Comments on: Learning Primitive Skills http://anthropik.com/2006/01/learning-primitive-skills/ se wo were fi na wosan kofa a yenki Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:44:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Learning to get along « WildeRix http://anthropik.com/2006/01/learning-primitive-skills/#comment-178383 Learning to get along « WildeRix Wed, 13 Feb 2008 07:10:27 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2006/01/learning-primitive-skills/#comment-178383 [...] Jason Godesky has pointed out before, “primitive skills are, in general, easy to learn, and difficult to master.”  [...] […] Jason Godesky has pointed out before, “primitive skills are, in general, easy to learn, and difficult to master.”  […]

]]> By: The Anthropik Network » Announcing Rewild Camp Pittsburgh 2007 http://anthropik.com/2006/01/learning-primitive-skills/#comment-169850 The Anthropik Network » Announcing Rewild Camp Pittsburgh 2007 Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:22:25 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2006/01/learning-primitive-skills/#comment-169850 [...] See also: “Learning Primitive Skills“ [...] […] See also: “Learning Primitive Skills“ […]

]]> By: Mountain Festival 2007: Early Planning (The Anthropik Network) http://anthropik.com/2006/01/learning-primitive-skills/#comment-158382 Mountain Festival 2007: Early Planning (The Anthropik Network) Wed, 11 Jul 2007 19:27:55 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2006/01/learning-primitive-skills/#comment-158382 [...] See also: "Learning Primitive Skills" [...] […] See also: “Learning Primitive Skills” […]

]]> By: Rix http://anthropik.com/2006/01/learning-primitive-skills/#comment-98637 Rix Thu, 10 May 2007 04:18:05 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2006/01/learning-primitive-skills/#comment-98637 <blockquote>Even urban sprawl is better than the Kalahari, the Arctic, and other places where foragers flourish today. Funny, since your statement was essentially all I was saying. </blockquote> Yeah, I don't diagree with your premise at all. I was just disagreeing with the proposition that the current carrying capacity could be 1/3 as great as it was before the Civ shit hit the North American fan. But that's an excellent point that urban sprawl beats out other foraging places. I have no doubt that North America will be survivable, even lush and abundantly providing, for a lot of people.

Even urban sprawl is better than the Kalahari, the Arctic, and other places where foragers flourish today.

Funny, since your statement was essentially all I was saying.

Yeah, I don’t diagree with your premise at all. I was just disagreeing with the proposition that the current carrying capacity could be 1/3 as great as it was before the Civ shit hit the North American fan.

But that’s an excellent point that urban sprawl beats out other foraging places. I have no doubt that North America will be survivable, even lush and abundantly providing, for a lot of people.

]]> By: Jason Godesky http://anthropik.com/2006/01/learning-primitive-skills/#comment-98204 Jason Godesky Wed, 09 May 2007 15:50:58 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2006/01/learning-primitive-skills/#comment-98204 <blockquote>That land was free of the urban sprawl that has devoured habitats. Urban areas can still be foraging ground for us and our animal neighbors, but I doubt the capacity is as generous as your statement makes it sound.</blockquote> Even urban sprawl is better than the Kalahari, the Arctic, and other places where foragers flourish today. <blockquote>I think life is certainly robust enough to adapt--all life, humans included. And I have no idea what percentage of the population is in-tune enough to actually attempt a hunter/gatherer lifestyle. I think there is enough forageability for those who want it, but your statement seems very out of perspective.</blockquote> Funny, since your statement was essentially all I was saying.

That land was free of the urban sprawl that has devoured habitats. Urban areas can still be foraging ground for us and our animal neighbors, but I doubt the capacity is as generous as your statement makes it sound.

Even urban sprawl is better than the Kalahari, the Arctic, and other places where foragers flourish today.

I think life is certainly robust enough to adapt–all life, humans included. And I have no idea what percentage of the population is in-tune enough to actually attempt a hunter/gatherer lifestyle. I think there is enough forageability for those who want it, but your statement seems very out of perspective.

Funny, since your statement was essentially all I was saying.

]]> By: Rix http://anthropik.com/2006/01/learning-primitive-skills/#comment-98198 Rix Wed, 09 May 2007 15:41:49 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2006/01/learning-primitive-skills/#comment-98198 On wild dogs: I lived in Kazakhstan in 1995, as the country was recovering from the Soviet collapse. Wild dogs were a very common occurrence--probably more common than the cardboard box street vendors trying to sell the goods they received in payment from the factories where they worked. I never heard of any instances of attack that were not provoked. For the most part, the dogs just went around town (Almaty--the capitol at the time), like they were ordinary inhabitants. On domesticated animals: I think about this a lot, living in the Ozarks with all the cattle ranches up here. I've tried to note some not-too-distant ranches that could provide sources of meat, where fences could be cut to let the cattle roam. For the most part, though, I think cattle poaching is a short term and probably risky venture--unless you can find an abandoned ranch where the animals haven't died yet. But I think, for the most part, the ranchers are going to view their livestock as potential money from the nearby urban community and will fiercely protect them. On the 1% theory: <blockquote>So, the wild, outside chance is 3 million survivors, in a land that can support three times that many people....</blockquote> Jason, the land that supported 10 million indigenous inhabitants has drastically changed. That land was free of the urban sprawl that has devoured habitats. Urban areas can still be foraging ground for us and our animal neighbors, but I doubt the capacity is as generous as your statement makes it sound. One road across the plains could interrupt the flow of migration. Imagine what miles and miles of interstate and railroad have done. I think life is certainly robust enough to adapt--all life, humans included. And I have no idea what percentage of the population is in-tune enough to actually attempt a hunter/gatherer lifestyle. I think there is enough forageability for those who want it, but your statement seems very out of perspective. On wild dogs:

I lived in Kazakhstan in 1995, as the country was recovering from the Soviet collapse. Wild dogs were a very common occurrence–probably more common than the cardboard box street vendors trying to sell the goods they received in payment from the factories where they worked. I never heard of any instances of attack that were not provoked. For the most part, the dogs just went around town (Almaty–the capitol at the time), like they were ordinary inhabitants.

On domesticated animals:

I think about this a lot, living in the Ozarks with all the cattle ranches up here. I’ve tried to note some not-too-distant ranches that could provide sources of meat, where fences could be cut to let the cattle roam.

For the most part, though, I think cattle poaching is a short term and probably risky venture–unless you can find an abandoned ranch where the animals haven’t died yet. But I think, for the most part, the ranchers are going to view their livestock as potential money from the nearby urban community and will fiercely protect them.

On the 1% theory:

So, the wild, outside chance is 3 million survivors, in a land that can support three times that many people….

Jason, the land that supported 10 million indigenous inhabitants has drastically changed. That land was free of the urban sprawl that has devoured habitats. Urban areas can still be foraging ground for us and our animal neighbors, but I doubt the capacity is as generous as your statement makes it sound.

One road across the plains could interrupt the flow of migration. Imagine what miles and miles of interstate and railroad have done.

I think life is certainly robust enough to adapt–all life, humans included. And I have no idea what percentage of the population is in-tune enough to actually attempt a hunter/gatherer lifestyle. I think there is enough forageability for those who want it, but your statement seems very out of perspective.

]]> By: Miranda Belcher http://anthropik.com/2006/01/learning-primitive-skills/#comment-6616 Miranda Belcher Tue, 28 Feb 2006 12:16:29 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2006/01/learning-primitive-skills/#comment-6616 Oh there will absolutely be a lot of domesticated animals left. Problem is, the vast majority will be factory farmed animals and are not likely to survive long, even if you do release them. As for menstrual blood, hmm, interesting thing to ponder. I know of some people that use it as a fertilizer of sorts, but since we are not farming people that likely wont work for us. Oh there will absolutely be a lot of domesticated animals left. Problem is, the vast majority will be factory farmed animals and are not likely to survive long, even if you do release them.
As for menstrual blood, hmm, interesting thing to ponder. I know of some people that use it as a fertilizer of sorts, but since we are not farming people that likely wont work for us.

]]> By: Benjamin Shender http://anthropik.com/2006/01/learning-primitive-skills/#comment-6601 Benjamin Shender Mon, 27 Feb 2006 20:39:56 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2006/01/learning-primitive-skills/#comment-6601 Wash them downstream with the rest of the clothes. Wash them downstream with the rest of the clothes.

]]> By: Chandrashakti http://anthropik.com/2006/01/learning-primitive-skills/#comment-6600 Chandrashakti Mon, 27 Feb 2006 18:57:01 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2006/01/learning-primitive-skills/#comment-6600 The topic on this page is learning primitive skills. I have noticed on the pages I've read thus far on this site that talk of hunting seems to focus exclusively on big game animals (or insects). I just want to bring up two other alternatives. One don't forget that small game can be snared or caught with bolas or darts (anyone who's good at the bar game ought to get a sharp set for hunting). Two, Seems to me that if Tribe Anthropik is correct and most people will be fleeing to the city, there will be a lot of domesticated livestock left. Set them free of fences. Let them roam, but they will still be less wary of humans than a deer. I have no difficulty believing that it will be possible to approach a cow and over the course of a day or three get her to accept my presence enough I can touch her. At that point, I don't need a gun or a spear or a bow and arrow. A knife or even a good sharp stick to her throat will be sufficient to provide meat for my group for quite some time. I also have a woman's question...What do I do about my menstrual blood. I don't want to pollute our water supply by using and washing rags. I've heard tell of some tribes having used cattail fluff - but I've also got info that cattail fluff is irritating when in direct contact with human skin, thus necesitating the rags I'm already trying to avoid. It is also my understanding that the !Kung just let it run and washed it off. But I expect the climate where I'm going to be living will necessitate wearing leg coverings at least part of the year. Any suggesions on how this issue can be dealt with? The topic on this page is learning primitive skills. I have noticed on the pages I’ve read thus far on this site that talk of hunting seems to focus exclusively on big game animals (or insects).
I just want to bring up two other alternatives. One don’t forget that small game can be snared or caught with bolas or darts (anyone who’s good at the bar game ought to get a sharp set for hunting).
Two, Seems to me that if Tribe Anthropik is correct and most people will be fleeing to the city, there will be a lot of domesticated livestock left. Set them free of fences. Let them roam, but they will still be less wary of humans than a deer. I have no difficulty believing that it will be possible to approach a cow and over the course of a day or three get her to accept my presence enough I can touch her. At that point, I don’t need a gun or a spear or a bow and arrow. A knife or even a good sharp stick to her throat will be sufficient to provide meat for my group for quite some time.
I also have a woman’s question…What do I do about my menstrual blood. I don’t want to pollute our water supply by using and washing rags. I’ve heard tell of some tribes having used cattail fluff - but I’ve also got info that cattail fluff is irritating when in direct contact with human skin, thus necesitating the rags I’m already trying to avoid. It is also my understanding that the !Kung just let it run and washed it off. But I expect the climate where I’m going to be living will necessitate wearing leg coverings at least part of the year. Any suggesions on how this issue can be dealt with?

]]> By: Curt http://anthropik.com/2006/01/learning-primitive-skills/#comment-6055 Curt Fri, 10 Feb 2006 02:42:27 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2006/01/learning-primitive-skills/#comment-6055 I forgot to mention in my last post that you can listen to a replay of the call with Jon Young at the link given. I forgot to mention in my last post that you can listen to a replay of the call with Jon Young at the link given.

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