Backyard Bushcraft - Bushcraft 101

Nature can teach you some very valuable lessons when it comes to survival. Many people quite often ask how to get started learning bushcraft without realizing they don’t have to go any further than their own backyard. You can spend years learning about nature by simply observing the things that happen on a daily basis in your own backyard.

Most people spend a large amount of time in their own backyard without knowing what is happening on an everyday basis. Most creatures pay more attention to your activities than the average person does to theirs and will notice you before you are even aware of their presence. There’s a lot of stuff happening in your own backyard.

On any given day there are probably a dozen or more types of birds in my own backyard. Most of these birds have a preference for certain types of nests and have their own little rituals of daily activity that are often performed on a regular basis. They will also lay claim to your backyard when establishing their territory and they will defend it aggressively if they feel threatened by your presence. If you have never been “dive-bombed” by a mockingbird protecting its young in the nest, you are missing out on a truly unique experience.

Another example of backyard bushcraft is learning about the hazards in nature. From thorny plants to insects, there is a wide variety of creatures and things living in your own backyard that can help learn to better understand nature.  There’s not a dangerous type of snake that hasn’t been found in my own backyard at some time or another. Everything from copperheads to coral snakes has decided to move into my own backyard without seeking my permission. It seems they don’t recognize fences and property lines like my two-legged neighbors. There are also numerous varieties of other snakes that are usually quite harmless and that are of a beneficial nature hanging around in my own backyard.

How many times have you walked into a spider’s web in your backyard without even being aware of its presence? Perhaps you just got a rude awakening from that ant pile you failed to notice when you put your foot in the wrong place at the wrong time. You may have even realized that walking around barefoot at night isn’t such a great idea after being stung by a scorpion that was on the prowl for a late night snack. If you aren’t careful, nature sometimes has a very harsh way of getting your attention.

Start by practicing a little “backyard bushcraft” which will help to teach you to be more observant about your surroundings and make you a little more aware of all the things that are happening. Nature and its creatures perform an enormous amount of activities in your own backyard on a daily basis. Taking the time to learn more about your own immediate environment is a great way to start learning bushcraft. If you find yourself in a totally different area, you can then use that experience and knowledge to your benefit.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker