Comments for Living Primitively http://livingprimitively.com We are a group of people who are passionate about the old skills of living in and with nature. We don´t live in the same area, but instead work in different environments and have different approaches to what we do. With this site we´d like to share our passion with the larger world and connect with like minded people. Posting might be infrequent, because our lifestyle doesn´t involve internet access at all times. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:58:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Traditional lifestyles… by Thomas http://livingprimitively.com/2012/01/traditional-lifestyles/comment-page-1/#comment-4106 Thomas Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:58:08 +0000 http://livingprimitively.com/?p=1217#comment-4106 Thanks for posting your link Barbara, looks like you're in a beautiful location. Kyle, I agree, the Cree camp is certainly more appealing to me too...I thought it was pretty neat how they were still making dugout canoes and skis and using deadfalls for trapping in that russian documentary, though I'm certainly not aspiring to become a russian fur trapper :-) The Cree documentary was made quite a while ago and I imagine that the amount of cargo that people bring to their hunting and trapping camps has only increased since then. That is if any people of that area actually still do those seasonal camps...which unfortunately may not be the case any more. Thanks for posting your link Barbara, looks like you’re in a beautiful location.

Kyle, I agree, the Cree camp is certainly more appealing to me too…I thought it was pretty neat how they were still making dugout canoes and skis and using deadfalls for trapping in that russian documentary, though I’m certainly not aspiring to become a russian fur trapper :-)
The Cree documentary was made quite a while ago and I imagine that the amount of cargo that people bring to their hunting and trapping camps has only increased since then. That is if any people of that area actually still do those seasonal camps…which unfortunately may not be the case any more.

]]> Comment on Kyle and the Quiggly Hole by Thomas http://livingprimitively.com/2012/02/kyle-and-the-quiggly-hole/comment-page-1/#comment-4105 Thomas Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:30:55 +0000 http://livingprimitively.com/?p=1222#comment-4105 hey Kyle, great to see you posting here! Really enjoyed reading about the "Quiggly hole"... It reminds me of the "den" - a shelter at a camp called Mashkodens where I was staying this past summer. It's an underground structure designed for winter use with a long entrance tunnel (similar to an igloo or a snow cave), and even in -20F conditions the lodge temperature was still around freezing. There is no fire pit since it's meant for sleeping so smoke was not an issue...mold on the other hand became a challenge in the second or third winter. After a few unsuccessful attempts to take care of the mold through smudging the lodge a few opened up part of the roof to let it air out for some time and potentially replace some of the materials. Here are some pictures of the construction phase: http://www.teachingdrum.org/gallery/?dir=Mashkodens%2FThe%20Den As you said, the Natives usually had very good reasons why they build their shelters in a particular way which may not be obvious right away... all the more I appreciate the energy you put into figuring what works and what doesn't :-) best wishes from the northwoods, Thomas hey Kyle,

great to see you posting here!
Really enjoyed reading about the “Quiggly hole”…
It reminds me of the “den” – a shelter at a camp called Mashkodens where I was staying this past summer. It’s an underground structure designed for winter use with a long entrance tunnel (similar to an igloo or a snow cave), and even in -20F conditions the lodge temperature was still around freezing. There is no fire pit since it’s meant for sleeping so smoke was not an issue…mold on the other hand became a challenge in the second or third winter. After a few unsuccessful attempts to take care of the mold through smudging the lodge a few opened up part of the roof to let it air out for some time and potentially replace some of the materials. Here are some pictures of the construction phase:
http://www.teachingdrum.org/gallery/?dir=Mashkodens%2FThe%20Den

As you said, the Natives usually had very good reasons why they build their shelters in a particular way which may not be obvious right away…
all the more I appreciate the energy you put into figuring what works and what doesn’t :-)
best wishes from the northwoods,

Thomas

]]> Comment on Kyle and the Quiggly Hole by Kyle http://livingprimitively.com/2012/02/kyle-and-the-quiggly-hole/comment-page-1/#comment-4103 Kyle Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:18:43 +0000 http://livingprimitively.com/?p=1222#comment-4103 Thanks Deus. Mark, I'm glad to know of another primitivist in the region. I think I smaller hole also saves a lot of labor. One reason mine is the size it is is because I'm over six feet tall and I didn't want my head bumping against the ceiling. -Kyle Thanks Deus.

Mark, I’m glad to know of another primitivist in the region. I think I smaller hole also saves a lot of labor. One reason mine is the size it is is because I’m over six feet tall and I didn’t want my head bumping against the ceiling.

-Kyle

]]> Comment on Kyle and the Quiggly Hole by Mark http://livingprimitively.com/2012/02/kyle-and-the-quiggly-hole/comment-page-1/#comment-4102 Mark Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:09:23 +0000 http://livingprimitively.com/?p=1222#comment-4102 Did a double take when I saw the word quiggly come across the feed reader! My heritage is the Chilcotin area of B.C. and the first peoples there used them also. The holes are a lot smaller than your pics, it's a harsh and long winter there and guessing the smaller size was easier to keep warm. Did a double take when I saw the word quiggly come across the feed reader! My heritage is the Chilcotin area of B.C. and the first peoples there used them also. The holes are a lot smaller than your pics, it’s a harsh and long winter there and guessing the smaller size was easier to keep warm.

]]> Comment on Kyle and the Quiggly Hole by Deus Ex Machina http://livingprimitively.com/2012/02/kyle-and-the-quiggly-hole/comment-page-1/#comment-4101 Deus Ex Machina Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:57:41 +0000 http://livingprimitively.com/?p=1222#comment-4101 Excellent commentary. You did a fantastic job on your pit house. I, too, have found that the real learning occurs during the active "doing" phase and not the "research and reading phase". Excellent commentary. You did a fantastic job on your pit house. I, too, have found that the real learning occurs during the active “doing” phase and not the “research and reading phase”.

]]> Comment on Earth Lodge Finished by Kyle http://livingprimitively.com/2011/12/earth-lodge-finished/comment-page-1/#comment-4100 Kyle Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:55:25 +0000 http://livingprimitively.com/?p=1191#comment-4100 Nice work Torjus! I've been anticipating the finished product. More photos! Let's see the inside. Freakishly coincidental how we started very similar projects in '09 and only recently got photos up here... I too want to know how your smoke does. Do you know of any traditional designs for covered outdoor spaces? This is next on my list. I think I'd spend far more time in a covered outdoor cooking/crafting/gathering space than I'm apt to spend inside a primitive house. I've read only vague descriptions of outdoor dance halls, with brush rooves, in my region. And yeah, the long tule mat lodges here were also multi family affairs with multiple hearths. I look forward to reports on staying in the lodge. -Kyle Nice work Torjus! I’ve been anticipating the finished product. More photos! Let’s see the inside.

Freakishly coincidental how we started very similar projects in ‘09 and only recently got photos up here…

I too want to know how your smoke does.

Do you know of any traditional designs for covered outdoor spaces? This is next on my list. I think I’d spend far more time in a covered outdoor cooking/crafting/gathering space than I’m apt to spend inside a primitive house. I’ve read only vague descriptions of outdoor dance halls, with brush rooves, in my region.

And yeah, the long tule mat lodges here were also multi family affairs with multiple hearths.

I look forward to reports on staying in the lodge.

-Kyle

]]> Comment on Traditional lifestyles… by Kyle http://livingprimitively.com/2012/01/traditional-lifestyles/comment-page-1/#comment-4099 Kyle Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:30:36 +0000 http://livingprimitively.com/?p=1217#comment-4099 I'd take the Cree camp over the Russian camp any day! Those 'primitive' Cree's had more cargo than the average apartment renter. Did you notice all the dishes they had? And the cat!? Hunter/gatherers with house cats. Such a hard life- LOL. I gotta make me a pair of those wide skis... I’d take the Cree camp over the Russian camp any day! Those ‘primitive’ Cree’s had more cargo than the average apartment renter. Did you notice all the dishes they had? And the cat!? Hunter/gatherers with house cats. Such a hard life- LOL.

I gotta make me a pair of those wide skis…

]]> Comment on Traditional lifestyles… by Barbara Bailey http://livingprimitively.com/2012/01/traditional-lifestyles/comment-page-1/#comment-4097 Barbara Bailey Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:13:16 +0000 http://livingprimitively.com/?p=1217#comment-4097 Beautiful website; I hope I can find some of the documentaries on DVD -- I am in a remote part of the Alaska Interior and my satellite internet connection isn't fast enough for youtube. Am blogging my adventures at www.indeep-alaska.com if you are interested. All the best! Barbara Beautiful website; I hope I can find some of the documentaries on DVD — I am in a remote part of the Alaska Interior and my satellite internet connection isn’t fast enough for youtube. Am blogging my adventures at http://www.indeep-alaska.com if you are interested. All the best!
Barbara

]]> Comment on About Us by caleb http://livingprimitively.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-4093 caleb Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:26:20 +0000 #comment-4093 wow, is all i can say. i have been dreaming of this for a while. even more so since i have been living in the city, its so great to know that there are people who actuelly put their foot down and go out and live like man was made. you are very inspiring, i hope that one day, when i become a legal adult that i can live this way. Best regards, Caleb. wow, is all i can say. i have been dreaming of this for a while. even more so since i have been living in the city, its so great to know that there are people who actuelly put their foot down and go out and live like man was made. you are very inspiring, i hope that one day, when i become a legal adult that i can live this way.
Best regards,
Caleb.

]]> Comment on Traditional lifestyles… by Torjus http://livingprimitively.com/2012/01/traditional-lifestyles/comment-page-1/#comment-4091 Torjus Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:45:26 +0000 http://livingprimitively.com/?p=1217#comment-4091 I've checked out parts of the Russian documentary. Looks like much of the stuff is understandable through looking alone. Please tell me what additional information your Russian friend comes up with! I’ve checked out parts of the Russian documentary. Looks like much of the stuff is understandable through looking alone. Please tell me what additional information your Russian friend comes up with!

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