Definition of Bushcraft

[milius2]

Name me one other species on this planet which builds and carries a "satchel". It's equipment, it's technology.

Bushcraft, to me, is about trying not to forget the ways of life we left behind to get to wherever the f**k we are now. Without technology , we never would have left Africa, but by abusing it we may as well not have bothered.

I would put my money on this one. For me bushcraft is more about escaping the everyday (with all it inpacts on this planet) to a better world of piece and knowlege where your skills, patience and will does create some amazing things, where other people from everyday world could not imagine and would kink their head trying to understand of what you just did (simple fire lighting in a damp weather is AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK to many many). The part I don't like, is that everyday life comes back one way or another, no matter what

 

[Bowlander]

To me its about preparedness and having a wide range of skills.

 

[Swallow]

Threads like this have been done before but right now this one seems to have the most interesting set of answers. I like all of them.

Apology to Macaroon who for being defensive with my question and who's post made me realise I imbue far too much importance in things.

 

[Macaroon]

Absolutely no problem Swallow, and no need at all for apologies - seems we've both moderated each other's initial thoughts and I call that learning...............and of course you ARE right, this is a very interesting set of answers!...................atb mac

 

[vizsla]

Name me one other species on this planet which builds and carries a "satchel". It's equipment, it's technology.

Bushcraft, to me, is about trying not to forget the ways of life we left behind to get to wherever the f**k we are now. Without technology , we never would have left Africa, but by abusing it we may as well not have bothered.

I didn't say I wanted to be a goat or anything else I was explaining how I like to do my form of bushcraft.
if you choose to walk around sporting clothes made from a squirrel with your bare hands and carry no equipment in the hope you come across a piece of flint shaped as a knife then I take my hat off to you and would love to see the pictures

 

[vizsla]

Oh and isn't catching an animal skinning it tanning the leather and using it to make a satchel about as "bushcrafty" as you can get

 

[MikeLA]

To me its all the below but so is survival

 

[oldtimer]

I think it would be difficult to better the definition at the start of the home page: it says it all.

However, I do get irritated sometimes at having to justify my interest and there are some good answers on this thread so far that provide support.

I'm over 70 and far from being in my second childhood, I haven't yet left the first one! (And make no apology for that)

 

[Macaroon]

I agree with Oldtimer; I've just re - read the home page intro. and it is, for my money, as good as it gets.............I never allow anything to make me feel obliged to justify anything I do that doesn't affect others directly.

atb mac

 

[Elen Sentier]

I don't like having to justify my interests either but I am interested in how/what/why bushcraft turns others on. There are many answers here that I feel in my bones too, the one I presented first is the one I would stick with if I was on Desert Island Discs and had to say just one thing but that doesn't exclude many others.

 

[ReamviThantos]

Hi Ellen,

For my part i'm a walker, i walk and then i use what i learn in bushcraft to allow me not to have to go home as much. Lol.

Lest ye become as little children........ sums it up.

 

[British Red]

I'm over 70 and far from being in my second childhood, I haven't yet left the first one! (And make no apology for that)

Exactly - what on earth is wrong with that? Fun, curiosity, wonder, excitement. Sounds good to me.

As well as making dens in the woods, I also like fireworks, games, and being read a good story too (okay its an audiobook in the car - but I do sometimes arrive at my destination begging for one more chapter)

 

[hog]

so why does uncle ray carry a ruck sack ??? is it full of books ??

No...Macdonalds.

 

[lou1661]

No...Macdonalds.

Just one or the whole clan?

 

[Tiley]

Why does it have to be called 'bushcraft'? Big Ray kidnapped that term from Richard Graves, an Australian, where they do indeed have 'the bush' as their wilderness. We have had the term shoved down our throats so persistently that we've come to accept it, despite not having anything like the Australian bush in which to play/survive. I'm sure it's far too late to re-brand our magnificent, if slightly pointless and self-indulgent activity but was there really anything actuall wrong with the more appropriate 'woodcraft'?

But back to the thread (after my little rant), I reckon that, for me, it is the best education, challenge and fun that I can have in the outdoors.

 

[Nomad]

Why does it have to be called 'bushcraft'? Big Ray kidnapped that term from Richard Graves, an Australian, where they do indeed have 'the bush' as their wilderness. We have had the term shoved down our throats so persistently that we've come to accept it, despite not having anything like the Australian bush in which to play/survive. I'm sure it's far too late to re-brand our magnificent, if slightly pointless and self-indulgent activity but was there really anything actuall wrong with the more appropriate 'woodcraft'?

Language evolves, I guess. When I was in the scouts 35-odd years ago, we went 'camping', whereupon we engaged in something called 'campcraft'.

About a year ago, I heard the term 'wild camping' and was a little surprised to find that it was just camping (I thought it was going to be 'extreme mountain bivouacing' or something). More recently, I discovered that one can 'wild camp' in a camper van if one parks at the side of the road instead of booking into a commercial site with leccy and showers.

 

[Bushwhacker]

Bushcraft is arguing on the internet about what's the right and wrong thing to do when sat in some woods 1/2 a mile from a motorway. This is offset by a mutual love for biscuits.

 

[Goatboy]

Language evolves, I guess. When I was in the scouts 35-odd years ago, we went 'camping', whereupon we engaged in something called 'campcraft'.

About a year ago, I heard the term 'wild camping' and was a little surprised to find that it was just camping (I thought was going to be 'extreme mountain bivouacing' or something). More recently, I discovered that one can 'wild camp' in a camper van if one parks at the side of the road instead of booking into a commercial site with leccy and showers.

Then you have "Aggresive Camping", where you and your army friends set up camp in a foreign country and enforce your countries will.

 

[fozzy]

Nature is natural, so naturally I want to live in nature .

 

[hog]

Just one or the whole clan?

Got to be the whole clan, for to have as Scooby snacks on the trail.