rewild

is that I’ll never finish it!

There will always be opportunities to live closer to the processes of nature.

Blackened Cajun red snapper with bok choy (seasoned with lemon pepper)

a Paleo diet yesterday.

Parts I & II on the rabbit hat:

Wed, April 2:
Last night, Kestrel and I skinned the rabbit that I found freshly dead on the street last weekend. The fur was in pretty good condition after having sat in his freezer. We have two lucky rabbit’s feet and enough skin for a small hat. Kestrel is keeping the bones; they serve all kinds of useful purposes. Including earlobe plugs…

In the middle of skinning, we broke out into a conversation about how spiritually uplifting it was to accept and use the death of the rabbit in a constructive way. It felt fulfilling in a way that I haven’t felt for a very long time.

Later (probably next week) we will tan the hide with the animal’s brains (which are still intact) and smoke the pelt to finish it. After that, it’s ready to use for clothing.

Sat, April 19:
On Thursday, Kestrel and I scraped the rabbit hide. The goal is to remove everything except the dermis and the fur; then the pelt can be tanned. We’re not completely done with scraping it. It’s back in his freezer until next time.

Because the rabbit had been hit by a car, and because it had gone a few hours before being frozen and rethawed for skinning, the hide is irregularly shaped and it was difficult to scrape without tearing it. When we are finished with this one, there will not be enough fur for a hat. So, for those of you who were anticipating a hat, I have to admit to you that I will not be able to make this article of clothing in the near future.

However, there is a good chance we’ll be snaring rabbits in Discovery Park this summer and tanning/eating them. When I get another pelt, I would like to make a pattern and combine sections of the furs together to make a smart looking hat with earflaps. Michelle, my co-worker, suggested finding flannel with little bunnies on it as fabric for a liner. Since I haven’t really decided yet how morbid I like my ironic humor, this idea is still up in the air…

-Tanning a rabbit hide/making a hat from it (I found the rabbit dead on the street)

-Planting a sustainable garden (Seattle Pea Patch org.)

I learned about the following:

-shootin’ guns (including a fricking glock)
-flintknapping with obsidian
-deer hide tanning
-animal tracking
-bowdrilling (cedar)
-wild food
-how awesome rewilding folks are!!!

The North American Afterculture

The Porcupine Palace is hosting a skill share for primitive skills in February! It’s an overnight weekend event. I have a ride lined up. I’m definitely going!

Areas of interest:
-wild plants (edibles and medicinals)
-trapping
-starting fire w/out matches
-water filtration

how to filet a walleye on Thursday.

http://www.insurgentdesire.org.uk/whyprim.htm
http://www.insurgentdesire.org.uk/feral.htm