Bushcrafting in the background...

Have not had time to do much in the way of bushcrafting of late. Things have been busy on the farm trying to settle into a routine of feed the animals, water the animals, collect eggs, feed the animals, check the animals, keep the furnace going, try to bring in an income, water the animals again, have a serious talk with Oscar the goat about his excessive bad manners and improper use of the horns, feed the.... well, you get the idea.

The snow has been up and down for the last week or so getting cold and then warming up to melt and then freezing again, and again. Snow has stuck to the trees again and everything looks nice and white.

Decided to blow off some steam today and go for a short walk out to the shelters. Wanted to make sure everything is still standing and I knew I would need to clear out the snow that is piling up in front of the doors. Took a shovel with me and off I went.

Started looking around and noticed tracks around the shelter and down the trail into the woods. At first I thought they were my wife's tracks walking the dog. Then I got a closer look. Seems that there is a animal highway that I built my shelter right in the middle of for the local fauna. I found fox, deer, rabbit and squirrel tracks. The surprise I got was that unless I am mistaken and there are some REALLY BIG deer out there, we had a moose walking through the property. Now that might not be too surprising but to me the footprints were huge! I thought I was looking at tracks I had made from a while back until I saw the two toes. I would love to had seen it. The locals are saying that this area hasn't had any moose around until recently.

Hope I don't find one sleeping in my shelter! I just got everything the way I liked it... :)

When I get a chance I will run out and take pictures of the Super Shelter and Debris hut all covered in snow and post them for you to see.

Until then...

Thanks, Decado.

Mungo comes to the farm!

Had a great visit from Mungo last Sunday. Was great to see him again. Gave him the 25 cent tour of the property. The kids loved having him here to sing songs and be... uh.... entertaining? Check out his post here!


I have another friend that came yesterday for a visit. I will be getting some of the pictures of our nite out in the shelters. Should be good. Will post about it soon.

Thanks, Decado.

Cold weather? Time to make a new shirt!

As the title of this post states: The weather is turning cold.

The leaves are changing and the fire in the antique stove in the kitchen is helping to take the chill off the evenings. But there are things that need to be done outside and shelters to build as well. So what better time is there to make a new shirt than now

Thought I would post a picture of the new wool blanket shirt I made with a little help from a good friend (Thanks Dori!)

Note that the cuffs are quite large so that I can unfold them and use them to cover my hands when needed.

Also I made it quite large for me as I intend to wear it with many other layers.

Am in the process of making a vest of wool as well that is a bit thicker and more durable to go over everything else.

Well. Until the next chance I get to post more pictures of the next shelter and such...

Thanks,

Decado

Wood, Work, and Weekend...

To say I have been a bit busy is an understatement. But I am sure we all are.

Looks like we have settled in. Been working on getting a proper wood supply for the winter. Our house has an outdoor wood boiler that keeps us toasty all winter long. That is the plan anyway. So in order to do that we need to get wood. I can tell you that getting wood together for a winter is a lot different than collecting it for a weekend camp.

Speaking of weekend camps... This weekend is my yearly backpacking trip up to Algonquin. I have decided that this years theme is Fishin' and Food! Will be out for 4 whole days so it should be fun. I have been starting fires with flint and steel and sparker during the evenings out in the woods. I have started a Mors' "Super Shelter" for my winter lodging, and been working on setting up fire circles in my off time. For this years trip I have decided to lug a little extra weight and carry a white gas stove and bring the backpacker oven for baking. The plan is to eat well, fish alot, and try out some more bushcraft projects. Should be a blast!

As for work... I got a small contract setting up a website for someone in town, but I still have a lot of marketing stuff to do to get my new company seen and known in the area. Then I still have to finish setting up the wood shop to start making and carving walking sticks again. Not to mention my plans for wood solar lights. And then of course there is the Bushcraft school I want to start getting off the ground.... he he .... ok so we are settled into the house but there is still a whack load of stuff that needs to be done! Good thing the kids go back to school today!

Thanks,

Decado.

Bought the farm..... and moved in.

Just wanted to post a quick note to let everyone know we moved in...... well our stuff is now on the property anyway.

Lots of boxes unpacked and I even got a chance to cut some of the grass with the new riding mower. Yee haw! The wife and I are thrilled with the place, but the amount of stuff we need to do now and in the future can be a bit overwhelming. And it is soooooo quiet! Henry the dog is in heaven.

The kids will be coming on sunday so there is still a lot to do!

Will post pictures soon.

Thanks,

Decado

An Update... as request!

Hello everyone! As it is customary at this point in the post......... SORRY! It has been a whorl-wind of activity for Decado and family these last couple of months. I have been getting ready for the move to our new farm and have not spent a lot of time on the computer. As a matter of fact I move tomorrow! But when I got SB's comments.... well.... it brought a tear to my eye. I never thought I would be missed. And I had meant to post something a few times over the last couple of weeks.

Anyway. Apologies and thanks aside.....

I have lots of stuff to do once we move to the farm (tomorrow... yikes) but I know that after things settle down a bit and I have my consulting company moving in the new area I will be bushcrafting my #@!*&%$ off! 71 acres of property and a whack load of ideas to try! Trust me! I will have plenty of pictures and stuff to share over the coming months. I am also working on a separate bushcraft site .... more on that soon.

Opps! The wife is yelling for more boxes! Gotta run! Thanks for your comments. It truly makes the guiilt I feel for not posting all the more worth while!

Be back soon.

Decado the farmer.

Decado bought the farm......

Ok. Maybe I should have rethought that title.

To put it into context: I really did buy a farm! No I did not 'kick the bucket' though you would not know it from my lack of posting lately. My family and I are leaving the city! Will be hours away from Toronto and ... well.... living outside a small town on a 71 acre farm. Lots of room for the kids to grow and the vegetables too! Over half the property is mature woods: birch, poplar, many pines and hardwoods! A bushcrafters dream! Think of it! Walk 100 feet off the back porch and WHAM! you are in the bush! and beyond that? More bush! And beyond that? ... uh... a road I think.... don't know. Haven't been that far yet.

Life has been nothing if not interesting over the past couple of months. We expect to be moving in July if everything goes well. Once there I will be setting up my business and sneaking into the woods when the wife is not looking.

Will let you know how it plays out. I Plan to post some pictures and put together some shelters first chance I get. Will let you know.

Decado.