Small achievement

[Key'ìl Nekxetse]

I built and maintained a fire that was hot enough to boil water long enough to purify it (2 minutes), and then made myself a cup of tea with it. Nothing very special really, as I had to use matches and some home made fire-lighter to get it started, but satisfying, given that I've only recently started learning about survival/primitive techniques. I think the same fire could have been used quite easily for cooking, but it was too dark by 9:30 PM.

Hope this wasn't a pointless thread, but I was really happy!

[Key'ìl Nekxetse]

Happy again today! I've had a delivery of books on wild foods from Amazon, and I also got a small firesteel.
I have read about them as a reliable, durable way to light a fire, and I wanted to find out if they were really that good.
Now I've had time to try it, I'm quite impressed! Combined with some tinder (cotton wool seems to work well for me) I managed to light my fire just as easily as with matches.
This might be a useful tool for the tribe to use in the future, although a natural alternative would be good. Apparently some natural iron ores have similar properties, but they are fairly rare.
I hope we have some members who have a reasonable amount of knowledge of these sorts of techniques! I'm learning for my own interest aswell as this project, and I hope I'm learning quickly, but it will take a long time for me to accumulate a significant amount of knowledge and skill in the required areas.

Eywa ngahu!

[Kxamtxon Tsamsiyu]

This isn't a pointless thread at all. OME that is amazing, I have to say. I have heard of the firesteel method, but I never had the time to try it. I'm glad you were able to come up with a fabulous result. I also agree this will be a fantastic method for the tribe in the future.

Eywa ngahu...

[Predict]

This is a good thread, it's important to have personal stuff on here as well.

The firesteel looks like it will be important for the tribe, when you're in the tropics it seems dry wood doesn't exactly grow on trees. Boiling water puts the fires I've made on DofE to shame, they either fail or end up as raging infernos. Tends to happen when someone gets impatient and uses an aerosol deodorant to start it.

[Key'ìl Nekxetse]

Haha, yes I bet that does make it burn fast!
I'll keep this going as a log of what I've done, might be interesting.

Had a go at unleavened bread on the fire yesterday, using modern flour, baking powder and salt, then mix with a bit of water. It was much more palatable than I expected. It's quite nice, if bland. I recommend a sweet variation by adding in some sugar.

Tried using leaves from a yucca tree for making cord earlier today. Not much use in this country given that it's not a native plant.
The best method I've found is breaking the leaf into fibre by hitting it against a flat piece of wood with a smooth stone. Then use fairly standard methods to make the fibre into cord. I'm thanking Mr Mears and the internet for information on how to do that (see "Oudoor Survival Handbook" and http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/cordage/syucca/index.html)!
Dry yucca leaves burn really well too, briefly. Not bad for kindling.

I've also spent a lot of time reading about edible plants (UK specific, so maybe not useful) and the afore mentioned "Outdoor Survival Handbook".

[Key'ìl Nekxetse]

Tried using a different fire layout today, which was very successful, I cooked on it again, and had tea. This was despite a heavy thunderstorm a few hours earlier. The embers were still keeping me fairly warm in just a t-shirt well after dark.
Improved on my cord making a bit, I made a piece that was a good length.
Might add pictures if I get around to it.

[Predict]

Out of interest, where did you find yucca leaves?

[Key'ìl Nekxetse]

There's a tree in the garden, and the leaves fall off it in large numbers. It's a bit of a cheat as it's a non-native plant, but it makes it possible for me to have a go at making cord as you could say it's in the spirit of using what is available.
They originate in America, and I think this one's been brought in.

[Predict]

Okay. Good find then. I doubt the rope-making potential of my garden.

[Key'ìl Nekxetse]

Here's the list I used, you might be surprised.
http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/cordage/jlcordageplants.html
I was amazed how useful stinging-nettles are, having disliked them so much in the past! This is partly why I'm interested in this project, I've realized how many things in nature can amaze me, and I want to know more!

[Predict]

Wow. What really surprises me is how many trees can be used, I (stupidly I imagine) thought it was just a one or two species.

I do a lot of woodworking and it surprises me how different trees are to dried wood. Seriously wouldn't think of using walnut for rope...

[Key'ìl Nekxetse]

After an hour of work, I've made my first basket! It was more difficult than I expected.
Before my camera batter gave up, I got a photo! It's not very neat and the picture is not good quality, but I'm still pleased! It's about 10x5x5cm.

Spoiler

[Kxamtxon Tsamsiyu]

After an hour of work, I've made my first basket! It was more difficult than I expected.
Before my camera batter gave up, I got a photo! It's not very neat and the picture is not good quality, but I'm still pleased! It's about 10x5x5cm.

Spoiler

Thats amazing, keep up the good work ^_^

[Tonbogiri]

Indeed - what a lovely basket! now you can start on shoes and houses and cars and office blocks and dvd players and...

[Key'ìl Nekxetse]

Not so much progress, thanks to an unwanted shopping trip and seeing a friend. But I have got a new cooking pot to experiment with.

Ma Tonbogiri, combine it with flexible circuits, and that might even be possible! I don't have the money or time though.

[Esmond]

Your thread has encouraged me to start picking up some skills. The locals here are very good at weaving so I'm gonna see if I can learn something.

Thanks for the inspiration!

[Predict]

The locals here are good at complaining, bureaucracy, and community speed watching. Now that's a valuable skill .

[Key'ìl Nekxetse]

I think if we have a national sport that isn't football, it might well be complaining about the NHS!

I've just finished making more cord, this time I used nettles. It seems to work quite well, although I had to change the method a bit. I got a picture aswell!

Spoiler

[Esmond]

Haha. I'm sure they have more beneficial skills as well.

The cord looks awesome. =) Have you done tension tests? How much can it hold?

[Key'ìl Nekxetse]

I attached a 1/2 foot length to a 2 litre plastic bottle, then suspended it from the cord while adding water.
I was expecting the cord to break, but I ran out of space in the bottle before the cord broke.
The maximum weight I could achieve was 1.1Kg, which failed to break the cord!
The strength of a longer length of cord will be lower. The strength of this piece is good though, it is only 1mm in diameter!
The strength could be increased by using more fibre or by doubling the cord back.