Category Archives: Primitive Living

Flame Arrow

An arrow in the fire’s glow. Materials: Holly wood shaft, Wild Turkey fletching, Ancaster Chert point

Posted in Arrow Making, Primitive Living, Raw Materials | Comments Off

Half Black Walnut Shell For Bow Drill Socket

I found the half of a Black Walnut shell, I will be using this as a socket to the bow drill set I am making.

Posted in Black Walnut Tree, Bow Drill, Fire Making, Plant Identification, Plants And Trees, Primitive Living, Survival | Comments Off

Crushing Plant Stalks To Obtain Fiber

Here I am crushing some Milkweed stalks with a rock in order to flatten them out and separate the fiber from the woody stem.

Posted in Cordage, Fiber, Milkweed Fiber, Primitive Living, Raw Materials, Survival | Comments Off

Field Plant For Cordage Fiber

This plant is common in Ontario and grows out in the fields. I believe it is related to the Pea however I currently do not know the name for it. It has fine fiber which is extremely strong. However it … Continue reading

Posted in Cordage, Fiber, Primitive Living, Raw Materials, String, Survival | Comments Off

Cutting a Hearthboard Notch Using A Stone Flake

I am using a simple stone flake to drill out a depression and then cut the notch in a hearthboard.

Posted in Fire Making, Hearthboard, Primitive Living, Survival | Comments Off

Collecting Last Years Milkweed Stalks

It is spring already, and this year’s Milkweed plants have not even sprouted yet but we require some cordage material. For this I look to Milkweed stalks that died last year and have over-wintered. The advantages of collecting now is … Continue reading

Posted in Cordage, Fiber, Milkweed Fiber, Primitive Living, Raw Materials | Comments Off

Local Chert and Hammer Stones

Located a piece of local chert and a couple of stones to make tools out of.

Posted in Chert, Flintknapping, Knapping Material, Percussion Flaking, Primitive Living, Raw Materials, Survival | Comments Off

Sprouting Stinging Nettle Patch In The Spring

Small Stinging Nettle shoots are growing out of the ground in-between last years stalks which still have enough fiber to make cordage.

Posted in Canada, Cordage, Fiber, Ontario, Plant Identification, Plants And Trees, Primitive Living, Raw Materials, Region, Reverse-Twist, Stinging Nettle, String, Survival, Two-Ply, Utility | Comments Off

Palm Trees Provide Ample Fiber

When a Palm Tree leaves die, they leave a huge amount of meshed fiber. This can be used to make items such as hats and containers, or be used in the covering of shelters.

Posted in Containers, Cordage, Fiber, Hawaii, Lashing, Palm Tree, Plant Identification, Plants And Trees, Primitive Living, Raw Materials, Region, USA | Comments Off

Cracking Open Hickory Nuts With A Hammerstone

Just like Black Walnuts, Hickory nuts can be cracked open with a hammerstone in the same way however they are much easier to open.

Posted in Hickory Tree, Plant Identification, Plants And Trees, Primitive Living, Raw Materials | Comments Off