“…It only takes a modicum of research and critical thinking to draw the conclusion that the modern claim of sassafras as a dangerous carcinogen is a faulty one based on junk science.”
Read moreInstructor Corps Pro Tip 11/13 - The Kochanski SuperShelter
“We always say that we don’t do “hacks,” and we don’t. But this is the one thing we’ve come across that truly hacks the system – it allows you to bend the laws of the woods like Neo bends space and time in the Matrix. There is no downside, and there are no compromises. Interested? Then allow us to enlighten you about the Kochanski SuperShelter.”
Read more#WildEdibleWednesday 11/7 - American Sweetgum
“If you were around SARCRAFT in the early days, you would have heard Jonathan and I refer to Sweetgum as the most useless tree in the forest, only good for making toothbrushes (which we’ll touch on in a minute.)”
Read moreInstructor Corps Pro Tip 11/6 - Tracking by Flashlight
It stands to reason that the more light there is, the better you can see tracks. But that’s not the case. The hardest time of day to follow tracks is, in fact, high noon.
Read more#WildEdibleWednesday 10/31 - Witch Hazel
“Oh, and about that weird name… why is it witch hazel? Well, there are two explanations….”
Read moreInstructor Corps Pro Tip 10/30 - Bombproof Tensionless Anchor
“The basic building block of any rope system is an anchor. Without an anchor, there’s nothing to pull tension on, nothing to clip in to, etc. And the tried-and-true single point bombproof tensionless anchor is one of the strongest and simplest around.”
Read more#WildEdibleWednesday 10/24 - Dogwood
“During the Civil War, the Yankees put us in a tight spot by blockading our ports, preventing any shipments of supplies or medicine from coming through from the outside. In the Deep South, malaria and yellow fever were serious problems back in that day, and were taking many desperately needed men out of the action on the battlefield.”
Read moreInstructor Corps Pro Tip 10/23 - The Original Pocket Multi-Tool
“Today we’re going to talk about the granddaddy of all pocket multi-tools, and one that still puts most of today’s offerings to shame. We’re talking, of course, about the legendary P-38 can opener.”
Read moreInstructor Corps Pro Tip 10/16 - Laying a Fire
“If you’ve ever had a fire that started out alright, flamed up, and then quickly died, this may well be one of the reasons why.”
Read more#WildEdibleWednesday 10/10 - Goldenrod
“Goldenrod gets a bad rap for causing fall allergies, and it’s not surprising why… the bright yellow flower heads look like pure pollen. However, it’s really a case of mistaken identity….”
Read moreInstructor Corps Pro Tip 10/9 - 4 Tips for Axe Safety
“If you follow these four tips, we estimate the chances of lopping your foot off are gonna decrease by approximately 937%. Maybe not. But at least you’ll know better. Whether you do better or not is up to you. Speaking from experience, bad habits are hard to break!”
Read more#WildEdibleWednesday 10/3 - Mullein
“Mullein has a whole host of great uses for bushcrafters and other outdoorsmen, as well. Its most famous and obvious non-medicinal use is as, well, toilet paper. If you’ve ever felt a mullein leaf, it’s a pretty natural idea to use them for this purpose.”
Read moreInstructor Corps Pro Tip 10/2 - Char Cloth
“One of the oldest and most time-tested of all tinders is char cloth. It’s simply cotton cloth (or nearly any other woven plant fiber, really – you can use linen, jute twine, burlap, etc.), that’s undergone the process of pyrolysis.”
Read more#WildEdibleWednesday 9/26 - American Beautyberry
“The scientists at Ole Miss who discovered callicarpenal first began their research because their grandparents had all used beautyberry leaves to repel mosquitoes. Lo and behold, they were right.”
Read moreInstructor Corps Pro Tip 9/25
“With one technique, you can use a single log to create your tinder, kindling and fuel alike. Enter the feather curl.”
Read more#WildEdibleWednesday 9/19 - Muscadine
“The bouquet is as follows: It smacks you in the face with a wallop of intense muscadine flavor followed by a wall of cane sugar, finishing with a pure alcohol burn. There are notes of pure muscadine (obviously), oak, citrus, grape Jolly Rancher, ethanol, and a hint of vinegar. The overall experience is jarring, but not at all unpleasant. I dare California to do better.”
Read moreInstructor Corps Pro Tip 9/18
Lots of people who carry knives are scared of sharpening them. In our experience, it’s mostly because they’re afraid of screwing up, so they don’t do it.
Read more#WildEdibleWednesday 9/12 - Orange Jewelweed
Medicinally, jewelweed really only has one application: Used externally, as a poultice or decoction. However, in this application, it’s fantastic.
Read more#WildEdibleWednesday 9/5 - Kudzu
Although non-native and highly invasive, Kudzu has become as much a part of the South as barbecue, pecan pie, dirt track racing, and smiling and waving at random strangers.
Read more#WildEdibleWednesday 8/22 - Staghorn Sumac
Dramatic and exotic-looking with its bright red fruiting bodies, sumac is part of the Anacardiaceae family of plants that includes cashews, mangoes, and pistachios, as well as Brazilian pepper, poison ivy, and poison oak.
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