Welcome to issue No. 23 of Backwoods Survival Guide! Sometimes I find it hard to believe that we’ve been doing this for over five years now. Trust me when I say that we’re just getting started. Here’s a peek at what you’ll find this time around. Summer brings hot weather, so we’re covering how to stay cool when the temperature rises. If bears are in your neck of the woods, you better know what to do if you run into one. We also cover how to predict the weather, make money at flea markets and keep your chainsaw running in top condition. We have a gear guide featuring a range of multitools. Plus, a great story on comparing traditional survival gear to their modern equivalents, as well as how to use black walnuts to dye fabrics—all this and tons more. With every article, the goal is to provide practical information you can put to use right away.
Backwoods Survıval Guide® • PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR THE SIMPLE LIFE
Letter From the Editor
OUTDOORS • GET OUT THERE AND HAVE FUN EXPLORING ALL THAT MOTHER NATURE HAS TO OFFER.
BEAT THE HEAT Stay cool with these tips • SUMMERTIME DRAWS US OUTSIDE MORE THAN ANY OTHER SEASON. IT’S A TIME FOR BEACH DAYS AND BOATING ADVENTURES, BUT ALSO MOUNTAIN HIKES AND CAMPING TRIPS. BUT WHILE IT MAY SEEM LIKE A LESS DANGEROUS TIME THAN THE FRIGID WINTER MONTHS, WARM WEATHER COMES WITH ITS OWN SHARE OF CHALLENGES.
URSUS MAJOR Preventing bear attacks • YOU MIGHT FEEL AT HOME IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS AND, INDEED, IT’S A WONDER TO BEHOLD. THERE ARE, HOWEVER, DANGERS AS WELL, SUCH AS ENCOUNTERS WITH LARGE WILD ANIMALS. IN MEETUPS LIKE THIS, IT PAYS TO KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU COME ACROSS THEM ON OR OFF THE GRID.
ANGLING FOR DINNER More than putting a worm on the hook • MOST OF US REMEMBER THOSE CHILDHOOD DAYS OF GRABBING OUR TRUSTED SPIN CASTING SETUP, A TACKLE BOX OF ASSORTED HOOKS AND BOBBERS, A CAN OF WORMS AND HEADING TO THE LOCAL FISHING HOLE. IT WAS A RITE OF PASSAGE, AND WE ALL LONGED FOR THE TIME WHEN WE COULD BREAK THE BONDS OF LAND AND FISH FROM A BOAT OF SOME KIND.
UNDERGROUND EATING Digging deep for sustenance • NATURE HAS A WAY OF PROVIDING FOOD WHEN YOU'RE IN THE WILD AND WITHOUT YOUR OWN FOOD SUPPLY. COMMON SOURCES INCLUDE BERRIES, MUSHROOMS AND WILD GREENS SUCH AS DANDELIONS, LAMB’S QUARTERS, AMARANTH AND MANY MORE. THESE CAN BE RELATIVELY EASY TO FIND AND EXPLOIT FOR YOUR NOURISHMENT.
BE YOUR OWN METEO ROLOGIST Learn how to spot storms before they hit • WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, THE NAME OF ONE OF OUR LOCAL TELEVISION FORECASTERS WAS JOHN MALAN. HE WORKED FOR THE LOCAL NBC AFFILIATE. FOR YEARS, THEY HAD A GREAT TAGLINE: MY MOM DRESSES ME FUNNY BECAUSE OF JOHN MALAN.
HOMESTEADING • SELF-RELIANCE REQUIRES A LOT OF WORK, BUT THE REWARDS MAKE IT ALL WORTH THE EFFORT.
CATCHING THE RAIN Using a collection system • EVER SINCE MAN HAS BEEN GROWING CROPS, WATER HAS BEEN AN ISSUE. WARS HAVE BEEN FOUGHT OVER WATER AND THE CONTROL OF IT. THE CURRENT WORLD DROUGHT SITUATION HAS UPPED THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PRECIOUS COMMODITY. IF YOU GROW YOUR OWN FOOD OR RAISE LIVESTOCK, WATER IS A MUST. COLLECTING WHAT FALLS FROM THE SKY IS JUST ONE WAY TO FIGHT THE ISSUES ONE FACES IN THE ONGOING DROUGHT.
HARVESTING PROBLEMS Overcome common issues • GROWING YOUR OWN FOOD CAN BE HIGHLY BENEFICIAL FOR A VAST NUMBER OF REASONS. FROM JUICY TOMATOES TO THE CRUNCH OF CUCUMBERS AND CRISP LETTUCE, AND THE ZEST OF FRESH HERBS, YOU CAN HARVEST A BOUNTY OF FRESH PRODUCE FOR MONTHS ON END.
FLEA MARKET FLIPS Make money at swap meets • THERE’S SOMETHING THRILLING ABOUT FINDING A RARE TREASURE—OR AT LEAST SOMETHING UNEXPECTED—AT A THRIFT STORE OR YARD SALE. MAKING A FEW BUCKS BY SELLING OFF YOUR GENTLY USED BUT NO LONGER WANTED ITEMS AT YOUR OWN GARAGE SALE IS A NICE FEELING, TOO.
HOW SWEET IT IS! Healthy, tasty and it lasts nearly forever • THIS GOLDEN...