Plant Cordage

[PlayingWithFire]

Hello!
Stumbled into this website whilst avoiding work :-)
Great to 'meet' you - I will be around and a regular contributor, for sure.

I grew up leading the good life - we watched the TV and thought "that is like us". So it is not surprising that I now make my living teaching ancient fire lighting and wilderness skills.

I am interested in making cordage from natural plant materials, from nettles to roots and bark. If anyone out there is doing this - please get in touch and we can share notes.

I can be found here or via malcolm@allfivesenses.com

Best wishes to you all!
Enjoy spring :-)

M

[PlayingWithFire]

OK - I was so excited I posted a message without joining.
So, hello - from Scotland (Perth today) usually Orkney Islands.

[Muddypause]

Hello Malcolm,

Now <i>that</i> sounds like a sensible occupation. I mean compared to working in an office, for example. I'm betting that lighting ancient fires in Orkney is a challenge at the best of times. Are there any trees there? What else could you use?

BTW, www.allfivesenses.com just returns the message "www.allfivesenses.com cannot be found. Please check the name."

[PlayingWithFire]

Hi Stew - the web link will be back up in about a week - thanks for being vigilant though. I didn't expect such quick response - shows a good healthy group!

Orkney does have some trees - most lost to farming - but I deal with the Stone Age so have to recreate the environment of 5000 years ago.
I import my wood and tinder (what I am now doing down in Perth - though I seem to be on here too long!)

Question for everyone - what is the deal with the Avatars - how do I get a better pic uploaded (tried and failed). It is painful looking at Margo. Why no Toms? Can I be Geraldine? (A pain in the ass).

Look out the window!!!

[Andy Hamilton]

Hi playing with fire, I am afraid that margo is a quirk for everyone on this site. The more you post the higher up you go. It starts with margo, then Jerry, tom and finaly Barbara Good. It should then go to John Seymore but for some reason it is not working. have a look at this http://www.selfsufficientish.com/Forum/ ... .php?t=204 - for a better explanation. I think I set it pretty low for the next step up of only 10 posts before you are Jerry.

You can put your own Avaitar up but it will just co-exist next to your 'good life' status.

Ancinet fire lighting and wilderness skills,wow. Is it one off courses that anyone can join?

[PlayingWithFire]

Hi - I must have uploaded a bad image - wrong format. (sound like a geek).

Fire lighting courses and survival type things, navigation and the like - I do them by the hour or full day. Also have 2-3 long courses, depending upon people's stamina!!!

I started off years ago guiding in the mountains. It sort of progressed to basic wilderness survival skills - then I got interested in pre-history and "primitive" cultures - stone age and tribes / native indians, aboriginies ... it sort of grew from there.

I also visit other locations - well I will when fully up and running - presently developing a Rites of Passage weekend - the eco-persons equivalent of a stag party ... surely there are people out there who want to do something beautiful and in tune with nature / life, without getting blitzed?! We do bonfires, teach skills, lead night walks, teach navigation and fire lighting, without matches or such like. What do you think?

OK - I am now looking for experts on bio-diesel ... I have done my web searches and want to talk to real humans again!

Best wishes to you and all here - good to meet you.

[Muddypause]

I am now looking for experts on bio-diesel

http://tinyurl.com/ay7lp

http://tinyurl.com/8jqwb

[PlayingWithFire]

Cheers!

My associated topic should be car sharing and hitch-hiking ... cheap transport solutions.

Best wishes - M

[Wombat]

G'Day Malcolm,

Nice to meet you!

Nev

[PlayingWithFire]

Good Day to you sir (English accent)
I will be back later - off out now.
M