Bushcrafting Wives/girlfriends/partners

[Mikey P]

The title of this thread caught my eye and then was disappointed to see that it was not in the Trading / Swap Shop section.

That's in 'Member Classifieds'.

Maybe there's an idea here: how about a 'Would like to meet...' section of the forum?

'Bearded bushcrafter, with Swanndri, would like to meet mother nature for nights under the stars and friction (firemaking). Owns own leaf shelter. Must like leather and wearing all the kit. No townies need apply.'

My missus is very much like some of the others described above: she likes going for walks, loves the countryside, is very good at identifying birds and animals, will happily collect berries and make stuff, etc. But, she's not into the kit side of stuff and can't understand why I'll brew up in the garden when there's a kettle inside.

I think she views the whole thing as one of these 'male obsessions', like train spotting, football, woodworking, etc.

 

[Mikey P]

I take a dim view of relationships

That's a bit dark...I'm quite scared now.

Are you a vicar?

 

[British Red]

That's in 'Member Classifieds'.

Maybe there's an idea here: how about a 'Would like to meet...' section of the forum?

"Ventile garbed bushcrafter, well insulated, own knife and hammock seeks bushbabe with own Lee Reeves for try-stick, pothangers & maybe more. Send photo (of axe)"

Red

 

[Too Much Kit To Carry]

"Ventile garbed bushcrafter, well insulated, own knife and hammock seeks bushbabe with own Lee Reeves for try-stick, pothangers & maybe more. Send photo (of axe)"

Red

Phil.

 

[torjusg]

"Ventile garbed bushcrafter, well insulated, own knife and hammock seeks bushbabe with own Lee Reeves for try-stick, pothangers & maybe more. Send photo (of axe)"

Red

 

[loz.]

Maybe some tips would help the girls ?

On The Trail

 

[Axe Catcher]

"Ventile garbed bushcrafter, well insulated, own knife and hammock seeks bushbabe with own Lee Reeves for try-stick, pothangers & maybe more. Send photo (of axe)"

Red

Well, I seem to be an example of exactly what is needed here, an axe-wielding single bushbabe who's keen to enhance her edumacation in all things wild and wooly, hammocked and totally into kit and sharps....

We certainly do exist.
AC

 

[andyn]

My fiance enjoys camping out (in the warmer months) but is also happy to come out bushcrafting with me for the day in the colder periods. Especially since she discovered the joys of whittling. She is developing a growing spoon pile.

 

[Justin Time]

Well, I seem to be an example of exactly what is needed here, an axe-wielding single bushbabe who's keen to enhance her edumacation in all things wild and wooly, hammocked and totally into kit and sharps....

We certainly do exist.
AC

watch out for a flood of PMs ... no, not pms, that's something different

 

[william#]

can i borrow your girlfriend you can borrow my knife .
you see i got a totaly wrong idea about all this
lol

 

[xylaria]

Mrs Redcollective is fond of foraging and will happily turn a bucket of blackberries into muffins and jam, however that's about where the interest stops.


Stu

Encourage the skills she is interested in. I have no understanding of why anybody likes fishing, but I can pick berries quicker than ray mears. There is an African saying it takes a village to make a meal, and meals need veg and fruit and to be cooked. There is gender bias with hunter gather skills where women gather and men hunt, although no-one should constrained by that there does seem to a natural migration towards a skill base along that conforms to that bias. My point is bushcraft needs more women.

No woman wants to be the only WAG that tags along to a blokes fishing/drinking weekend, which to an outsider is what some moots look like. I see what puts women off hammock sleeping aswell with regards privacy. Women also like to feel feminine. The terrible design of most girlie kit can mean you can end up wearing unflatering mens kit if you want something that works So encouraging skills that allow space and status to the way women think while also been non-judgemental about chicks that chop wood or girlies that grollach deer. And dont introduce them to any misogynistic knife nutters.

 

[Too Much Kit To Carry]

Encourage the skills she is interested in. I have no understanding of why anybody likes fishing, but I can pick berries quicker than ray mears. There is an African saying it takes a village to make a meal, and meals need veg and fruit and to be cooked. There is gender bias with hunter gather skills where women gather and men hunt, although no-one should constrained by that there does seem to a natural migration towards a skill base along that conforms to that bias. My point is bushcraft needs more women.

No woman wants to be the only WAG that tags along to a blokes fishing/drinking weekend, which to an outsider is what some moots look like. I see what puts women off hammock sleeping aswell with regards privacy. Women also like to feel feminine. The terrible design of most girlie kit can mean you can end up wearing unflatering mens kit if you want something that works So encouraging skills that allow space and status to the way women think while also been non-judgemental about chicks that chop wood or girlies that grollach deer. And dont introduce them to any misogynistic knife nutters.

You've not been attending some very strange meets if there are "misogynistic knife nutters", sure I've met some knife nutters but not all are misogynistic

Phil.

 

[xylaria]

You've not been attending some very strange meets if there are "misogynistic knife nutters", sure I've met some knife nutters but not all are misogynistic

Phil.

We all have mates we wouldn't introduce to our partners without warning them first.

 

[British Red]

Well, I seem to be an example of exactly what is needed here, an axe-wielding single bushbabe who's keen to enhance her edumacation in all things wild and wooly, hammocked and totally into kit and sharps....

We certainly do exist.
AC

And I thought BB was the only one (she isn't sharps obsessed though - so you win on that one - Ash is making her a new skinning knife but thats "functional" )

I think Xylaria makes some good points though - theres more than one way to Bushcraft - BBs is much more great fireplace cookery, longer walks, less photography than mine. Don't know if its gender or just taste. I do agree with the "make sure (if you are the kit monster) that they have decent gear". Again, not a gender thing, anyone who is cold, wet or uncomfortable is unlikely to enjoy it - heck if you are trying to persuade them - lend them the best sleeping bag!

Red

 

[Too Much Kit To Carry]

<snip>lend them the best sleeping bag!

Red

Like the way you say "lend" instead of give Red

Phil.

 

[British Red]

Heck Phil there are limits

Actually, I got a deal on the whole Nanok system once. BB always uses the -25 from late autumn through to mid spring. Her attitude is "I'll open it up if I'm too warm - I hate being cold"

Makes a lot of sense to me! I have (once) needed the 0 degree over the -10, but only once.

But then I hate being zipped right up same as BB does

Red

 

[xylaria]

And I thought BB was the only one (she isn't sharps obsessed though - so you win on that one - Ash is making her a new skinning knife but thats "functional" )

I think Xylaria makes some good points though - theres more than one way to Bushcraft - BBs is much more great fireplace cookery, longer walks, less photography than mine. Don't know if its gender or just taste. I do agree with the "make sure (if you are the kit monster) that they have decent gear". Again, not a gender thing, anyone who is cold, wet or uncomfortable is unlikely to enjoy it - heck if you are trying to persuade them - lend them the best sleeping bag!

Red

I am not directly saying it is a gender thing. It is a kit marketed for women is normally terrible thing, which in turn can put some women off. It obviously doesn't put every woman off as Mrs woodsmoke proves. Torjusgs joke(?) about checking to see if your missus is female I found really offensive. No human being should have their gender questioned just because they refuse to comply with narrow mind steriotype of what they should be, I am very glad that there is people like Axecatcher that shove those steriotypes back up where they came from. In fact big chunks of this thread have got me a bit annoyed.

IF YOU WANT TO INCLUDE YOUR WIVES AND GIRLFRIENDS IN BUSHCRAFT YOU NEED TO ADDRESS THE TYPES OF BEHAVIOUR THAT MAKES THEM FEEL EXCLUDED IN THE FIRST PLACE.

This not a issue of gender it is an issue of inclusion. It is not ok to tell racist jokes because it makes people feel excluded so why is ok to tell sexist jokes.

 

[Bootstrap Bob]

Mine didn't need much converting She's already a bit of a bush babe but does like to be in a tent rather than under a tarp.

Our first date was spent making spoons in a local woods and a few days ago she accepted my invitation to marrage
Only problem now is that she has claimed my spare Frost knife as her own
Can't really complain though because she is quite happy for me to go and buy a new canoe even though we need to be thinking about the wedding and a new house. (In fact she was talking about an engagement present for me )
I guess I'm just a really lucky guy

 

[andyn]

LOL..the dissapearance of the Frost knife sounds familiar!

 

[Too Much Kit To Carry]

LOL..the dissapearance of the Frost knife sounds familiar!

Yeah - great for peeling spuds and veggies

Phil.