I havent posted for a while,so i thought id just give an quick update..
most of my time out now is just flowing along with the season,i notice much and take note of little changes here and there...im still not sure about the swallows,they seem to be absent from places i know,ive stood on farm field corners and had them fly at head heigh,but this year nothing...even the swifts seem less in numbers...
Most of the spring nutrition is leaving many plants,i always say when they are flowering most of the goodness is in the flower,as it is pushing and pushing to be fertilised..the sorrel is becoming tougher,and the ramsom leaves more chewer,my attention is drawn now to alot of new leaves on the trees,and im waiting for the elder flowers..time to get heady on their scent...The corn in the fields is growing well,when its at the right height the deer will move into them,i know of a field where doe and young can be observed all day...
i still waiting to see mr buck in his summer coat...Rabbits are abundant the young hiding behind silly object hoping not to be seen.A glance in the trees sees baby squirrels with their silly little tails...
i havent any projects going on at the moment,but im being drawn more and more into primative bushcraft,i find this era fascinating...
I am supposed to be having a knife made for me,but it looks like this isnt going to happen...
Still im surrounded by flint,flakes and blades are every where,and the more the fields are ploughed by the farmer the more blades i have...
My thoughts turn to autumn already,im planning out what im to do,what to gather store,and of the nettles for my cordage..Hopefully this year i can produce a bow string and a bowdrill sting..i just have to work on my joining of the strands better..Any help on this would be great..well till the next time..
4 comments:
Depending on the type of elder you have, the berries can be eatable. I gather them every year to make delicious jelly and syrup.
i agree,the berries can be made into the syrup for storage throughout winter..this was a good remedy for colds..thanks..
For bowstrings I find sinew strings to be superior. Use many strands. I use a minimum of 8. Splice every time you feel one half becoming a bit thinner than the other. Use the reverse twisting method if you know it, it gives you a very tight string.
I like as single strand of rawhide for bowdrill.
I have tried using nettle for a bowstring. Although I made it pretty thick, it was too weak. You'll probably need to use many strands or make one string, then twist it back up on itself or something like that. Not worth it in my opinion if other options are available. Have you tried Basswood?
i agree with you on the sinew for bowstring,but being in the uk makes it harder to use,with wet and damp,with a plant fibre i can shoot the bow in any weather..no i havent bass wood around here..
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