Surviving off the land!

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McManda89
McManda89 Posts: 27
in Health and Weight Loss
I have always wanted to try going on a camping trip for a week with nothing but camping essentials (matches, knife, tent, blankets, ect.) and no food, and to try surviving off the land.

Has anyone ever done this before? What was it like? To be honest if I did try this I would do it in the woods behind my grandparents' house so that I wouldn't be completely isolated haha. Just the thought of rugged survival sounds so fun to me. Identifying edible plants, snaring wild game, fishing for dinner, or something, idk.

In general though; how much home-grown food do you consume, if any?

Replies

  • Izzwoz
    Izzwoz Posts: 348 Member
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    Before you do this, watch the film "Into the Wild". Then think again. Not saying don't do it, but one needs to know what one is doing.
  • Cr01502
    Cr01502 Posts: 3,614 Member
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    I think you should go for it.
  • Jen_ht
    Jen_ht Posts: 99 Member
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    It's fair enough to want to do that and I think you should, but I also think you should take some food with you. Surviving off the land is really tricky unless you know what you're looking for WITHOUT FAIL.

    I go foraging on a regular basis and I will only pick up what I can positively identify, 100% with no doubt, otherwise you don't know what you could be eating - it could be toxic, or worse, deadly. Many plants and mushrooms, although look nice to eat, are actually the most deadly ones, especially if they look like another strain of the species that is safe to eat.

    I would suggest if you really want to do proper living off the land, catching game and eating plants, that you look for a local guide who knows the area - then you can get help identifying plants safe to eat, and catching animals without causing unnecessary harm to them. Often there are weekend courses you can go on with other like-minded people and you can learn a lot, and make some new friends! Then you'll also know where to find certain foods. Otherwise you could be walking for hours trying to find the one plant you are looking for...

    Good luck with it, and I hope you have fun! It's a great way to learn more about the world we live in :)
  • McManda89
    McManda89 Posts: 27
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    Thank you for your replies! I'm sorry I didn't make this clearer; my grandparents own about 10 acres of land, it's cut in half with a tree line, the front half has their home, and the back half has a large open area with a pond. If I did decide to try this I'd literally be steps away from their home. I'd never actually go in to the wilderness without a fail safe.

    Thank you for your advice Jen, do you have any resources or suggestions on recognizing wild edibles? Do you bring water or scavenge that as well (I would bring my own, I'm a novice after all)? Just curious.
  • pennydreadful270
    pennydreadful270 Posts: 266 Member
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    Fishing is fun, I've eaten fish straight out of the river and cooked over a fire, but not very often. Only on camping trips. I've eaten fresh rabbit and pheasant shot with an air rifle, but I've not got the faintest idea about making traps. I think shooting them is probably a kinder end, unless you check the traps very frequently.

    As for foraging, it's something I'd love to learn! There isn't much wild about me though. There are lots of green and open spaces, but it's all flat and cultivated. Does nicking turnips from the side of the farmer's field count as foraging? lol.

    Err, you can eat nettles I guess? I've found some wild rhubarb on occasion... the odd raspberry or bramble berry bush is easy to spot. That really is the extent of my knowledge. :/
  • benol1
    benol1 Posts: 867 Member
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    Thank you for your replies! I'm sorry I didn't make this clearer; my grandparents own about 10 acres of land, it's cut in half with a tree line, the front half has their home, and the back half has a large open area with a pond. If I did decide to try this I'd literally be steps away from their home. I'd never actually go in to the wilderness without a fail safe.

    Thank you for your advice Jen, do you have any resources or suggestions on recognizing wild edibles? Do you bring water or scavenge that as well (I would bring my own, I'm a novice after all)? Just curious.

    Seriously, if you want to have fun, take a fuel stove and your own food and camp out with the appropriate equipment and gear.
    Certainly, learn about what you could survive on in your area.
    If you don't already know the series, you should check out Bear Grylls's 'Man v Wild' and join one of your local bushwalking clubs.
    All the best,

    Ben
  • McManda89
    McManda89 Posts: 27
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    Thank you for your replies! I'm sorry I didn't make this clearer; my grandparents own about 10 acres of land, it's cut in half with a tree line, the front half has their home, and the back half has a large open area with a pond. If I did decide to try this I'd literally be steps away from their home. I'd never actually go in to the wilderness without a fail safe.

    Thank you for your advice Jen, do you have any resources or suggestions on recognizing wild edibles? Do you bring water or scavenge that as well (I would bring my own, I'm a novice after all)? Just curious.

    Seriously, if you want to have fun, take a fuel stove and your own food and camp out with the appropriate equipment and gear.
    Certainly, learn about what you could survive on in your area.
    If you don't already know the series, you should check out Bear Grylls's 'Man v Wild' and join one of your local bushwalking clubs.
    All the best,

    Ben
    I've been camping plenty of times with appropriate gear (thought I've never gone as far as bringing a stove...), and had plenty of fun cooking the food we brought and relaxing under the stars, which is why I'm up for a little more of a camping challenge.

    I am familiar with the series, and it's some what of an inspiration. That along with other survival type series'. I've searched through my communities activity books many times and we don't even have nature hikes in my area. Most of the community clubs/organizations only host indoor events or park events.
  • benol1
    benol1 Posts: 867 Member
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    Thank you for your replies! I'm sorry I didn't make this clearer; my grandparents own about 10 acres of land, it's cut in half with a tree line, the front half has their home, and the back half has a large open area with a pond. If I did decide to try this I'd literally be steps away from their home. I'd never actually go in to the wilderness without a fail safe.

    Thank you for your advice Jen, do you have any resources or suggestions on recognizing wild edibles? Do you bring water or scavenge that as well (I would bring my own, I'm a novice after all)? Just curious.

    Seriously, if you want to have fun, take a fuel stove and your own food and camp out with the appropriate equipment and gear.
    Certainly, learn about what you could survive on in your area.
    If you don't already know the series, you should check out Bear Grylls's 'Man v Wild' and join one of your local bushwalking clubs.
    All the best,

    Ben
    I've been camping plenty of times with appropriate gear (thought I've never gone as far as bringing a stove...), and had plenty of fun cooking the food we brought and relaxing under the stars, which is why I'm up for a little more of a camping challenge.

    I am familiar with the series, and it's some what of an inspiration. That along with other survival type series'. I've searched through my communities activity books many times and we don't even have nature hikes in my area. Most of the community clubs/organizations only host indoor events or park events.

    Ok, I understand. If you know what is edible in your area then - go for it.
    I look forward to hearing about your adventures.
    kind regards,

    Ben
  • swissbrit
    swissbrit Posts: 201
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    I have this book SAS Survival Guide its pocket size and has loads of weird information for all climates and cheap

    Here is a youtube book review on it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJxiuFK6XM0
  • swissbrit
    swissbrit Posts: 201
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    I have this book SAS Survival Guide its pocket size and has loads of weird information for all climates and cheap

    Here is a youtube book review on it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJxiuFK6XM0
    This might be the better review http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5Ehe9a5WFY
  • Graceious1
    Graceious1 Posts: 716 Member
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    I did this when I visited Africa over 12 years ago. I was a veggie for 6 weeks. It does help to have local knowledge (other people's)as to what is safe to eat and not though.

    Good luck with it if you give it a go.
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
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    I'd like to try surviving with nothing but palaeolithic technology for a short time (say a week or two) - this kind of thing is really not easy though, you need a lot of specialist knowledge. Even if you're not planning on limiting yourself to palaeo technology then you'd still need to know how (and what) to hunt and gather with modern technology that you can carry with you, and build a fire (matches are just for starters there's a lot more to firebuilding than that, plus knowing how to start and maintain a fire when it's wet is important too)

    If you have the knowledge and skills then definitely go for it. If you don't have the knowledge and skills then learn them first and go for it.
  • Jen_ht
    Jen_ht Posts: 99 Member
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    Glad I could help!

    I would say take your own water. You can boil whatever you find but boiling definitely doesn't affect half the chemicals you find in there from from pesticides etc. that you get now.

    Also, the best thing I find is when you're out foraging, take a little handbook with you with lots of pictures - this will help identify what you find and will also list whether it has an toxic look-a-likes. If you're still not absolutely sure and it does have a few look-a-likes, then I would leave it. Or alternatively - if it looks really good and you're like 90% sure then keep a larger and more detailed reference book at camp (or at home) so you can bring a bit back with you to do more research (that's what I do with mushrooms, as well as then being able to get a spore print)

    My books are Collins Gem 'food for free' and 'mushrooms' - literally pocket sized, and a lot of detail and good photos. Also if you know what you're likely to find in your area then have a look for blogs of foragers who will often have a lot of identifying photos.

    Just had one more idea - go on a long hike in the area you'll be camping in. Have a look around and bring some samples back to research. Make a list of things to look for that you know for a fact are edible and test yourself on identification before you actually put yourself out there for any period of time.

    Note: I live in the UK so probably couldn't suggest plants for your area, but seasonal and foraging blogs are a great source of info.

    Good luck!

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