I bought a new property to shoot primitive technology videos on. The new area is dense tropical rainforest with a permanent creek. Starting completely from scratch, my first project was to build a simple dome hut and make a fire. First, I took some wood, Abroma mollis, for fire sticks. I knapped a small stone blade and used it to strip the fire sicks. Palm fibre was then taken for the tinder. The fire stick kit was then placed under a palm leaf to keep it out of the rain.
Next, a stone from the creek was fashioned into a simple hand axe. This was used to cut a staff that was used to clear a path to the hut location. The location for the hut was a clearing densely crowded by native raspberry. This was then cleared using the staff and a small 2.5 m circle was levelled ready for building.
Eight 2.75 m long saplings were cut using the hand axe and brought to the site. Eight holes about 25 cm deep were hammered into the ground in a circle 2.5 m in diameter and the saplings were then planted in. The tops were brought together at the top and tied with vine. A door lintel stick was lashed to the front about 75 cm off the ground giving a low door way.
A stone flake was used to cut about 600 palm fronds. These were split and lashed horizontally to the frame creating a thatched dome. Mosquitoes are a real problem here so a fire was lit. The fire sticks from before had a hole carved in the base boards and had a notch carved to let the powder pour out.
The spindle was twirled in the socket and smoking powder poured out producing a hot coal. This then ignited the palm fibre tinder. The fire was transferred to the hut and a small hearth was made of stones. The fire makes a big difference in the number of mosquitoes which seem unable to tolerate the smoke. The dome was completed up to the top and a small cap was made from lawyer cane and fronds to place on the top to keep rain out. When not in use the cap can be removed to let in more light like a sky light.
Finally wood was cut for a bed. This consisted of wooden stakes hammered into the ground at the back of the hut behind the fire pit. Part of the bed frame is attached to the sapling uprights that form the dome. This works ok without the frame shaking too much due to the low attachment point of the bed. Wooden boards were then placed on this and were covered with palm fibre for bedding. Firewood is stored just inside the entrance on the left side of the door looking in. The bed sits behind the fire pit so smoke and flames deter insects or large animals reaching the occupant. Fire sticks and tools are kept just inside the right side of the entrance.
The small hut is simple to build and creates a small, dry shelter for camping and storing tools. Though it is dark, the cap can be removed in fine weather to provide a fairly well-lit workspace protected from annoying insects. This new area has good stone, clay and materials lending themselves to elaborate shelters. A permanent creek runs through it. Mosquitoes are abundant here though and will be an issue. The Cassowary, a large, horned, flightless bird lives in this forest. It’s the most dangerous bird in the world, but generally only attacks when threatened.
What is the current plan of action for dealing with/avoiding the cassowaries, especially in cases where they happen to nest nearby, or start to encroach because of the surrounding berry supply?
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They don’t attack unless threatened or expect food. If one attacks you just stand behind a tree and it gives up. Thanks.
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Good job on getting new land. I heard you were planning on it. How big is this piece of land, and what’s the difference between where you used to work and this one?
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12 acres but only half is forest. It’s more rain forest than bush land. The creek is permanent and has fish and eels in it. It has good clay and stone and the palms here are the right type for thatching roofs. Thanks.
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Are you able to tell us how large an area you purchased for filming new PT videos? I was excited to see the new creek by the way. I can’t wait to see what you do with it.
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12 acres but only half is forest. Yes the creek is probably the best feature. Thanks.
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Congratulations mate, you are smart, brave, and have patient, but in first place watch yourself, keep your health, there have own vegetables, fruits, tea, herbals for heal.
And you will be fine.
On all this its good this what you have own peace, and this its important.
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Thanks, will do.
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Wow, it’s amazing. Loads of potential. Thinking about damming the creek for water power? Sorry – I’m obsessed by water power. I spent a lot of time building mud dams across streams and camps in the countryside. Looking forward to future videos. Good luck!
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Congratulation on the new property! Glad to see you living the dream.
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Hi Kristen, the email you gave me doesn’t work. I’ll wait about an hour for another one and then delete this comment. Thanks.
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Will you be able to hunt on this land and use the tools you previously built
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Only feral animals (pigs) and a few native fish, eels and shrimp. Reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals that are native are illegal to hunt unfortunately because of our strict environmental laws here. Maybe I’ll get a pig though. Thanks.
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wish i could join you i have always been interested in this stuff cause its in the blood we did it millions of years ago but idk where i can do it here if anyone in the US knows where it would be very helpful lol keep up the good work cause one day we may need these skills
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Try to contact a farmer if possible and ask if you can practice on their land. I once met a person who built adobe huts that was able to stay on a farmers land for a year. He built a hut and then lived in it for 12 months. The farmer got a mud hut out of the deal. Otherwise try buying cheap land if possible-
make sure it’s low maintenance (i.e. no mowing/ up keep). Thanks.
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Congratulations with the new land. Looking forward to watch your projects and ideas become reality.
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You do such an amazing job. I have a question though. When I try to make clay pots, my finished project always crumbles to dust as soon as I touch it. Have any ideas why it might do that?
Thanks
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Some clay just doesn’t work. I tried refining mud into clay to improve it’s strength but it still cracked a lot. Select a clay that is very plastic and is strong even during the green stage (dry but not fired yet). Thanks.
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I do still hate mosquitos though. I wonder what the answer is.
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Smoke is best as far as I have experienced. Sometimes I can not get work done without a smudge fire repelling them. Thanks.
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