Hot Survival Training Posts
How To: Eat Amaranth
Learn from Green Deane about Amaranth, a long-cultivated but also wild vegetable and grain.
How To: Eat cactus (Opuntia)
Learn from Green Deane about edible cactus, far more common than people think..
How To: Eat Spiderwort (Tradescantia)
Learn from Green Deane about Spiderwort a spring green that is available for two or more seasons of the year.
How To: Eat Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule)
Learn from Green Deane about Henbit, a spring green you might not have noticed. It has a slightly different taste than other new greens.
How To: Make pine-pitch adhesive
Watch this short video on how to make pine-pitch adhesive (a natural hot-melt glue using dry/solidified pine sap as its main ingredient).
How To: Eat thistles
Learn from Green Deane how to identify and prepare thistles, which are spring time greens from around the world.
How To: Eat rumex (Sorrel)
Learn from Green Deane how to identify and prepare Rumex (Sorrel) a spring time green around the world.
How To: Eat wild lettuce and sow thistle
Learn with Green Deane how to recognize and prepare wild lettuce and sow thistle, lactuca and sonchus.
How To: Build a primitive bow
Make a bow using Stone Age tools. You don't have to find a cave or anything--you can always do it in your backyard!
How To: Straighten a cane to build an atlatl
Check out this video on making a cane atlatl dart, starting by straightening the cane dart blank. Part 1 of 3 - How to Straighten a cane to build an atlatl.
How To: Make an atlatl
Make a generic North American style atlatl from the American Southwest with advice from this "paleo" survivalist.
How To: Identify and avoid poisonous plants
Learn how to identify and watch out for poisonous plants of the Eastern Woodlands, especially poison ivy, of course.
How To: Build a wikkie shelter for outdoor survival
Check out this video to learn how to make a wikkie shelter if you need to spend the night in the woods.
How To: Make a wilderness quiver
Check out this video to get tips on how to make a wilderness quiver. Watch to learn what materials to use, including a PVC pipe.
How To: Haft a primitive point
Haft primitive points for hunting with tips from this video. Start by making a fire.
How To: Collect wild edibles
Check out this video to learn how to find and gather wild edibles and medicinal plants. First, learn how to identify the toothwort plant. If you don't already know how to recognize the wild lettuce plant, keep watching.
How To: Learn the witchery of archery
Check out this video on the witchery of archery. First, learn about the recurve bow. Part 1 of 3 - How to Learn the witchery of archery.
How To: Make a primitive bowl
Create a primitive bowl in the woods. You will want to build a fire and transfer hot coals. Part 1 of 2 - How to Make a primitive bowl.
How To: Make fire with steel wool and a battery
Build a fire without matches or a lighter so you wont freeze to death or attract predators in the wild. The finer the steel wool, the better. Most batteries will work but 9 volt batteries are the easiest.
How To: Start a fire with a battery
Strike a fire with a battery. "Sticks and stone may brake your bones, but they will take forever to start a fire!" This is a good video if you need to survive in the wild by creating a fire.
How To: Make fire with flint
Learn how to make fire with flint with advice from Andy Hofmann!
How To: Use a can opener on your Swiss Army knife
This video shows you how to use a can opener, like the ones found on Swiss Army knives. There's also a strange fruit in this video, something called lychees. So, if you're ever in need of opening a can of lychees in the woods, this is the video to watch.
How To: Make a survival whistle from a tin can
This video shows how to make a whistle out of a piece of tin or aluminum from an ordinary can. It's easy to do! Why is it a survival whistle? Because you could probably find the materials to make it laying around on the ground, plus it beats yelling.
How To: Make fire from just flint and steel
This video is just to show you how to make fire from steel and lint. What more do you need to know? Use an Altoids tin to hold your kit. Just make sure your children don't think it's candy.
How To: Use a fire piston to start fires
This video will tell you all you need to know to get that fire of yours started using an aluminum fire piston. Never leave home without this, that is, if you live in the woods.
How To: Use a bow and drill set to make fire
Use a bow and drill set to make fire. The spindle is extended using a deer canon bone and the chuck is yucca with a black willow bit on the top. The hand hold is an elk knuckle and the hearthboard is some kind of maple.
How To: Make a fire with a bow and drill
Make a fire with a bow and drill. Use fire birch for your spindle.
How To: Make a soda can stove
With tips from this video, make a soda can stove. First, cut the bottom off. Poke holes with a knife into the side of the lid. Make a piece for the inside of the stove.
How To: Turn a pop can into a candle lantern
Turn a pop can into a candle lantern. Create a sharp edge with flint.
How To: Make a fire with a hacksaw blade
Make a fire with a hacksaw blade--use the side without teeth.
How To: Create primitive fire
Create primitive fire with these survival tricks and tips. Enjoy the didgeridoo in the background!
How To: Exchange snuff with nomadic herders in Mongolia
Watch BBC's Ray Mears to learn how to participate in some traditional product exchanges that have been passed down through Nomadic generations in Mongolia.
How To: Carve out a canoe
Ray Mears travels to Savaii to learn the art of making a canoe. Learn how to make a canoe with tips from the BBC.
How To: Make a perfect igloo
Survival expert Ray Mears from the BBC teaches you how to make the best igloo. It's pretty and lustrous too.
How To: Build a Siberian chum from branches and reindeer hide
Watch how to build a Siberian chum from branches and reindeer hide. The BBC's Ray Mears demonstrates how to make a traditional Siberian Chum from branches and reindeer hide.
How To: Make buck skin moccasins
Learn how to make buck skin moccasins.
How To: Make traditional boots
Watch this video to learn how to make traditional boots. Ray Mears is measured up for his very own pair of buck skin moccassins and explains why they are the best accompaniment for the traditional snow shoe.
How To: Set traps and catch reef creatures in Savaii
Check out this video to learn how to catch reef creatures in Savaii. Find out traditional ways to catch some of the reef's best meals.
How To: Walk up a palm tree using a harness
Walk up a palm tree using a harness. Watch this video to see the BBC's Ray Mears work out some of the best uses for the humble palm tree.
How To: Dig for water in the desert
Watch Ray Mears from the BBC show you how to dig for water in the Australian outback. Use grass as a filter.