Why the obsession with 'living off the land'?

jimh0220

jimh0220

Joined
Apr 15, 2008
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Why do so many folks here want to learn every bit of minutia about everything you can make, eat, hunt, fart, and lick off the land?

I get the interest in honing one's outdoor skills, and survival skills are a crucial part of that, BUT why plan to live out there with nothing but a knife for a year? When was the last rescue of a victim that survived that long? Why would you deliberately intend on oing out to the woods and hunt critters and eat native plants to survive for months. Not a good plan! Your body uses more than it gains in that situation.

If the shiz hits the fan, how about having a plan that involves what you have already,and not munching ferns and squirrels?
 
It's not about 'survival' in the sense that you're waiting to get rescued, it's about primitive living skills to 'live' off the land, rather than just 'survive' off it. I think for pretty much everyone here that practices such stuff, it's a hobby, and an educational and potentially useful one to boot. Plus it's fun, and cool:cool:
 
exactly, survival to me is merely getting myself to the point where I'd be 'just camping'..

living off the land to me would be 'sustainable living'.. They say history repeats itself and I'd like to think I'm somewhat prepared but I guess you really are never prepared enough..

OP, I too don't understand why someone would go out in the wild with just a knife for a year etc.. just the extremist, which I'm not..
 
jimh0220 said:
Why do so many folks here want to learn every bit of minutia about everything you can make, eat, hunt, fart, and lick off the land?

I get the interest in honing one's outdoor skills, and survival skills are a crucial part of that, BUT why plan to live out there with nothing but a knife for a year? When was the last rescue of a victim that survived that long? Why would you deliberately intend on oing out to the woods and hunt critters and eat native plants to survive for months. Not a good plan! Your body uses more than it gains in that situation.

If the shiz hits the fan, how about having a plan that involves what you have already,and not munching ferns and squirrels?
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Your question isn't entirely clear, but I'll answer it as I understand it. Civilized nations have disconnected from understanding what it is to live directly from our environment in a time frame of less than a century or two. Those of us that have an interest in something other than urban life, whether it be bushcraft, preparedness, survival, are interested in connecting with our environment in an effort to be more self sustaining, and enjoy what our earth, rather than urban cites, have to offer.
 
So is Primitive Living a hobby, a way of life, or survival plan? I could understand the hobby part, can see it a PART of a survival plan, but a way of life?
 
There is nothing weird about developing survival or survivalist skills, just as there's nothing wrong with stocking food and fuel and other necessities in case of storm or power outage or alien invasion. No, we don't know what tomorrow will bring. Be prepared. It really doesn't cost more than living and buying from day to day. And it can be more fun.
 
jimh0220 said:
Why do so many folks here want to learn every bit of minutia about everything you can make, eat, hunt, fart, and lick off the land?

The day you stop learning and think you know it all, is the day you become ignorant.I get the interest in honing one's outdoor skills, and survival skills are a crucial part of that, BUT why plan to live out there with nothing but a knife for a year?
No one plans for it thats why you practice and hope you never have too. When was the last rescue of a victim that survived that long? Why would you deliberately intend on oing out to the woods and hunt critters and eat native plants to survive for months. Not a good plan! Your body uses more than it gains in that situation.

If the shiz hits the fan, how about having a plan that involves what you have already,
and if shit really hits the fan, how long will the stuff you already have , last ?and not munching ferns and squirrels?
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If it keeps you alive...bonappetie..:D

Just my 2 cents.
 
Watch or read some of Dick Proenneke's story. If you're not moved, or at least interested, you may never understand.
 
Some people want to live with nothing to prove to theirselves, that they can do it. Some want to be one with the land. Some might use the abundant supply of fresh veggies and fruits and meat to supplement their income, or spend time with their family, or get away from their family.
As for why survive when you can just dig in at the homestead in an emergency situation, how much food and water do you have stored? One month is a very large supply of food and water. Can you dig in that long when the financial system completely crashes,or if law enforcement personal abandon ship, mother nature decides to cleanse part of her self, drug cartels terrorize your city (Mier, Mexico - 6500 people displaced), Aliens, Zombies, ok maybe not the last two buuuuut, this world is ugly, and can be unstable at best at times. Being able to dig in, and then bug out is a good thing. And those that are able to bug out for even longer, sure, you think its kooky now, but when or if something happens, they won't be too kooky then.
 
Look what's happening currently in Haiti. That could happen here on a larger scale.
Better to have some skills and knowledge beforehand plus it's a fun hobby.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
There is nothing weird about developing survival or survivalist skills, just as there's nothing wrong with stocking food and fuel and other necessities in case of storm or power outage or alien invasion. No, we don't know what tomorrow will bring. Be prepared. It really doesn't cost more than living and buying from day to day. And it can be more fun.
Click to expand...

Emergency preparedness and living off the land eating weeds and critters are 2 different things. If you're not preparing for emergencies by stocking up and know some basic skills should be required to live today.

Eating plants and hunting for all your food with a pellet rifle (yes, I exagerate) while living in a lean two in the middle of the woods seems like trying to play mountain man. Check history: they didn't live too long, or got to the city to live a bit better.
 
Having immediate survival skills is extremely important, but don't fool yourself realistically the only real answer for any kind of long term scenario, it to be able to grow and produce your own food!

In another post, I detailed how my grandparents went through the depression on a farm on the Saskatchewan prairie....very well fed and that with a dozen hungry kids to feed! The worked the land with horses, had milk cows, chickens, a monster garden, and cut their own firewood. They didn't have money for anything else, but they did have an abundance of food and they survived just fine, plus they fed many others.
 
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For me, its fun. There's a very fulfilling feeling that I get, living with the minimum amount of modern conviences. I like making bow drills and traps. I smile and feel good inside when it renders me food, and fire to cook it on. I like making a shelter out of nothing but what nature gives me. I feel good inside when I stay warm, dry, and cozy in said shelter. I like waking up to birds and squirrels going about their day, as if I wasn't there. I feel good inside when they pay me no mind, as I am apart of the surroundings. Its self reliance. Its primitive. Its substance. Its making your brain the most valuable tool in the shed. Its about knowing what I am capable of.

I can't say it better than that.

Moose
 
Iboschi said:
Your question isn't entirely clear, but I'll answer it as I understand it. Civilized nations have disconnected from understanding what it is to live directly from our environment in a time frame of less than a century or two. Those of us that have an interest in something other than urban life, whether it be bushcraft, preparedness, survival, are interested in connecting with our environment in an effort to be more self sustaining, and enjoy what our earth, rather than urban cites, have to offer.
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So it's a hobby, an experience. I do photography to connect to things in nature, so that I get. BTW, we looked for way to get away from roughing it in the woods for a reason: it sucked.

zachtateknives said:
Some people want to live with nothing to prove to theirselves, that they can do it. Some want to be one with the land. Some might use the abundant supply of fresh veggies and fruits and meat to supplement their income, or spend time with their family, or get away from their family.
As for why survive when you can just dig in at the homestead in an emergency situation, how much food and water do you have stored? One month is a very large supply of food and water. Can you dig in that long when the financial system completely crashes,or if law enforcement personal abandon ship, mother nature decides to cleanse part of her self, drug cartels terrorize your city (Mier, Mexico - 6500 people displaced), Aliens, Zombies, ok maybe not the last two buuuuut, this world is ugly, and can be unstable at best at times. Being able to dig in, and then bug out is a good thing. And those that are able to bug out for even longer, sure, you think its kooky now, but when or if something happens, they won't be too kooky then.
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Show me the number of Mexicans willingly leaving the civilized world behing to eat plants and hunt for their meat, and your arguement holds water. Those displaced go to the next safe towns, cities, or wait for assistance. And yes, I could dig in for a nice period of time if all hell breaks loose. Best of all, I could do it where I sit at home, or take it on the road.

LMT66 said:
Look what's happening currently in Haiti. That could happen here on a larger scale.
Better to have some skills and knowledge beforehand plus it's a fun hobby.
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The skills to survive in Haiti aren't the same as living in the woods. Different world. Check out Cody Lundin's 'When All Hell Breaks Loose', and you'll see the difference.
 
jimh0220 said:
Why do so many folks here want to learn every bit of minutia about everything you can make, eat, hunt, fart, and lick off the land?

I get the interest in honing one's outdoor skills, and survival skills are a crucial part of that, BUT why plan to live out there with nothing but a knife for a year? When was the last rescue of a victim that survived that long? Why would you deliberately intend on oing out to the woods and hunt critters and eat native plants to survive for months. Not a good plan! Your body uses more than it gains in that situation.

If the shiz hits the fan, how about having a plan that involves what you have already,and not munching ferns and squirrels?
Click to expand...

I take it you're not much into the whole woods thing and that's cool. Others are. I live in the woods and was raised roaming Appalachia with a shotgun and a grocery bag. I enjoy it. Cities make me nauseous. I imagine that 90% of it for those who go out into the wilderness occasionally do it mainly to get away from everything else. Either to be alone for a bit or to spend time with their families without being bothered with the silly little worries of life.

As for surviving with nothing but a knife? It's a challenge. Some people like to push themselves to see just how independent they are in a world where most people can't tie their shoes without help anymore. Even if they never have to use those skills, most of it is the satisfaction in knowing that they could.
 
reconranger said:
Having immediate survival skills is extremely important, but don't fool yourself realistically the only real answer for any kind of long term scenario, it to be able to grow and produce your own food!

In another post, I detailed how my grandparents went through the depression on a farm on the Saskatchewan prairie....very well fed and that with a dozen hungry kids to feed! The worked the land with horses, had milk cows, chickens, a monster garden, and cut their own firewood. They didn't have money for anything else, but they did have an abundance of food and they survived just fine, plus they fed many others.
Click to expand...

But they did it at home! That's not the same as hiking into the woods to try to conquer mother nature. They adapted to their circumstances and overcame them. THAT is what we all need to do.
 
In my humble opinion, I do not see anything wrong with someone pursuing an interest that does not negatively impact another. People are motivated to do things for a myriad of reasons, some we may never even understand. As for me, I feel more connected to the natural environment when inserted as a player and not an observer of the game. I have a desire to insert myself as part of the food chain, part of the environment, and feel fulfilled when I do so. I enjoy living from time to time as my forefathers may have lived. It helps me remember where I come from. I am a post-graduate educated upper middle class citizen. I do not need to grow my own vegetables or provide most of the meat my family consumes, but I do. I enjoy knowing the land as only one who has lived from it can. I hunt, fish, camp, farm, and sleep on the ground. My colleagues spend as much time learning every bit of minutia and the intracacies of C++, or Golf, or their Porsche, or their fantasy football team, or Medal of Honor. To each his own.
 
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