Bushcrafter or Countryman

[nodd]

Are you a Bushcrafter or countryman or to be PC country-person?
I feel the term bushcraft is now being used to cover any thing to do with the countryside, ranging from sitting round a fire drinking to learning to understand and respecting the countryside. or is Bushcraft a commercial name for a Countryman.
With the majority Bushcrafters respecting the countryside.I sometimes think there some people out there who use bushcraft as a badge and think it gives them the right to do what they like where they like.
Our Countryside is just not big enough to do some of the things the names of bushcraft demonstrate and people try to copy.
I for one was taut to be a Countryman and respect the Countryside.

 

[tjwuk]

I'm not either really. Bushcraft is just a word, popularised by Ray Mears. It just sums up what you could get up to in the wilds!

I think most people here use the term loosely, so whatever its called its all the same thing. Like you say, respect for not only the countryside but all who reside in it.

I agree we are running out of space rapidly, especially now we have half of Europe here as well!

 

[hog]

I don't think many of us here are in the true sense of the word either of them.we for the most part are either city or sub urban dwellers so at best are part timers in either craft.

 

[Twodogs]

Not another one of these " what are you " threads , does it matter as long as you get out and do a bit .
Twodogs

 

[mace242]

Are you a Bushcrafter or countryman or to be PC country-person?
I feel the term bushcraft is now being used to cover any thing to do with the countryside, ranging from sitting round a fire drinking to learning to understand and respecting the countryside. or is Bushcraft a commercial name for a Countryman.
With the majority Bushcrafters respecting the countryside.I sometimes think there some people out there who use bushcraft as a badge and think it gives them the right to do what they like where they like.
Our Countryside is just not big enough to do some of the things the names of bushcraft demonstrate and people try to copy.
I for one was taut to be a Countryman and respect the Countryside.

I'd prefer something like woodsman - countryman has different feel to it in the uk I think. Trying to get at somebody who is comfortable or at home in the woods, or wild places. I recall that Nessmuk uses "woodsman" and that seems to feel right when I read his book.

 

[Wayland]

I think there is something to be said about the term "Bushcraft" not being the most suitable for our environment but the advantage is that it has been made recognisable by wide television coverage.

I have enough trouble trying to explain what I do in my working life without making the rest of my life obscure as well.

If I say I'm a wild camper, woodsman, countryman or whatever I get a blank look. If I say I'm a bushcrafter they seem to get it. That's good enough for me, because I really don't fit into any pigeon hole these days.

 

[swyn]

Don't mention pidgeons!

 

[V4V]

When people ask me what I am, I always look them straight in the eye ans say 'competent' and leave it at that.

 

[BorderReiver]

I just like being out, away from man made things. Woods, hills, deserts, frozen tundra are where I am most content.

Label? The rain washed out the writing many years ago. I'm just a bloke who likes the wild places; call me what you like, it doesn't matter to me.

 

[Twodogs]

Well said Mike ,
Twodogs

 

[robin wood]

Are you a Bushcrafter or countryman or to be PC country-person?

Well I wouldn't define myself as any of those, I might say I am a woodworker, for the folk that like to define folk by their job but I wouldn't define myself by stuff I do part time as a hobby. I have always lived in the country but the countryman title I tend to associate with the huntin' shootin' fishin' set and less with the farming, forestry, conservation side of things though I guess the cross over is natural history which has always been a great interest.

I feel the term bushcraft is now being used to cover any thing to do with the countryside, ranging from sitting round a fire drinking to learning to understand and respecting the countryside.

That's one view.

or is Bushcraft a commercial name for a Countryman.

I think folk get bothered about "comercialism" when it really is mainly popularism. I don't see many (any?) folk that are in this game purely for the money. Do we want to keep it for ourselves?

With the majority Bushcrafters respecting the countryside.I sometimes think there some people out there who use bushcraft as a badge and think it gives them the right to do what they like where they like.
Our Countryside is just not big enough to do some of the things the names of bushcraft demonstrate and people try to copy.
I for one was taut to be a Countryman and respect the Countryside.

So now all the leading questions come to the main point which is a gripe about some "bushcrafters" not respecting the countryside. Well yes I am sure we would all agree. But I do feel that it is a minority. I do really dislike to see the photos that are posted here occasionally of rubbishy campsites but I think that the increased interest in all things outdoors and people actively engaging with the environment whether it be bushcraft, allotments or whatever is a good thing. And that all said as an ex National Trust warden who has cleaned up more rubishy campsites than most.

 

[nodd]

I agree I am happiest when I am out in the wild places in this country be it woodland mountain,moorland or coastal. but they are getting harder to find in this country.
Like it or not there will always be labels some good some bad and there will always be people using theses labels to justify what they do right or wrong.

 

[TallMikeM]

I have always lived in the country but the countryman title I tend to associate with the huntin' shootin' fishin' set and less with the farming, forestry, conservation side of things though I guess the cross over is natural history which has always been a great interest.

now that's interesting, as I have the exact opposite defintion. I regard a countryman (person) as someone who lives, breathes and works in the countryside (be they farm workers, foresters or whatever). I regard the H, S & F brigade as the countryset (with the emphasis firmly on the perjorative).

 

[gsfgaz]

i just love the great outdoors.. getting out there and enjoying it ...

 

[John Fenna]

Bushcrafter is a term that the majority of people seem to understand which covers all the various things I like doing!
I live and work in the countryside but not in a farming type way (many farmers seem to have less respect for the countryside than most educated townies these days, happily spreading toxins and plastic around and fouly damaging any growing thing that they cannot make a profit from)and try to respect and understand all forms of flora and fauna.
I need to spend time in wild(er) places for my sanitys sake and abhor city life!
Neo-Hippy is one term that has been aplied to me.....

 

[Kerne]

now that's interesting, as I have the exact opposite defintion. I regard a countryman (person) as someone who lives, breathes and works in the countryside (be they farm workers, foresters or whatever). I regard the H, S & F brigade as the countryset (with the emphasis firmly on the perjorative).

I hadn't thought of it like that but I think I'm in your gang. I have tended to regard the term "countryman" as belonging to the both the groups you mention but, while I have respect for one, the other has a different future waiting for it after the revolution!

 

[Cael Nu Mara]

"me? i am the hills, i am the heather, for the hills without me arent the hillls at all" that is something that the gaffa said to me a while ago. He has stalked the same estate for 35 years, and is the 6 generation stalker on the same estate. So his family have been there as long as some of the trees. It makes me wonder. By tall mikes definition i am a country man, but does it really matter?

Sam

 

[addo]

Im not keen on the term "bushcraft" as bushes are in suburban gardens, Africa, or elseware!

Handy though for getting the public/mates onto your wavelength quickly, then a conversation like we are having now starts.

If a romantic yet very descriptive term was to be used fro me then woodcraft does it due to the job and places I regularly camp, live out, but guess would exclude the other things I love in life like the coast, moor and wetland.

Cant win rearly in such a diverse country as ours. Outdoorsman?

 

[Broch]

I hadn't thought of it like that but I think I'm in your gang. I have tended to regard the term "countryman" as belonging to the both the groups you mention but, while I have respect for one, the other has a different future waiting for it after the revolution!

I think there is a tendancy to 'classify' based on the media view of groups of people. I live and work in the countryside but hunt, shoot, and fish (on my own and eating what I gather). Much of the countryside that we all now enjoy is there because people did H,S & F. I don't agree with taking pleasure out of chasing a wild animal around for several hours or prolonging the process of death but let's not plan on throwing any babies out with the bath water

I, and others, have said before; bushcraft is a set of tools that you use wherever there is a need - camping, fishing, trekking in the Sahara or just 'making do' in the office. It's not a way of life but adds to the toolset of your way of life. In truth it's a 'jack of all trades, master of none' type situation. I want to be capable at a lot of skills - tracking, firelighting, hunting, fishing, foraging, woodwork, basketwork etc. – not to be a ‘bushcrafter’ but to be a more comfortable outdoorsman. If I was an expert carpenter I doubt I’d have the time to be capable at the other stuff!

So, I’m not a countryman (too broad) and not a bushcrafter (too narrow); I just use bushcraft as a set of tools in my pursuit of enjoying the outdoors.

Broch

 

[Klenchblaize]

I'm a Rifle Hunter - Outdoor Cooking - Knife Wielding - Camo Wearing - Backwoods Sleeping - Stick Making - Potty Trained Gear Geek. Eh, did I forget Bushcraft

Cheers!

Ps: Before you ask I consider the artful execution of backwoods ablutions to be a much underrated aspect of ethical ("leave no trace") Bushcraft!

In fact what about a "Poo With A View" thread? I'll get my Izel-lined ventile smock!