If you've found my blog and tend to think like me, you've probably realized that one day you may be living more primitively (either by choice or not). This will be a HUGE shock to most people when forced into this lifestyle. Really, though, it's about learning to get back to your ancestral roots. This is honestly how many people used to live (and still do). It's about time you begin teaching yourself how they did it, what with the current conditions of everything. Again, if you believe in certain ancient texts, you realize this may be the life you are destined to live. Now is as good a time as any to start familiarizing yourself with nature and how to survive in it.
I've always thought camping, specifically tent camping, was a great way to get back to the basics. No electricity, no running water, peeing in the woods...great stuff ha! I really figured out some great ways to get things accomplished when I did not have a lot on hand. Plus, you get your kids involved and get a chance to really have those family bonding moments that only tend to come around every so often. I am going to list out a few things you can do together in order to teach yourselves some of the basic survival skills.
Hunting For Food
You can hunt on both government and private land that is designated for hunting, assuming you purchase the right licensing. Even though many people cannot fathom killing their own meal, it is really something that should be considered. Especially with the "shortages" coming our way, this will become more and more commonplace. We don't hunt ourselves but have several family members that are very serious about it. We have the supplies and know-how to hunt for small game but would probably need some help from them if going any bigger. Now if you want to get serious with it, you can bring minimal food on your camping trip and try to eat mostly what you catch and kill.
Foraging This is actually a lot of fun to try out. Often when we go camping, we will go for hikes and see how many different plants we can find and identify. We then read about the benefits and usually harvest a little to take home with us. Once you get into it a lot more, you can find out how to make certain medicines, tinctures, and even add it to salads and cooked dishes. There are so many "weeds" that are packed with vitamins and minerals. So wonderful. Make sure you are taking foraging books with you to help you identify plants. Also, make sure the books are specific to your state or region. You could even start practicing foraging by letting a few weeds grow on your property and identifying what pops up. I love doing that. I am just getting into mushrooms as well. They are fascinating. Did you know they have a mushroom called "chicken of the woods"?? You can actually fry it up just like chicken! Apparently, it has a very similar taste too. Lion's Mane, not only is it incredible for cognitive health but it tastes like crab meat! Yum! There is also nothing toxic that resembles it.
Starting A Fire
This is pretty straightforward. Look into all of the different fire-building techniques. I prefer the tepee. You need to start with an open space. If there is not a fire pit at your campsite, make your own with a circle of rocks. If the ground is wet, you must dig until you reach dry dirt. If you are somewhere open and windy, you must build some type of wall to protect where the wind is coming from, along with digging in the ground. Find great items for kindling such as small pieces of dry wood, dead leaves, or dead grass. You can even bring lint from your dryer to use as kindling. Try to get away from using lighters and lighter fluid. Bring a magnifying glass, or practice generating your own friction or sparks with wood on wood, or rock on rock. These techniques are a lot of fun but can be time-consuming if weather and elements are not on your side. Great skills to have, though.
Cooking
I love cooking while we camp. It really forces me to get creative and utilize the minimal tools at my disposal. It can definitely be frustrating when trying to cook over a fire when it's damp or windy outside. You must learn to think on your toes here. Maybe you have minimal ingredients. It can be tough to come up with dishes that are replenishing and taste great, but it can be accomplished. I especially love making big pot dishes over a fire. They are easy and quick. All the flavors meld together nicely, and it makes for faster cleanup. There is nothing like having a forest kitchen. Many trips surround the cooking process, simply because it is such a huge process. Time stands still somehow, though. It truly makes you aware of your surroundings and is great for learning to enjoy those little moments with your family.
Entertainment
Finding forms of entertainment that involve the whole family is not too difficult. Try and make your trips screen-free. Now, sometimes we will turn on a movie at night before bed. We have a few toys that we bring that are made so much more fun when the kids are able to play in a wooded environment. These toys can include legos, hot wheels and tracks, and remote-controlled cars. We also bring a few board and dice games. Coloring and painting can pass the time. Maybe a scavenger hunt. Lastly, of course, the whole family can play yard games like cornhole and ladder ball.
Minimalize goods
My advice here is to go ahead and pack everything you think you need. Afterward, little by little, go through each thing and decided whether or not you really need it. Once you go on a few trips, you will be able to dwindle down your items even more, as you will be able to pinpoint things you really do not use.
Believe me, on some of our first trips I packed SO MANY toys. Our son ended up spending most of his time playing with dirt and sticks ha! That really taught me a lesson.
***If you're feeling really adventurous, book a walk-up or primitive campsite. No hookups, no driving to the site, you can only bring what you can carry. They usually have one or two composting toilets available that you have to walk a ways to. You might consider bringing your own just in case you wake up at night.
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