“Be careful what you say in the woods, for often it is true.”
And so began the 2-day primitive skills workshop led by a barefooted Mike Douglas of the Maine Primitive Skills School.
The event was hosted by Kathryn Cardinal and her partner, Ian Thunder, on their beautiful land in Northwestern Pennsylvania. A fresh water spring, an earthship-in-progress, dozens of blooming wildflower species and towering hardwood trees — mostly maples — characterized the temporary out-of-doors home for the participants of this workshop.
Passing through Pennsylvania following an event in Ohio, Mike Douglas — who is currently the Director of Adult Programs for the Maine Primitive Skills School — and a band of a half-dozen or so apprentices led the 2-day program with a focus on the 4 core areas of survival: shelter, water, fire, and food.
For as they reminded us:
• You can live 3 hours without shelter.
• You can live 3 days without water.
• You can live 3 weeks without food.
As a participant of the 2-day primitive skills workshop myself, I had the fortunate opportunity to pull Mike aside for a few minutes and ask him a few questions.
In this video, Mike addresses the value of learning one’s land, the role of awareness in land-based skills, and more.
Enjoy!