Backyard Bushcrafting

     I want to let it be known that there is absolutely nothing wrong with practicing bushcraft in your backyard. If you are like me and have to travel for an hour and a half to get somewhere even partially secluded.



Emergency Shelter set up at a local park. Anywhere you can practice
your skills is good. Get in your dirt time where ever you can.



     Before heading out to the woods on an overnight adventure trying out new techniques and gear, you want to test them first. Before you have to rely on them. For instance there is no regulation on sleeping bag temperature ratings. Plus everyone sleeps different, so a 0*F bag might be good for one person down to 0*F but might only be good down to 15*F for another. My point being is that you need to test and use your gear in a controlled environment prior to relying on it for you life. Whether that be car camping, or camping out in the backyard. I have set up different tarp / poncho shelters just before major thunderstorms so I could test their integrity and storm riding abilities. It had rained so hard one time I was trapped in my poncho shelter due to torrential rain, while only being 20' from my backdoor! It was dry and comfortable in the shelter, so I waited for it to slow down before heading in and getting soaked. During which time I was texting a friend of mine who was testing his poncho shelter at the same time about 50 miles away. Both shelters held up well. I only got concerned when lightning began striking near me, and the ground had standing water covering it. That was when I decided getting wet was better then getting struck by lightning.

  

My Fire bowl and Bushchair in my Backyard.



      I have a fire bowl in my backyard for practicing fire skills. A charcoal grill will work just as good. In my city they frown on open fires, so I compromise with the fire bowl. It works well enough for what I want to do. If you are forced to use one as well there are a few things you want in a Backyard Bushcraft Fire bowl. You want a large low bowl preferably Stainless Steel. You want it low so that air can circulate under your fire lay. You will want to have drain holes in the bottom so that water can escape. I had to drill holes in mine. A screen to cover your fire is a good idea in the city and might be required. I chose a very simple design to best emulate what I might encounter in the woods.

  





Ferro Rod practice is best done in an environment where you
have the most control. Before You have to rely on it.



     Another advantage of Backyard Bushcrafting, the kids can tag along at very young ages without the worry of a 3 A.M. drive home. A favorite adventure of mine is outdoor cooking. Usually on a Charcoal grill. But this year will see more open fire cooking over the fire bowl as well as some dutch oven cooking.

     There are a lot of things we can do in our backyards that emulate being in the woods when we cannot be there. Taking the time to practice our skills, learning from our mistakes in a controlled environment is always a welcome relief from the daily stress of life. So put down that T.V. remote, head outdoors and get in some dirt time in your own backyard.