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World's Best Survivalism HowTo's

Nov 14, 2009 12:09 AM

You're alone in the wilderness. Stranded. Hungry. Cold. What do you do?

Naivety could be your downfall, but you don't need to be an Army Ranger to survive.

The five most basic survival skills are fire, shelter, signaling, first aid, and food and water. Learn them. Know them. Live them. Or simply… have fun with them.

Jonathan Ridgeon has lived in the countryside all of his life and was always fascinated with the outdoors. Making a simple fire was the start of his bushcraft adventures:

"From a young age I was fascinated by the idea of making fire by 'rubbing sticks'. When I saw it on TV I was amazed and was excited to try this for myself. It became a personal mission to achieve fire in this way! After a hell of a lot of hard work I managed it, and I still have these skills today."

Jon also participated in a bushcraft course with Ray Mears at Woodlore. His site offers 20 amazing DIY projects that range from starting fires to building a canoe. Check them all out below.

Making and Using the Bow Drill (Hard)

Fire-making materials and tools displayed on grass.

Canadian Skin On Frame Canoe 1 (Hard)

Wooden boat on the bank of a calm river with green grass.

Canadian Skin On Frame Canoe 2 (Hard)

Red wooden canoe on green grass.

Coil Basket (Medium)

Woven basket with a pinecone lid on a wooden surface.

Beech Bark Container (Medium)

A rustic notebook resting on a moss-covered stone.

Crafting a Fish / Eel Trap (Medium)

Natural wooden basket on green grass.

Carving a Dish (Medium)

Hand holding a wooden dish filled with fresh raspberries surrounded by flowers.

Crafting a Classic Kuksa Cup (Medium)

Wooden scoop hanging from a rope in a garden setting.

Making a Berry Picker (Easy)

Bamboo stick holder being held by a hand.

Making a Crook Knife Case (Medium)

Woodworking tool with a curved blade and wooden handle, resting on a wooden surface.

Processing Lime Bark Cordage Fibres (Easy)

Cordage Making (Easy)

Elderflower Cordial Recipe (Easy)

Citrus slices including oranges and lemons in a refreshing drink.

Carving a Comb (Medium)

Wooden comb resting on grass.

Birch Tar Collection (Easy)

Hand holding a black and white chocolate-covered popsicle.

Making a Whistle from Elder (Easy)

Handcrafted wooden whistles on mossy ground.

Make a Woven Birch Bark Basket (Easy)

Handmade rectangular basket made from natural materials, resting on a wooden surface.

Carve a Bullroarer (Easy)

Handcrafted wooden object depicting a kangaroo design.

Making a Large Fishing Hook (Easy)

Hand holding a small, intricately woven natural object.

Weave a Basic Wicker Basket (Medium)

Woven wicker basket close-up on a green background.

Make a Birch Bark Container (Easy)

Bamboo steamers stacked on grass.

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