Harvesting trip

[abirdisnot]

Yesterday we went out on a harvesting field trip. We harvested stalks of a plant called dogbane, also known as "Indian Hemp," which is excellent for making cordage. We also harvested some black elderberry, just by the side of a road. Near the bottom of a slope, by a barbed-wire fence, was a long-dead skunk. It was pretty much dessicated jerky-like hide, some hair, and the skull. I took the skull and am going to bury it so that it's cleaned off.

We also gathered white-oak acorns. On the trip over, there were delicious acorn muffins, made from acorn flour from the acorns we shelled (i.e. smashed open with rocks) the day before.

This weekend we are learning basic blacksmithing. We have been cautioned to avoid synthetic clothing when standing near the forge, so that we do not catch on fire.