Category: Uncategorized (Page 13 of 14)

Bushcraft Tree Lore: Holly

January 4, 2015 / pioneerbushcraft@gmail.com

 By Sean Fagan

The spiny leaf of holly (photo: Sean Fagan).

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11 BUSHCRAFT USES OF THE HOLLY TREE

The European Holly, Ilex aquifolium, is native to western and southern Europe, northwest Africa, and southwest Asia.

In Ireland and Britain the holly tree is often found as a relatively common understory tree in deciduous woodland.

The holly is a small-sized tree and can be easily be overlooked.

Despite its diminutive nature, the holly tree is a bushcraft resource par excellence...

Short on time?...Article Summary

4 Wilderness Safety Tips

December 14, 2014 / pioneerbushcraft@gmail.com

By Sean Fagan

Wild, remote places are to be respected at all times (Photo: Sean Fagan).

4 HABITS

THAT WILL IMPROVE YOUR

WILDERNESS SAFETY AWARENESS

When it comes to outdoor health & safety in wild, remote places I’m a big fan of memorising to heart the acronym - S.T.O.P...

http://www.itstactical.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ITS2_STOP.jpg

The STOP acronym certainly has its place in developing a more risk-aware mindset in wilderness areas (Photo: wikimedia commons).

It’s an easy to remember and apply acronym that can save lives in outdoor emergencies.

In this post I’ve explored 4 wilderness safety tips that can, in conjunction with the STOP acronym, assist an individual in developing a more attuned, risk-aware mind set.

After all, prevention is certainly better than cure when it comes to outdoor safety.

Only a Fool Eats Fool’s Parsley

November 22, 2014 / pioneerbushcraft@gmail.com

By Sean Fagan

Botany on a miniature scale - the tiny flowers of Fool's Parsley (Photo: Sean Fagan).

7 BOMB-PROOF WAYS TO POSITIVELY IDENTIFY

THE POISONOUS

FOOL'S PARSLEY

Most plant species from the Apiaceae family (also known as the Umbelliferae family) occur in the northern temperate regions and are generally common wherever they occur.

Many Apiaceae species are poisonous while some species are edible. They are a plant family well worth getting to know.

One relatively common Apiaceae species is the poisonous, Fool’s Parsley, Aethusa cynapium.

If you are unfamiliar with the Apiaceae family then getting to know the key characteristics of Fool’s Parsley will go a long way in providing you with a good grounding in Apiaceae identification.

Bushcraft Astronomy: Orion

November 5, 2014 / pioneerbushcraft@gmail.com

By Sean Fagan

Orion was often traditionally viewed as a great hunter (Photo: Wikimedia Commons).

WHY KNOWING THE STARS OF ORION

WILL MAKE YOU

A BETTER NAVIGATOR

The very large and distinct Orion constellation has been used as a navigational aid by humans since prehistoric times.

Learn about the fascinating folklore of Orion and how to use this elegant constellation as a night-time, navigational aid.

*Included below is a fantastic, brief introduction to the astronomy of Orion (and Sirius)...

(This video is also included at the end of the article for those of you that want to read the article first).

Coastal Foraging: Molluscs

September 5, 2014 / pioneerbushcraft@gmail.com

By Sean Fagan

Limpets: a tasty, common, rocky shore mollusc (Photo: Sean Fagan)

How to Identify, Collect & Cook

4 Edible Molluscs of Rocky Shores

The rocky shoreline is a fascinating and tumultuous habitat - yet life somehow flourishes, often uniquely, in this wave-battered environment.

Wherever prehistoric humans lived near rocky shores they've had a strong affinity for this unusual habitat. A large part of that ancient relationship is connected with the rich availability of edible, protein-rich marine molluscs that thrive on rocky shores.

Learn the ancient skills of how to identify, collect and cook 4 marine molluscs of rocky shores..

Anatomy of a Predator

June 11, 2014 / pioneerbushcraft

By Sean Fagan

The menacing talons of the sparrowhawk (Photo: Sean Fagan).

Getting to Know a Common but Elusive Bird of Prey

The sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus, is a relatively common but secretive bird of prey of temperate and subtropical regions of Europe, Africa & Asia.

A while back I had the good fortune to get close to a sparrowhawk. I was struck by the obvious, fearsome weaponry of this sleek raptor - by its long, sickle-shaped talons and pointed, hooked bill.

I was also intrigued by other, less obvious anatomical features of the sparrowhawk which assist in making this bird species such a sublime predator.

As I examined the sparrowhawk - four features stood out...

Learn 4 predatory features of the enigmatic but fearsome sparrowhawk (some of which might surprise you).

Included below is a stunning, short video highlighting the amazing, hunting prowess of the the sparrowhawk...(this video is also included at the end of the article).

How Urban Botany Will Improve Your Bushcraft

May 12, 2014 / pioneerbushcraft

By Sean Fagan

A common and pretty urban plant - Red Valerian, Centranthus ruber (Photo: Sean Fagan).

Many urban environments, when examined closely, contain a rich array of both native and non-native, wild plants.

Many of the plants that live in towns and cities also dwell in rural and wild areas - so there is a viable transfer of plant identification skills.

Learn how to make the most of urban areas to sharpen and improve your plant ID skills.

What the Bow Drill Can Teach You About Bushcraft (and Life)

May 3, 2014 / pioneerbushcraft

By Sean Fagan

One of the great outdoor pleasures that never ceases to please, the campfire - can be obtained with the bow drill (Photo: Sean Fagan).

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The Bow Drill is a Lot More than a Fire-Making Tool...

The bow drill is a great wood-friction method of obtaining fire.

It's also a very technical, physically arduous skill-set that requires certain mental and physical ingredients to succeed (along with the right attitude).

In effect, the bow drill can teach us a lot about how to succeed when faced with a significant challenge..

Fire Skills: The Tinder Walk

April 15, 2014 / pioneerbushcraft

By Sean Fagan

The result of a 15 minute Tinder Walk - 7 different natural tinders. To find out what natural tinders are in above photo - click on article link below (Photo: Sean Fagan).

Knowing what natural tinders are to be found in a locality, and just as importantly, how to process them to make them more flammable, is a key bushcraft fire-skill.

One very effective way to improve your local knowledge of natural tinders is to take the tinder walk.

April 6, 2014 / pioneerbushcraft