"I would rather be lost in the woods, than found in any City!"
I hate the places...dirty, smelly, stinking, unsociable, unhealthy, crime-ridden places that City's are!...
My chosen 'handle' for my Social Media channels, is JediKnightoftheWoods, or in the case of Twitter @JediOutdoors. But, I love coastal areas, mountainous regions, valleys, riverbanks, meadows and a whole load of other places, in just about equal measure, so maybe that name was a bit limiting. But it is what it is, and I am what I am.
I started this website to compliment my other Social Media channels, offering a slightly different way of keeping a record of my outdoors interests, one that would enable me to use stills pictures and text together to keep things nicely lined up. YouTube is more of a mish mash of content from any moment in time, it could be a recent trip video, a new bit of kit, an old bit of kit reviewed, or anything else that comes along that I fancy making a video about. Twitter is for short burst of content, Instagram is for stills pictures, Pinterest is for boards of content collected relationally.
This website is intended to be a bit more structured, enabling more self service to anyone that wants to browse their way around it. You might like to look at pictures, read reviews on products, or take a look through different kit sections to see how things all come together for me personally. There is a caveat to all this. All content is my own, all pictures are my own, all opinions are my own and all mistakes are my own. What I say doesn't always/necessarily go, and what suits me will not be to everyones tastes. Ultimately take what you like, discard what you don't and hopefully somewhere along the way you will get some value from something on the site.
My chosen 'handle' for my Social Media channels, is JediKnightoftheWoods, or in the case of Twitter @JediOutdoors. But, I love coastal areas, mountainous regions, valleys, riverbanks, meadows and a whole load of other places, in just about equal measure, so maybe that name was a bit limiting. But it is what it is, and I am what I am.
I started this website to compliment my other Social Media channels, offering a slightly different way of keeping a record of my outdoors interests, one that would enable me to use stills pictures and text together to keep things nicely lined up. YouTube is more of a mish mash of content from any moment in time, it could be a recent trip video, a new bit of kit, an old bit of kit reviewed, or anything else that comes along that I fancy making a video about. Twitter is for short burst of content, Instagram is for stills pictures, Pinterest is for boards of content collected relationally.
This website is intended to be a bit more structured, enabling more self service to anyone that wants to browse their way around it. You might like to look at pictures, read reviews on products, or take a look through different kit sections to see how things all come together for me personally. There is a caveat to all this. All content is my own, all pictures are my own, all opinions are my own and all mistakes are my own. What I say doesn't always/necessarily go, and what suits me will not be to everyones tastes. Ultimately take what you like, discard what you don't and hopefully somewhere along the way you will get some value from something on the site.
What is Bushcraft?
A question I have heard asked on many occasions and a debate that's been going on as long TV presenters have been demonstrating their skills on the box! A question that provoke's many different idea's, definitions, concepts and no doubt arguments!
It is NOT my intention through this website to force my opinion or definition of what Bushcraft is, or is not, onto anyone. This website is not intended to identify actions, that through practicing, would enable someone to say they are 'Bushcrafting'...and this website is NOT intended to lay down a 'tick list' of skills that 'make' someone a Bushcrafter. I will let the industry do that last one!
What is Bushcraft? - well in theory thats an easy one, separate the two syllables into Bush and craft and it kind of makes sense. Anything that is classed as a craft, which is defined as something made by hand, probably counts, and if its made out in 'The Bush' then its probably safe to call it 'Bush-craft'.
However, it is my opinion that Bushcraft encompasses so many different disciplines, skills, methodologies and concepts, that one never stops learning, and one can never ever say that they have mastered everything. Its not a 'thing', you don't go out and 'do it' its a state of mind, its a way of life, the choices you make in where you go, and how you go about what you are doing. Bushcraft takes up a lifetime of learning, and where you start that learning experience is up to you, it could be primitive skills, it could be wild edibles, it could be tracking, Mycology, bird watching, or it could be any combination! Its all facets of that journey that I aim to share with you through my...
YouTube channel... http://www.youtube.com/user/jediknightofthewoods?feature=mhee
Instagram Channel... http://www.enjoygram.com/jediknightofthewoods
Twitter Channel... https://twitter.com/JediOutdoors
Bushcraft, for me, is quite simply the use of skills, equipment, techniques and methodologies, whether they be considered primitive, or more technologically advanced, that prolong my enjoyment of the natural world, enhance my feeling of connection to wildlife, and that compliments and enables a closer understanding of the environment around me. Whilst I accept that there are basic fundamentals that we should all be aware of anytime we go outdoors, the fact of the matter is that we live in a technologically advanced world these days, with tools available to us that can simplify processes, and achieve desired results. A certain British television personality uses a Zebra Billy to collect food and water, he doesnt always carve or weave a bowl? I don't like the idea of anyone forcing upon people set ideas of what a Bushcrafter is or isn't, it just doesn't make sense.
What I am definitely NOT, is what some would call a 'survivalist'. I do not believe in minimising everything down to the absolute bare essentials. I want to enjoy the countryside and 'THRIVE' in it, not just survive in it! My state of mind is the most important survival tool I have, and while I see some value in testing ones resolve and adaptability in spending time out in the woods with nothing but my knife, its not something I choose to do on any kind of regular basis.
I spend time in the woods, testing gear, practicing skills, stalking and photographing wildlife, and just generally relaxing in the British woodlands that I love so much!
Remember... "Mother Nature is neither for us, or against us, she just is..."