My 2012 Project (New Dedicated Bushcraft & Primitive Living Area)


Cro

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I'm not sure where this should go, as it will encompass pretty much every category in the forums over the next 12 months. Hopefully, the general forums will be fine, if not please move as needed.

I wanted to create a dedicated bushcraft/piddling area near the house, I want to create the initial area and accouterments using just the Nessmuk double bit and my improvised bucksaw. I'll use the area for general bushcraft as well as BushClass lessons from Bushcraft USA. This is the first of a series that should last many months with a planned conclusion of December 2012. I'll update it each time I complete a section or project.

Some of the projects I am planning for this area include:

Multiple Bushcraft Tools and Smaller Projects
Wood processing Station
Camp furniture
Trapper's Cabin
Improvised Well for water collection
Vegetable Garden
Smoke House and Rock Oven
Hide Tanning Station
Others to be announced.

Some of the projects will obviously be seasonal, and others will require more complex or larger tools. I will however limit the tools to hand, no power tools.

The way that I do things is my own way, they may or may not be the best way. I'm no expert, no guru, just a guy with an affinity for this sort of thing. Nothing more and nothing less. I'll document the process in pictures and video of course, and share both the successes and the failures.

This first video includes roughing out a working table top from a large downed tree that crosses the project area.

Gear for the first day of the project, pack, bucksaw, Nessmuk double bit.

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This is a general view of the area, you can see the large log on the left with all of the limbs, I used the Nessmuk to limb that entire area that I intend to use. I also used it to clear the scraggly brush and whatnot. You'll find the area after clearing in the video, as well as further information.

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While I was limbing the log, I discovered huge areas of fat wood, definite plus!

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Better view of all the limbs and brush that has to come out. The video shows the progress. The little Nessmuk worked fashionably well. The handle is thin though, and it's going to take some getting used to. It sounds like the first batch of these that will be made available the handles will be more robust, and the wedges will be spurred to prevent them from coming loose. The wedge in mine is somewhere in the wilderness, having come loose after some use. I provided this feedback to Two Hawks and he's planning to transition to the spurred or barbed wedges.

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Finished out the couple hours I had to work on this with a good smoke. The roughing out of the work table, clearing the area and further details can be found in the video.

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Thanks for looking, hopefully this year long project will be worth your time. If there are specific suggestions or recommendations I am all about trying and learning, so sound off with them!

Here's the video:

New Designated Bushcraft Project Area.wmv - YouTube
 
awesome project Croatan, ill definately be lurking around this thread. ive wanted to do something similar for a long time. but only having like 2 oak trees on the property isnt gonna cut it hahaha.. ive yet to find a spot to do the schrafty stuff around here private or public...
 
How much will you charge for me to fly up to your neck of the woods for a long weekend and help out with this primitive camp? :D

I'm really looking forward to watching this progress.
 
How much will you charge for me to fly up to your neck of the woods for a long weekend and help out with this primitive camp? :D

I'm really looking forward to watching this progress.

If you have to ask how much....well you know the saying.:50:





Just kidding man. If you're up for some water-borne adventure in September we'll hit the BWCA and spend some time here too.


:4::4:
 
I always enjoy your posts. Looking forward to this one as well. Thanks for taking us along.


Sent from my iToaster using Tapatalk
 
If you have to ask how much....well you know the saying.:50:





Just kidding man. If you're up for some water-borne adventure in September we'll hit the BWCA and spend some time here too.


:4::4:


I think this could definitely work. September typically is a decent time of year for me work wise. If you have the date planned already, let me know.
 
What a great idea for a project. I'll be following your progress with interest. May copy some of your ideas if I can find a place to make a site around here.
 
Very cool brother im lookin forward to this series
 
That's good stuff brother... looking forward to the updates!

And, BTW... love that music!! :dblthumb:
 
Great thread- can't wait to see how it all progresses
 
Excellent, looking forward to more, especially the trapper's cabin!

Yeah me too! I've always wanted to do it, and I've built smaller semi-permanent structures but not a full on small cabin. I've been eyeballing some downed pines and birches and so I figured why the heck not right?

I hope I can do it justice. :16:
 
Interesting idea, Croatoan! Subscribed to your thread, awaiting updates!

I wish I had an area like that near my house.
 
Awesome, I'll be following this closely. I've been wanting to do the same thing in my backyard for a while now.
 
I've just started with amassing my bushcraft equipment and it is already getting to be quite a large pile. I was actually thinking of setting up a workshop/storage area for my bushcraft supplies in my attic. I have a fairly large space where I could set up shelves, a bench and put a nice adirondack chair. It would be too hot up there in the summer, but in the fall-spring, it would be a nice place to hang out and get organized (and watch bushcraft videos on my phone).
 
Is this land that you own? I ask because you talk about building a cabin. All I have is a backyard to play in.
 
Definitely following along with Croatoan on this. I want to buy some remote wilderness land in Northern NH or Maine where I can build a trappers cabin to escape to and, ultimately, go to spend my "final days".

I'm happy, excited, and jealous of you Croatoan. :50:
 
Look at this --> :26:
That's me! Green with envy!!

Well, actually it should be a mix of: :17::35::11::32::18::12::D:22:
:17: for "I want that too!" and "Will you please stop teasing us?"
:35: for "Awesome, man!"
:11: for "oahh, way cool!"
:32: well... drooling doesn't need to be explained or it's rabies??
:12: There's the envious one....
:D and the green one....but nicer...
:22:as in "I'll bee watchin'ya!"....
:18: as in "just kiddin'" and "I'm happy for you and hope you'll succeed!"
 

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