Outdoor Survival Info

Archive for May, 2008

Here are two pictures of my growing tomatoes. These pictures are a few days old (maybe 4 or 5), and the tomatoes have grown a lot since then.

And here is a picture with my hand up to it so you can get some size perspective.

Those in the picture have grown so much since I snapped these photos. I’ll take more pictures once they start to turn red. I have no idea when that will be, but at the rate they are growing, it will be soon. The two plants in that planter have doubled in size since I bought them. At last count, I had six tomatoes growing. Besides that, I have many flowers getting ready to bloom.

And since the flowers are where the tomatoes are going to show up, I’m looking to have a great yield. Which is good because tomatoes are very healthy.

The Bit of Archery History
By Linda Thompson

The history of archery is an interesting one, by following the evolution of archery we also follow the history of mankind which is so closely linked.

Throughout the world we have found evidence of ancient archery, even in places where in the past it was thought that the bow and arrow was not used, such as Australia.

It is thought that archery most likely dates back to around 20,000 BC which is in the Stone Age, but the ancient Egyptians are credited as being the oldest known people to have used the bow and arrow. Archery was adopted by the ancient Egyptians at least 5000 years ago for the purpose of both hunting and warfare.

In 1200 BC the Hittites, an ancient people who lived in what is what is now known as Turkey and northern Syria, used the bow and arrow from fast, light chariots that enabled them to become dreaded opponents in Middle Eastern battles.

Their neighbours known as the Assyrians, who originated in Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria also used archery extensively. They reshaped the bow to a recurve shape that was shorter and much more powerful enabling them to be handled at lot easier by an archer on horseback. They also used several different types of material to build bows including horn, tendon and wood.

In China archery can be traced back to the Shang dynasty which was between 1766 and 1027 BC when war chariots carried a three man team consisting of a driver, lancer and archer.

It was during the ensuing Zhou dynasty between 1027-256 BC that the Chinese nobles at court liked to attend archery sporting tournaments that were accompanied by music and much fanfare.

The Chinese introduced civil archery to Japan around the six century and it had an overriding influence on later techniques and etiquette. One of Japan’s martial arts now known as kyudo (way of the bow) continues to be taught in Japan in the traditional manner. A bow over 2 metres long and made of bamboo, wood and laminated strips is used for shooting a target set in a roofed over bank of sand.

During the Geco-Roman period, the bow was utilized more for personal exploits or hunting than it was for warfare, Archery is frequently depicted on pottery dating to that time.

The Romans are not believed to have been very good archers, more than likely because up until the 5th century the bows they used were shot by drawing the string back to the chest rather than the face which gives the arrow far more accuracy.

Enemies such as the Parthians had far better skills; they were accomplished horsemen who were able to shoot backwards by swivelling around in the saddle often at full speed.

The superiority of the archery equipment and techniques used by the people of the Middle East continued for centuries. Attila the Hun and his Mongols, using Bows similar to those of the Parthians and Assyrians, conquered much of Asia and Europe and the Crusaders were thrown back by Turkish archers.

The bow was a means of survival during the days of English and later American colonization and still is in some countries on the African continent

The popularity of archery has also been reflected in many songs and folklore, probably the most famous being Robin Hood, but archery is also often referenced in Greek mythology.

The first known organized archery competition included 3000 participants and was held at Finsbury, England in 1583.

By the time of the European 30 Years War between 1618 and 1648 because of the introduction of the gun, it had become clear that the bow and arrow as a weapon belonged in the past.

Since that time, archery is has become extremely popular as a recreational sport.

Linda Thompson is webmaster of http:Discount Archery Shop where you can get all your discount archery needs from bows,arrows and accessories to targets. We have a full range of bows and arrows. Check our prices!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Thompson
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Bit-of-Archery-History&id=1152483

Well, my tomatoes are starting to grow!! I’ve got three little tomatoes sprouting from my plants (2 plants). I’m pretty excited about them. You see, I love tomatoes, and it seems I’ve got a bit of a green thumb, too. Yes, it is probably too early to make such a bold claim, but I’m going to throw it out there any way.

If I think of it tomorrow, I’ll take a few pictures of it and post them here.

Not much of a gardener? Don’t worry, I’m not either. But that’s not going to stop me! I have — just this afternoon — planted two tomato plants. We love tomatoes at this house, so that’s what I planted. I just took two tomato plants that I bought from Lowes (”patio” tomatoes), and put them in a self-watering container filled with organic potting soil.

Why vegetables? The answer is simple. We need vegetables to be healthy. Even though we get key amino acids from meats, it’s entirely possible to live off of nothing but fresh veggies and water. The survival implications here should be obvious: Gardening should be a skill you have if you are at all interested in survival, homesteading, sustainable living, or anything in between.

This is not my first gardening experience. Two years ago I successfully grew some fresh herbs in my kitchen for cooking. They were great. Now I’m trying my hand at tomatoes to prepare me for having an actual garden in the earth on the land we’re going to acquire sometime this year.

I’ll post pictures of my tomato plant’s progress through life.

Here’s a good article about getting started in fishing.

Easy Steps to Taking Up Angling
By Bill Bailey

If you have ever thought about taking up Angling but don’t know where to start, then you are not alone.

There are many ‘would be’ Anglers out there who never had the benefit or the opportunity to learn how to fish.

Most Anglers began to learn their craft as children – as is the more ‘traditional’ route into the sport – the knowledge having been passed from a senior family member, or gained by trial and error as a child with school-friends.

For those of you unfortunate enough not to have been inducted into angling as a youngster, finding out where to begin in later life can seem like a daunting prospect.

If you are thinking about taking up the sport just for yourself, or maybe you are looking for a leisure activity that you and your children can participate together, there are a number of ways to gain access into the world of angling.

Firstly, you will need to decide what branch of angling you want to take up. This will more than likely depend on local opportunities. For example, if you live close to the sea, you may want to take up fishing from the beach. If you have a river, canal or lake near to your home then chances are that you may decide to learn to fish at those locations. Of course there are variations on any theme, which may mean you opt for fly-fishing on the local reservoir or lake.

Whatever ‘discipline’ you choose then you should try to gain some experience of fishing first-hand, before you invest in relatively expensive fishing tackle and equipment.

There are many Angling Clubs and Associations that offer ‘taster sessions’ for beginners. Finding your local club and contact will be straight-forward, by searching the internet. If you have no luck on the net, phone your local tackle dealer for advice.

Generally ‘taster sessions’ put on by local Angling Clubs are staffed by very keen and enthusiastic members, blessed with infinite patience – something you will need to be an Angler – and very likely go out of their way to provide you with useful advice and assistance.

If you feel that you want to progress from the ‘taster session’, the easiest way to gain knowledge and experience is to invest in a starter session or two with local Angling coach. You can use the same process to locate a professional coach as you used to find your local Angling Club. If you choose to use a professional coach, they will also advise you on the tackle and equipment you need to get you going.

If you prefer to learn under your ‘own steam’ rather than invest in lessons, then the next step is to gain ‘local’ information on suitable venue to learn to fish. You can obtain this vital piece of information from your local tackle dealer.

Walking into a tackle shop and plucking up the courage to ask for help and advice is not an easy step to make, particularly if the store is busy with anglers browsing the shelves and racks, and with other anglers standing at the counter in conversation with the staff about their recent fishing exploits. Try and choose a day and a time during the week when the shop is not too busy. This will allow the staff to spend more time assisting you, rather than trying to have a conversation between serving customers.

When you have identified your local tackle dealer, give them a call and find out when is their least busy time. Once you have found out the best time to visit, ask for the name of the person you should speak to about getting advice on taking up angling. In effect you are making an appointment, which will not be of ‘one-way’ benefit as the tackle dealer will be investing their time, hoping to retain you as a customer for the future.

If you have used a professional coach to gain some knowledge, you should go to the local tackle dealer equipped with a list of things you need for your first venture into the world of angling. If you used the ‘taster session’ with your local club, and decide not to use coach, make sure you write down a list of what you need to get you started before you leave.

Remember that the vast array of rods, reels, line, floats, weights, hooks, bait, nets etc on display in the store are there to catch Anglers, rather than fish!

Most Anglers like to ‘collect’, without even realising it. They are like kids in a sweetshop really. Any spare cash will likely be spent on the myriad of fishing tackle on display, and the chances are most of it will never get used ‘in anger’!

When you venture into the tackle store, be sure to stick to the list you have carefully prepared. Don’t invest in the most expensive option available, or the cheapest. Don’t fall into the trap of buying ‘on-line’ at auction either, as there is an awful lot of poor quality fishing tackle sold to the unwary over the internet.

Ask your dealer for advice on good quality, reliable tackle, suitable for beginner. If you look after it, you can always pass it on to someone else when you graduate to more sophisticated, higher quality tackle in the future.

Now you are fully equipped and ready to go. By now you should have received a little experience and knowledge before venturing out to your chosen fishing location. So what next?

Remember to check with your local tackle dealer if you require license to fish. This will depend on the country you live in, or the type of fishing you intend to start off with.

Make sure you think about safety. If you are going fishing alone, ensure someone knows where you are fishing and when you are due back.

You are now ready to go fishing. As Anglers say, “tight lines”!

Bill Bailey is a freelance writer and contributor to the Anglers Social Network site http://www.anglingbook.com and http://www.schnafflehound.com Bill is a keen all round leisure angler.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_Bailey
http://EzineArticles.com/?Easy-Steps-to-Taking-Up-Angling&id=1149573

The pair of boots I have now are uncomfortable, and without sufficient insulation to deal with cold weather. So I think I’ll get some new boots this year. But I might actually have to get two pairs. You see, it’s going to be all warm, sometimes wet, and usually snakey. Then the winter is going to come on and the ground is going to freeze through the sole of my boots while I stand in one place for three hours.

Should I try to find one middle-ground boot that is warm enough for the cold, but not too warm for the warm? Should I get a pair of light snake boots and then some waterproofed, gore-tex, thinsulate, space station boots for the winter? I don’t know. I have some experience with combat boots, but not so much with hunting boots.

Buy for your climate, you say. Well, yes, that’s why I’m considering two pairs. But I’m going to be honest with you, I’m cheap. I need some new archery gear this year, too. If I get two pairs of boots, then my wife is just going to scowl at me when I go to buy the bow or crossbow (I haven’t decided yet). What to do…what to do?

Right now I’m looking at some snake boots, and also some boots with heavy insulation, waterproofed, and all that jazz. Do any of you who are more experienced with hunting boots have any advice for me? Maybe I should just get some desert tan combat boots for the warmer weather, but that won’t help me with the snakes. I guess I just don’t need to step on the snakes, but I’m trying to be cautious here.