this is because despite living in climate supposedly not suited for them, I have managed to keep a fig tree alive and flourishing for some time now, and thus am always pleasantly surprised by the harvest. Whatever the reason, I decided this year to combine two … [Read more...] about Making Fig Wine
