E-Mail 'Wandering in the New World- Part 2, by JMD' To A Friend

15 Comments

1. Good article. I would add books. I have a couple dozen books on Seminole medicine. https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Plants-Medicine-Florida-Seminole/dp/0813061725/ref=la_B001KHWXU2_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1507467240&sr=1-1. Some for each cache and some for barter. I plan to buy more copies. I also have books on Florida’s wild edibles. One thing I can’t recommend highly enough is take classes on forraging in your area. Most are free .

   1. David Mark, what organization or group puts on the free foraging classes in your area. I’d like to attend such a class in my area, but have never heard of any.

2. Thanks, JMD for your articles on wandering. Interesting, that the first son of Moses was named Gershom, which means sojourner! For very useful information, I recommend the you-tube videos by Dave Canterbury. He teaches a lot about bushcrafting, trapping, foraging, etc.that expands nicely with the ideas you presented.

3. Gypsy is a pejorative(slander) for the Roma people,who are religious refugees and have had to adopt a transient existence to survive persecution by jewish/christian/islam/mormon faiths.
   The most common example of what is described here is the long haul truck driver(especially the “owner operator”),historically Marco Polo is the best known “Silk Road” trader.

4. Good Article,

   I would only remind the Wanderer, they should
   consider land ownership; For optimal living conditions.

   God bless,

5. I would include a small roll of plastic sheeting which could be used to collect rain water into a container, quick cover in wet conditions for yourself or anything you need to keep dry, or ground pad to block ground moisture. Wouldn’t weigh much and would come in handy.

6. Story teller is a time honored trade that takes little in the way of space and can be combined with that of teacher, town crier, scribe and lay minister as well as postman. If you set up a month long route you might become an anticipated guest and a valued friend.

   1. Excellent suggestion – thanks!

7. Brings up some things worth considering. However I would caution that wandering, as Ricks group in the series “ The Walking Dead “ has many detrimental aspects as well. Even though the premise of the dead coming back to life is probably bogus, what this series has shown is that other survival groups can be nastier and deadlier than the disease or whatever SHTF disaster happened. And you as one individual or even a pair have far less ability to provide an adequate defense and avoid capture by a large well organized group, which could be led by a maniacal twisted pervert who would be happy to use you as a sex or labor slave.

8. JMD

   Good article, however some items can be exchanged upwards so to speak for much better quality items for little cost, my experience comes from being a hunter and bushcrafter for over 30plus years.Not trying to be malicious, but these I would add.

   Bushcraft- you would be surprised the number of people who think sitting watching YT videos on bushcraft makes them experts, using a bow and drill method or flint and charcloth are novelty items, they work well under the right conditions, matches, magnesium LARGE ferrocium rod is a must.

   Tarp/ hammock/tent-
   my upgrade,Russian Plash-Palatka ( waterproof canvas, has been used by the Russians for over 100 years ) doubles as rain cape, hammock,gound sheet, shelter tarp. best of all cost less !.
   https://www.varusteleka.com/en/product/soviet-plash-palatka-rain-cape-shelter-half-surplus/3431

   Knives-
   Finnish Skrama ( large knife ) Pukko 140 small knife, both cheaper than beckers, Esee etc, in both stainless and Carbon steel.
   https://www.varusteleka.com/en/product/terava-skrama-carbon-steel/30189
   https://www.varusteleka.com/en/product/terava-jaakaripuukko-carbon-steel/56524

   Hatchet/Saw-

   Silky Gomboy/ Silky Ono, again, costs more, but far superior performance than the two above,the sikly saws are pull saws, minimal effort, less tiring and much stronger than the Bahco ( I have both, the silky cannot be beaten for speed and ease of use ).

   Foraging plant, edible plant courses are available also in England, Australia, New Zealand , Europe, many specie are common to both hemispheres. Also Bill Mollision books ( Permaculture)teach edible plant specie.

   Hunting- I learned to use a traditional Apache bow ( 50Lb).

   1. Good suggestions – thank you.

   2. The Skrama is nice, but if your budget does not fit in, the kukri might be a suitable replacement. An old fiberglass bow would be very useful, but like all archery, requires regular practice to remain accurate.

9. Red J,

   http://www.eattheweeds.com/

   Eat the Weeds is a website with Greene Dean I recommend it since it deals with Floridian and more, edible plants. Plus Dean is worth visiting the site. Please note I mentioned Florida as most books and websites on plants are good but may not relate to your particular geographic area.

   http://www.floridaearthskills.org/

   Earth skills is a gathering in north central Florida and along the east coast. It goes on for days with various classes, read the schedule for skills. Earth Skills started with a few people and each year grows.

   Your local USDA County Extension Office usually has a wealth of free information. Universities also have Agricultural departments.

   https://www.hamiltonbook.com/

   Hamilton Books has discounted books on edible plants and more … a lot more. Even JWR books.

   It may seem obvious but for Florida study the drought resistant indigenous non-hybrid (as in plants whose seeds you can not propagate) edible plants. Florida geography being a huge sandbar in temperate, semi-temperate and sub-tropical hardiness zones is the opposite of anything you will find in the rest of the U.S.. It also has the one of the largest amount and range of plants around but with invasive species taken over who knows what will happen. Perhaps learn to eat the invasive species.

   There are three varies of Amaranth that are edible are nutrient rich, ie. calcium for women Make sure to boil off the oxalates. It is a hardy plant even in sandy soil. Heck, Amaranth was a staple food for the Aztecs, Incas and Mayans until the Invasive species Spaniards banned the plant.

   Two last comments, vitamin B12 is not available in plants to process proteins.
   For the SHTF store, carry and trade seeds just as you would metal. Hopefully there will still be microbial organisms in the soil to grow plants.

10. JMD

    while musing your article last few days, I thought this is something very few think about, using ANY axe, tomahawk, hatchet in the forest can be heard a long,long way off, the THUNK,THUNK,THUNK will resonate easily for a miles and attract unwanted attention ( if are seeking stealth ) how do I know ?, its a good way of testing your skills !, if very large tree’s are felled, I use my truck saw ( silky Katana boy ). The poster commenting on a Kukri ?, buy the genuine Nepalese one, not the ones made for the Western market, vast weight and handling difference. FYI I have connections to Varusteleka. I use their kit only.

11. ooops mean’t I have NO connection to varusteleka !

Comments are closed.