PRIMITIVE TEXAS AND LOUISIANA

Edible Wild Plants

The class will consist of wild plant identification walks through the natural habitats of the area. Emphasis will be placed on physical plant characteristics, edible plant parts, proper plant preparation, and available season of harvest. Some poisonous wild plants will also be covered, since these often grow right with the edible ones. Come join us as we explore the world of edible wild plants and expand your diet to include these nutritious wild resources!   

Wilderness Survival Trips

Travel through the wilderness with master survivalist, Mark Suter, and learn outdoor skills as you go. Students will only bring basic camping gear and backpack to a base camp where they will build a shelter out of natural materials. Students will then begin to learn skills such as fire-making (bow and hand drill methods), campfire structures, purifying water, rope making, open fire cooking techniques, and primitive tool making. From this central base camp, students will go on multiple harvesting trips to obtain the natural materials needed for the weekend. Additional subjects covered will include animal tracking, primitive hunting and trapping techniques, edible and medicinal wild plants, utilitarian plants, natural sources of tinder, natural hygiene items found in nature (soap, toothpaste, and toilet paper) and much more!  Every trip is a little different, due to different regions, available natural resources, and changes of the seasons!

Bow Making

Students will construct their very own self bow from start to finish. The class will begin with proper tree selection of the Osage Orange (Bois d'arc) tree for making a high quality bow. We will then go through the process of splitting out bow staves from tree trunks, stave reduction, growth ring integrity, grain reading, shaping, tillering, sanding, and oiling the finished bow. This workshop will take place over 4 weekends (last 3 to be decided on by students after first meeting). And at the end of the workshop, each student will have made his/her own high quality self bow that with proper care, will last a lifetime! Some bow work can be done at home while some work must be completed in class.    

      * Important Note*: Building a high quality bow from start to finish is a very physically demanding and tedious process that takes much patience and attention to detail. So only sign up for this one if you are ready to put in the work and will be dedicated to completing the whole process properly. 

Arrow Making

The class will begin with proper sapling selection to make high quality wood arrow shafts. We will then go into wooden shaft seasoning, reduction, straightening, fletching options, points (made from stone, bone, and hardwood), proper nock placement, natural adhesives, sinew reinforcing, and shooting self made arrows. Reed and cane arrows will also be covered.