Next, I made a sweet sinew-backed flat bow out of Black Birch. I used deer rawhide for the string, made a few arrows, and some really cool deer bone arrowheads. This is the first bow I've made that didn't break, was hunting capable, and durable. I definitely owe my success to the Traditional Bowyer's Bible Volumes 1, 2, and 3.
And lastly, went camping in National Forest for a couple nights, with no tent. I built a cozy shelter out of materials around the campsite, and actually slept in it. That was also a first for me, to sleep in a mostly natural shelter. The temperature was close to 60 during the day, and a little below freezing at night. I did have warm clothes on, and the cheapest sleeping bag rated 30 - 50 degrees I could find.
While camping, I foraged for foods also, just to see what I could find in late winter in the forest. This food finding experiment opened my eyes to something. If you depend on the land for your survival, it is really hard to feed more than yourself. I found just enough food for me, and no more. I managed a couple dandelion plants, giving me some small roots and a few greens; a fish just a few inches long; a few partridge berries; an earthworm; and some trout lillies. If I had stayed longer, maybe I would have caught a big fish, a crayfish, or some small game. But....the point is, although I wouldn't have starved, I would have been hungry. If I had had to share with others, we would have all been VERY hungry. My conclusion: Everyone in a group must be capable of finding food, if the group wants to eat.
And now...off to work on some more projects. Promise there will be more soon.