Out with the dog and kids

[MinTheLab]

Well, I'm new to the forum, done lots of reading, picked up great ideas.

If you haven't read my intro, I'm no bushcrafter yet! I live on the family farm with my family and dogs, the kids being farm kids like the outdoors and I decided to have a go at getting them involved, the whole idea came from my lad starting beavers and loves the idea of camping. So, I found a spot in our woods thats easy to get to and private and i've started to have a go.

Its going slowly, and simple at the minute but have found lots of inspiration to build a more permanent camp.

Few pics.

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[crosslandkelly]

Looks a great spot to practise and learn.

 

[Toddy]

Bet the kids (and big kid, and dog) love that
You can learn an awful lot just by being out there in all seasons and doing stuff.

Have you got clay on your land ? if you have then even simple pottery is possible. I think I must have been about six the first time I made a 'dish' from the clay and my Dad showed me how to dry it out near the fire and then bake it really dry and hard in the fire
Later I made bricks too, and used them to build the firepit my wee brother used when he was melting lead. Made the wee crucibles too with the clay.

Fun times

 

[MinTheLab]

Bet the kids (and big kid, and dog) love that
You can learn an awful lot just by being out there in all seasons and doing stuff.

Have you got clay on your land ? if you have then even simple pottery is possible. I think I must have been about six the first time I made a 'dish' from the clay and my Dad showed me how to dry it out near the fire and then bake it really dry and hard in the fire
Later I made bricks too, and used them to build the firepit my wee brother used when he was melting lead. Made the wee crucibles too with the clay.

Fun times

Thank you.

We don’t have clay, although that’s a brilliant idea, I can buy some. These are the things I haven’t thought of, and will make the camp personal!

Once it’s water tight and I’ve got the wind breaks up, I need to buy timber, if anyone knows what a country stewardship is like, I can’t cut anything down, we’ll spend some nights out.

We are over ridden with rabbit so me and my daughter will do a night, harvest a rabbit or two with the rifle and cook.

Once it’s built properly it’s a great ‘game station’, we have deer problems so I might get a vid up of deer shot, preparation and cooking, if it doesn’t cross any rules on the forum about blood and stuff?

 

[Toddy]

No worries, it'd be interesting to folks, just put anything gory, or firearms, into Fair Game.
The forum is kept very 'safe' so that folks can open it at work, in school, at Uni, etc., so keeping images that might offend others in Fair Game, gives everyone a heads up.
Seems a tad draconian, but it works.

Could you plant willow ? Willows grow like weeds if they've got enough water, and they're an excellent resource. Everything from basketry to hurdles and charcoal. Good stuff
and safe too for kids to handle.

M

 

[oldtimer]

If you want to follow up Toddy's clay suggestion, send me a private message with your address or email using the conversation option, and I'll send you my article on Primitive Pottery. It was originally written for teachers with no experience of working with clay so they could give children hands on experience.

Toddy may be too modest to point out that she started a great thread on bushcraft things to do with children. It's definitely worth a look.

 

[Toddy]

I'd forgotten about that one
Good idea though, there were a lot of excellent posts on the thread.

M

 

[MinTheLab]

No worries, it'd be interesting to folks, just put anything gory, or firearms, into Fair Game.
The forum is kept very 'safe' so that folks can open it at work, in school, at Uni, etc., so keeping images that might offend others in Fair Game, gives everyone a heads up.
Seems a tad draconian, but it works.

Could you plant willow ? Willows grow like weeds if they've got enough water, and they're an excellent resource. Everything from basketry to hurdles and charcoal. Good stuff
and safe too for kids to handle.

M

Thats a great idea, the area I'm working in has a brook 10 ft or so away, so water for the plants won't be a problem.

Thanks for the advice on where to post.

 

[MinTheLab]

If you want to follow up Toddy's clay suggestion, send me a private message with your address or email using the conversation option, and I'll send you my article on Primitive Pottery. It was originally written for teachers with no experience of working with clay so they could give children hands on experience.

Toddy may be too modest to point out that she started a great thread on bushcraft things to do with children. It's definitely worth a look.

Thats very kind of you, I'll message you, thank you.

 

[mousey]

That looks awesome, I wish I had a bit of my own land to mess about on.

 

[richardhomer]

Looks good mate, the dog will really enjoy going out with you and the kids if there’s sausages, rabbit and deer on offer for a meal !
Looks a good start to your camp. Enjoy and keep us updated please.