Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Obsidian, Pine Nuts, Fishing, and a Stone Tools Shelter

"I'm running down a dream." - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers



After picking up my permit and a map, I got out to the obsidian quarry with Diane. We met a really nice old timer named Ron on one of the dirt roads who offered to drive us back down the mountain with our hundred pounds of stone (I had to leave my car at the base of the 4wd rocky road and we packed in...but packing out with that much rock would have been hell).

(check out Ron's photography at Ron@RonaldSaunders.com) he is truly talented!

I led a few flintknapping workshops, a bone tool production workshop and an ethnobotanical workshop over the last couple of weeks as well.






The students had a great time and learned a lot in the process!

Diane and I also gathered up some gray pine (Pinus sabiniana) cones to process for pine nuts the other day. They were loaded!









We have yet to use the nuts to make some homemade pesto pasta (a seasonal favorite of mine), but once we do I will be sure to share some pictures!

Martijn and I headed out to our secret local spot the other day for some bushcraft as well. We set up a shelter constructed with all stone tools and thatching of mule fat and lashing of cattail cordage.








Oh yeah, Then I took my girl out on the canoe and we both slammed a nice bass to bring home for dinner! It was her first legal bass ever! The beer battered tacos were a big hit!


It's been a fun few weeks! Anyways, it is raining so I am going to go hunting now!

Keep the old ways alive!