bois d'arc 2011-WARNING lots of photos!!

[sadiejane]

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last full weekend of september for the last 14 years now has been a primitive skills camp in southern missouri.
its really right along rabbitstick but smaller.
the following pix are only a small sampling of what goes on.
being a vendor i was not able to catch but a few of the classes and events.
its situated at hulston mill. one of missouris many springs and restored mills.
a lovely setting and of course this might be the very best time of year to be n southern missouri
some shots are camp

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the restored mill and some of the other out bldgs.

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[sadiejane]

a few vendors and wares

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music day and nite

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[sadiejane]

insect gathering, cooking and eating.
one thing bo pointed out, is that if you are lost or in survival mode for any length of time, edible plants may not sustain you long. protein is needed. so if your not successful trapping or fishing, insects provide a good source of protein. here we have crickets, grasshoppers, spiders, snails, and worms.

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eating an orb weaver spider

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pulling off the legs and wings

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loved it that the kids had no qualms whatsoever eating bugs...

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lynn did both an atlatl making class and pottery.
the clay was gathered in the creek right behind his tent and fired in camp

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john told traditional native stories and sang songs..
he was great with the kids.
this is a very family friendly event

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[sadiejane]

the cordage instructors were great. these pix are all making cordage from tiger lilly leaves

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taking three strands of basic reverse twist and rolling into a very strong rope

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[sadiejane]

no primitive skills weekend would be complete without making some fire!

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tex was teaching alcohol stove making-dig the simplicity-took all of 5 minutes to make the stove then another 4 to have boiling water
what you may not see is the fiberglass pipe insulation inside to absorb the alcohol

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two cat foods cans, one small one larger.
wire clothes hanger, a bit of copper tubing
fiberglass pipe insulation-denatured alcohol

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meant to get more detailed pix of tex's ammo box stove

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a variation with a church key. the two cans stay together with this method

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several bow makers, but only one pic...
cant really see it in this shot, but he's using a small handmade hatchet to do initial shaping

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[sadiejane]

sandal making out of what i believe to be cattail

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this fella came from florida
all the tools he used for wood carving, esp bowl making, are replicas of artifacts attributed to southeast coastal tribes
amazing how strong conch shell is. some of these tools he has been using for years.
the inside spiral of a conch shell for a gouge

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conch shell adze

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cecil a local healer and homeopath gave a slide show of medicinal and edible plants each nite

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dont think the knappers ever slept

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my buddy larry made cobbler in the dutch oven ever day. i love that man!

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yummm!!

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thanks for coming along

 

[jds1]

Thanks for all the photos! What a great variety of skills represented.

Jeff

 

[kgd]

Awesome trip report. These things can be a blast to attend. Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences with us!

 

[Shotgun]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing.

 

[sadiejane]

Thanks for all the photos! What a great variety of skills represented.

Jeff

it was really amazing just how much you could cover in 3 days.
as i mentioned i barely scratched the surface as i wandered about taking breaks from my table of wares

here is a list from their site
this gives ya a better idea of just how much was going on:
Fire/Cordage
Bow making -ongoing
Baskets -ongoing
Pottery -ongoing
Knife Sharpening
Atlatl/Darts
Rivercane Blowguns
Hide Tanning
Tracking/Awareness
Primitive Fishing
Moccasins
Flutes
Bowstrings
Edible Insects
Finger Loop Bags
Knots
Gourd Canteens
Useful/Med Plants
Finger weaving
Primitive Cooking
Pine Pitch/Hafting
Kid's Archery
ISAC Atlatl Competion
Edible Plants
Bone tools
Traps
Arrowmaking
Slab-Knapping
Shell Tools
Soda Can Stoves

 

[KiljoyKutlery]

WOW! Man, that looks like a fun weekend! I love MO to! Nice state.

 

[omniviking]

I Love where I live, except all the neat stuff here happens on the same weekend, silly hill people. Looks most informative. I took family took Van Buren for a historical woodworking workshop and a trip to Big Springs. But Bois D'arc would be great. Thanks for all the great photos

Pat

 

[jcl-MD]

Super Coolness!!

Thanks for all the pics!!

 

[grunt soldier]

very cool stuff. the sandals out of cattails is awesome and crazy innovative (well at least in this day and age)

 

[Erasmus]

Excellent pictures, Sadie Jane. Lots of doings.

 

[Junglas]

awesome pictures thanks for sharing them all. looked like a great day!