"Our primitive skills gathering is similar to other such gatherings, offering fundamental skills such as friction fire making, flint knapping and cordage classes daily. We will also hold classes on nature awareness, tracking, basket making, gourd craft, edible plants, fermented foods, bowl and spoon carving, traditional bow and arrow making, etc. Each day will be full of new experiences. Each evening will feature musical performances and festivities around the bonfire. Please bring instruments, songs and stories and be willing to share your talents with our community."
I braved the severe thunderstorms and rolled in after giving a Utah Concealed Firearm Class. I got there just in time for a trading blanket. A trading blanket is where people bring things to trade and when their turn comes, they put them down in front of them and describe them if need be and anyone interested sits down something they're offering to trade in front of them. From there trades are accepted or rejected. I realized I was outgunned in the trade department but my feelings weren't hurt, it was a learning experience. I fugred everyone wanted Russian battle packs of 7.62x39. Boy was I wrong! Ha ha!
I got there too late for classes on Saturday so I set up my camp (tarp shelter off my truck and a cot to keep off the ground), kicked back and enjoyed a few beverages while listening to some terrific Appalachian style music. It reminded me of some of the stuff my grandfather used to play, but that's another story for another time. I had some of the prepared venison for dinner and eventually went to bed.
I was up with the morning siren and ready to learn. Morning circle was interesting and oddly quiet for the number of children we had. I realized these kids were better behaved than the little savages you se at Walmart. There were also a pair of sisters sitting down and whittling spoons they learned to make the day prior using proper knife techniques. They couldn't have been more then 10 and 13 but they were handling themselves better than most adults AND being constructive!
After morning circle (think morning briefing) and I was off. First class was cordage making. I suck at making cordage, that's why I never attempt to do it, but I can't say that now. We used Yucca plant and Dogsbane. My Dogsbane processing leaves a bit to be desired but my Yucca cordage was just about dead on and I liked it so much I incorporated it in to the knife sheath Jason Drevenak (head honcho at N.A.B.S.) custom made for me.
After lunch I did a short knife sharpening workshop then bow and drill class. I was unsuccessful at making fire, but I learned that EVERYTHING I knew about bow and drill was completely wrong (which happened to answer the question of why no fire before). We took raw materials and whittled them to fit. Start to (almost) finish, we learned how the ember is created. I had to cut this class short because I needed to get back to life, but just because I didn't make fire doesn't mean I failed, it simply means I need to work harder.
Overall this event was a success with a ton of knowledge being shared, contacts with other like minded folks and getting to meet people I otherwise would never have gotten to hang with. I had a great time and would do it again in a heartbeat!
Apparently there's more gatherings out there. I'm really looking forward to checking out future gatherings, especially the "Primitive to Prepper" gathering N.A.B.S. will be having next year!
More pictures are on the Keep You Alive Facebook.
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