"Welcome to issue No. 26! I'm biased, but I feel like each new issue we do is even better than the one that preceded it. Our goal is always to provide you with practical and actionable information that you can really put to use. Here's a quick rundown of just some of the topics we're addressing this time around. Growing natural remedies is a great way to increase your self- reliance skills, and we have a cool article detailing several plants to use. Speaking of plants, we have a story on how to improve your foraging abilities. Another article discusses the various uses of trees and how to decide which species are best for each duty. Water bath canning is an excellent way to preserve some of your garden harvest, and it's easier than you might think. An important part of trapping is knowing how to make a trigger that will truly work. Learn to build an expedient shelter that will truly keep you safe and secure overnight in the field. Plus, check out our review of the Huntsman from Edge Knife Works."
Letter From the Editor
OUTDOORS • HEAD OUT THERE AND HAVE FUN EXPLORING ALL THAT MOTHER NATURE HAS TO OFFER.
CRITICAL SKILLS Master these before hitting the trail • MAYBE YOU'RE A BUDDING BUSHCRAFTER, STARTING OUT ON YOUR JOURNEY. OR PERHAPS YOU'RE A SEASONED PRO BUT YOU HAVE OTHERS IN YOUR CIRCLE WHO NEED SOME TRAINING AND GUIDANCE. THERE ARE CERTAIN COMPETENCIES THAT SHOULD BE PURSUED AND MASTERED, FOR PERSONAL SAFETY IF NOTHING ELSE.
ADDITIONAL READING RECOMMENDATIONS
FORAGE WITHOUT FEAR Finding a meal in nature • WITH THE PROPER KNOWLEDGE AND CONFIDENCE, YOU CAN SELECT AND CONSUME NATURALLY SOURCED FOOD WITHOUT WORRY OR FEAR. IT IS ESSENTIAL TO BE ASSERTIVE IN YOUR APPROACH AND TRUST YOUR ABILITIES TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES WHEN SELECTING WILD FOOD.
WAZOO GEAR FORAGING BANDANNA
MULTITOOLS OF THE WILDERNESS Making use of the giants of the forest • THERE ARE JUST SOME THINGS I WILL NEVER FORGET. YOU ALL DON'T KNOW MR. SOLOMON, MY EIGHTH GRADE SCIENCE TEACHER, BUT YOU WOULD HAVE LIKED HIM. HE LOVED SHARING SCIENCE WITH KIDS AND INFECTED ME WITH SOME OF HIS FASCINATIONS.
WINTER TREE ID
IMPROVISED SHELTERS Two time-tested options that work • HIKING AND CAMPING CAN BE AN EXHILARATING EXPERIENCE, BUT THERE ARE CHALLENGES. ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT RISKS IS THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF MOTHER NATURE. EVEN THE MOST EXPERIENCED HIKERS CAN FIND THEMSELVES STRANDED IN THE WILDERNESS, FACING EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS AND STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE.
THE 4 W’S • Keep these in mind when you choose a site for your shelter.
HOMESTEADING • SELF-RELIANCE CAN BE A LOT OF WORK, BUT THE REWARDS MAKE IT WORTH ALL OF THE EFFORT.
NATURAL REMEDY GARDEN Treating ailments at home • THE SYMPTOMS OF MANY AILMENTS CAN BE TREATED WITH HOMEGROWN MEDICINAL HERBS JUST AS EASILY AS THEY CAN BE TREATED WITH OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATIONS. THE DIFFERENCE IS FEWER CHEMICALS, LESS SUGAR OR ALCOHOL, FEWER ADDITIVES—AND LESS MONEY SPENT.
ELDERBERRY COLD OR FLU SYRUP RECIPE
VEGETABLES FOR THE LONG TERM Getting you through lean times • TO LIVE THIS LIFESTYLE, THE ONE THING YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY DO IS TO THINK IN THE LONG TERM. AS THE CLIMATE IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING AND THE SEASONS FLY BY, I'M ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT MY NEXT MOVE. IT'S LIKE PLAYING A HUGE GAME OF CHESS.
TOP FIVE LONG-TERM CROPS
SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE Don’t let the harvest go to waste • IN 1795, NAPOLEON OFFERED MONEY TO ANYONE WHO COULD PRESERVE FOOD TO FEED HIS TROOPS. FIFTEEN YEARS LATER, NICOLAS APPERT CLAIMED THE PRIZE WITH A WAY OF BOILING AND SEALING FOOD WITHIN GLASS JARS. HE S CONSIDERED THE FATHER OF WATER BATH CANNING.
WATER BATH VS. PRESSURE CANNING
THE SKINNY ON FATS Eating, using and storing these essentials • IT'S NOT KNOWN WHEN MAN BEGAN COOKING MEAT,...
