Rural Missouri - May 2013 - (Page 24)

O U T D O O R S David Wendell’s survival tips can save your life in everyday scenarios by Kyle Spradley kspradley@ruralmissouri.coop different experts, because not one solution is the best. Having as much knowledge as possible and practicing your t’s a pleasant spring day out on the farm. You skills is key. I always say, ‘Hone head out to take care of the cows on the back them until you own them.’” 40 of your 1,000-acre ranch. The sun is shining The ﬁrst thing he teaches is bright and the birds are chirping. But just over the “Rule of 3s.” the next ridge, a strong thunderstorm has popped “Think about if you have up and is headed your way. only three minutes to live, The wind picks up and heavy rain so you check yourself for starts to fall — leaving you in danany ﬁrst-aid needs,” Dager. With more than a mile walk back vid says. “Next, think to your house, what do you do? about if you had to go “First thing is not to panic,” says Dathree hours withvid Wendell of Mansﬁeld. “Second, assess Mansﬁeld out shelter, what what you have and think outside the box • would you do? to ﬁnd things around you to use to your Get shelter and a beneﬁt. Mother Nature gives you just way to start a ﬁre. about everything you need to survive.” Then worry about if Reacting to everyday survival situations is what you had to go three days withDavid teaches through his Bushcraft on Fire classes out water or food and what and website. For more than 20 years, he has studied you will collect.” the art of bushcrafting from famed survival experts The solution to many of Ron Hood, Tom Brown and Larry Dan Olson and these situations doesn’t have enjoys sharing his survival tips with others. to be expensive outdoor gear. “The biggest way I have been able to reach people For instance, many ﬁre starters all over the world is through YouTube,” he says. such as a metal match or steel “We’ve surpassed 4 million views from more than ferro rod can be purchased 300 videos I have uploaded. We teach everything David Wendell poses with his simple survival kit next to a makeshift shelter at for just a few dollars. It can from starting ﬁres, gear reviews, cooking, homehis home outside of Mansﬁeld. For more than two decades, David has studied be one of the most important steading and basic skills everyone needs to learn in bushcrafting and shares his knowledge through instructional videos and classes. tools in a pack. order to make it through a survival situation.” “With a simple plastic lens, Knowing what to do in any scenario, David bewhen I will be back,” he adds. you can start a ﬁre in about 10 seconds,” says David. lieves, is important for everyone. He urges people to In the future, David will be working with several “Take a look at the items around your house and read up on survival skills or take a survival class to of the nation’s top survival schools and doing more think what you could use them for. Even a cheap be prepared for any situation that arises. with his radio show — broadcast each Thursday tarp or shower curtain can be used as a shelter.” In his Bushcraft on Fire classes, David takes night on his website. David believes in simplicity. His basic survival students out into the woods to learn skills ﬁrsthand. “I didn’t get into this for the fame,” he says. “I pack includes a knife, ﬁre starter, rope, ﬁrst aid kit, Along the hike, he points out edibles and other do this to help people. I enjoy training and sharing a container to cook or boil water in, some kind of natural resources that can be put to use when lost. information so that others may beneﬁt, because you shelter, food and extra clothing. “If I was ever in a survival situation and had to never know when a situation may arise that you “Always worry about water,” David advises. “Boil pick one guy to be with, it would be David,” says need to apply skills in order to survive. You have to any water you ﬁnd out in the bush. It could contain Stuart Raike of Deﬁance. “I have taken three of his be prepared.” diseases that can harm you.” classes, and I’m amazed by his knowledge. We see With Missouri’s ever-changing weather, he says to just a trail, but when David’s walking through the To learn more survival tips from David Wendell and always prepare for the worst and pack extra clothwoods, he sees an aisle in a grocery store. Thanks for a list of his upcoming classes, call him at 417-924ing, even for a short day hike. Also, if you’re headto his teachings, I feel conﬁdent now I can handle 9248 or visit www.bushcraftonﬁre.net. ing out into the woods, always tell someone where myself in almost any survival situation.” Check out David’s library of videos on his channel at you are going. “I even leave a footprint on a piece of “But don’t just listen to me,” adds David, a Se-Mawww.youtube.com/bushcraftonﬁre. paper, tape it to my car door and leave a note saying No Electric Cooperative member. “Learn from many I Outdoor Notes S tart the summer out right by taking the kids on an outdoor adventure. Missouri State Parks encourages all Missourians to get out in a park on National Kids to Parks Day on May 18. This national event is sponsored by the National Park Trust as Missouri joins other agencies from across the country to celebrate. Several family-oriented activities are planned at parks and historic sites across the state. Visit www.mostateparks.com/page/60264/national-kidsparks-day to see what is happening in your area. If you happen to snap a great photo while visiting a state park, be sure to enter it in our Missouri Snapshots Photo Contest. Details are on page 10. 24 T he Missouri Department of Conservation invites women to get hands-on training in various outdoor skills at its Discover Nature Women Summer Workshop, held May 31 to June 2 at the Windermere Conference Center in Roach. The free workshop is targeted toward newcomers to outdoor activities and allows participants to pick four courses from topics such as archery, canoeing, hunting, outdoor cooking, map and compass reading, camping, ﬂy-tying and ﬁrearms. The weekend is open to women 18 years and older, along with young women ages 14 to 17 when accompanied by a parent. For more information and how to register, visit www.mdc.mo.gov/node/3958 or call 573-522-4115. Lodging is available at Windermere. WWW.RURALMISSOURI.COOP Outdoor App of the Month Army Survival Guide Price: $1.99 T his app, available for iPhone and iPad, provides a complete reference guide on basic survival, evasion, ﬁrst aid and recovery information. If you are an outdoor enthusiast, this app may be essential to your survival. Included in the guide is information on shelters, ﬁnding water, edible and medicinal plants, dangerous animals to avoid, instructions on using ﬁeld weapons and tools, signaling techniques and ropes and knots. A special section breaks down how to deal with different climates. http://www.bushcraftonfire.net http://www.youtube.com/bushcraftonfire http://www.mostateparks.com/page/60264/national-kids-parks-day http://www.mostateparks.com/page/60264/national-kids-parks-day http://www.mdc.mo.gov/node/3958 http://WWW.RURALMISSOURI.COOP

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rural Missouri - May 2013

Rural Missouri - May 2013
Table of Contents
Comments
Columns
Chronicle of the corncob pipe
Missouri Snapshots contest
The family that drills together
Out of the Way Eats
Where bluegrass grows
Outdoors
Hearth and Home
Veggies and vision
Vertical gardening
Around Missouri
Marketplace
Neighbors
Just4Kids

Rural Missouri - May 2013