Bumbling Bushcraft Comic: Nestled in the Nettles

How It's Crafted: Paracord Belt

Bumbling Bushcraft Comic: Vow of Silence

From Trash to Treasure: Recycling Items For Survival

As you know this month we are doing a recycling series, and we are moving right along this month with the recycling blog. Last week I showed you some items that you could reuse several times on the trail. This week we are going to look into things you can recycle that you might otherwise throw away. These could be items that you bring with you that you choose to hang on to so you don't leave garbage behind, or items that you find on the trail that are theoretically clean enough for you to pick up and use.

The first item I have is a water bottle, or in my case, a pop bottle. Any kind of bottle like this will do, especially if its plastic. This pop bottle went fishing with me and when I finished my pop, I kept it in my pocket. Remember what we talked about before, if it's not important to you, you are more than likely going to leave it behind. That's why I kept this on my person after I finished with it so it would make it back with me. Now what you can do with this bottle is make a nice survival fishing rod. What you want to do is take some fishing line and tie it around the bottom curve of your pop bottle as shown to the right. After it is secured around the bottle, just wrap your line.

Another thing Yankee and I talked about, (Yankee Outdoor Adventures on YouTube) was how often you find fishing lures in trees where people have to cut and run. You can take those lures that you find and store them in your water bottle, or of course bring your own. You can store lures, rooster tails, small hooks, bass hooks, sinkers, artificial bait, jigs and more. With all of these stored in your bottle along with the line you previously tied around your bottle, you have a tackle kit ready to go.

The next thing we can work with is a pop can. Now I find pop cans lying around all the time, I do NOT recommend doing this with a random pop can you find on the trail. First you want to cut the can straight down. You can use the edge of the nutritional info box for a reference. This cut doesn't have to be straight, but it helps if it is. Next you are going to cut a line a quarter of the way around the can horizontally in both directions at the top and bottom of the vertical line you cut. This will allow you to open the can like flaps. We now have a reflective candle holder. I placed one of my squat candles in the can and lit it and wow is it bright. However if you are really in a pinch, you could always light up a crayon.

Well guys that will do it for today. Next week we will be finishing up this recycling series and you know you don't want to miss it! As always feel free to comment by clicking the comment link at the end of the blog, hit the follow button in the top right corner, share this blog, and check back next week for a new one on Sunday 10pm (est). If you want to keep up with me and what I’m doing, Follow me on Facebook: @BPackBushcraft and on Twitter @BPackBushCraft. Lastly if video is more your style check out my YouTube Channel backpack bushcraft where there is a video version of this with the same title. Until next time, keep those fires burning and put another log on for me.

How It's Crafted: The Mock Inferno

Bumbling Bushcraft Comic: Bumbling Do Little

Reusable In Reusable Out: A Quick Look At Some Reusable Items

It is time now for the second installment of our recycling series: Reuse. Last week we featured Reduce where I went to my local park and cleaned up a good deal of trash there. This week I am going to be showing you some items that you would take with you that you could easily replace with reusable items. That is how I will be honoring the reuse segment of this series.




The first item on the list which I see a lot come April due to all the rain, are those nasty disposable ponchos. Please, please, please do not buy disposable ponchos. I myself have a reusable poncho, however, I do keep disposable ponchos in my pack in case of an absolute emergency, such as myself or someone I may be hiking with does not have one. Yankee from Yankee's Outdoor Adventure will tell you the same thing. I urge you not to use these in case it is an emergency. My poncho is reusable, has draw strings so I can adjust the hood so it fits over my head (and my hat) and actually protects me more in an emergency situation.

The next item on the list is something that campers all tend to use. Not just us bushcrafters, but everyone who enjoys going outdoors from time to time with their families. And I'm not against that at all, I support everyone who wants to go outside, I just want you to do it the right way. I know when we go camping we think "disposable" because we think it's easy to clean up. When you bring plastic cups and, it's not as bad, but paper towels, you're not as likely to clean it up. I've known so many people, and even I myself have done this, taken a pop bottle into the woods and set it down thinking "Oh, I'll pick that up when I leave." Here's the thing, if it's not important to you, you're not as likely to remember it. Then someone else will end up cleaning up after you. I have made my own reusable paper towels by taking a flour sack towel (I know I'm forever talking about these things, but they're awesome) and cut it into 8 pieces. You can use it as a napkin, wash it, and reuse it. No trash. As far as cups you can take a Coleman plastic mug, or if you're completely against plastic, you can take the Coleman enameled metal cup. Fantastic choices, either one.

The next item is the hard pill for everyone to swallow. Plastic water bottles that everyone takes with them for hiking and camping. The one in the picture to the right is not the exact same thing, but you can pretend it's whatever crap you use: get rid of it. Those things will cause you more harm than good. I take a metal, single-wall, stainless steel water bottle. I have a black coating on it so it doesn't reflect and it's easier to clean the soot off of when I boil in it. You can fill it up with water or pop, heck this could be your replacement pop bottle. If you're in the woods and you finish your pop, or your plastic water bottle breaks, it's now garbage. And if it's garbage it's no longer important to you and you're likely to forget about it. It's going to take a lot for this metal water bottle to be damaged to the point that it can't hold water. This may cost you a little bit more money, but considering all of the plastic water bottles you are going to go through in the long run, you can save up and buy you a new one.

If you guys have a better reusable item than what I've suggest or if you have an item that I've missed, leave a comment and let me know some of your ideas. Next week we will be talking about different ways to recycle items and you know you don't want to miss it. As always feel free to comment by clicking the comment link at the end of the blog, hit the follow button in the top right corner, share this blog, and check back next week for a new one on Sunday 10pm (est). If you want to keep up with me and what I’m doing, Follow me on Facebook: @BPackBushcraft and on Twitter @BPackBushCraft. Lastly if video is more your style check out my YouTube Channel backpack bushcraft where there is a video version of this with the same title. Until next time, keep those fires burning and put another log on for me.

How It's Crafted: Char Cloth

Bumbling Bushcraft Comic: Bush Cake

Keeping It Clean: Cleaning My Lake Area For PBC Response

Last month we finished up the 10 C's with cotton and everyone wanted to know what Bushy was gonna do next.Today we are going to be cleaning up the lake. I've had a calling on my heart. I don't know if I was moved by the Lord or whatever you call it, but I feel like I need to do this. After this project, however, I realized the Pacific Bushcraft Consortium was also doing a clean up project. Great minds think alike I supposed, but they need all of the publicity and attention they can get from this so please check them out on YouTube. Back on topic, as bushcrafters and nature enthusiasts this is really important because if our work area is nasty we can't practice what we love or bring you the content we love bringing you. I was actually worried that I wouldn't get to clean the way I wanted to because they just recently did a massive clean in this area, but I will show you sort of what I am working with.

Like I said this isn't going to be a huge clean up or anything, but I did have a lesson to bring along with me. Always be prepared. I have a big contractor bag with me. This time I have an extra, but I always keep one in my pack so theoretically I could use that too. (Yes, I know that they are plastic, but it's what I have.) The second thing is that you should always wear gloves. Do not just pick up trash with your bare hands. You don't know where it's been or what's on it. You could get really sick from not taking this caution. I know gloves are not a part of the 5 C's but definitely take them with you anyway.

Alright, I've done the first half of the shoreline done, my bag is full, and I do not have another so that's all for today. However, this is only the first installment of our recycling series and we will call this "Reduce." Reducing the waste on the shoreline. It's as simple as that. Like I said they just cleaned this the other day and I don't think it's the lake's fault, but we got some more flooding recently and I think all of this just washed in. That's why we have to protect the water's edge. Protect that like it is your tools or your knife. 

Well that does it for this week. Next week we are going to be moving on to "Reuse" and you don't want to miss it. As always feel free to comment by clicking the comment link at the end of the blog, hit the follow button in the top right corner, share this blog, and check back next week for a new one on Sunday 10pm (est). If you want to keep up with me and what I’m doing, Follow me on Facebook: @BPackBushcraft and on Twitter @BPackBushCraft. Lastly if video is more your style check out my YouTube Channel backpack bushcraft where there is a video version of this with the same title. Until next time, keep those fires burning and put another log on for me.