Lessons learned from the Maine Primitive School

Top 10 Things that Jumped into my mind within 24-hours of leaving the Maine Primitive School *

1.       I left school and wasn’t 10 minutes down the road before spotting raccoon roadkill and shouting out to my mother “Hey we can eat that!  Is still supple?”   Uh oh, Is this my new idea of normal?

2.       I use the restroom in a nice restaurant and immediately thought  “orange buckets & sawdust are much cleaner and why are we wasting all this water?”  Qué peńa!

3.       Driving down the same route to work that I’ve been driving for years I looked up and thought “ooh what kind of tree is that?  Beech, Bass, Red Oak, White Oak, Maple, Pine, Birch, Spruce, Cedar?  Then I went so far as to pull over onto the side of the road, get out of the car and collect leave specimens so I can later identify them. 

Now all I want to do for fun is walk around my yard and sketch the plants and flowers to see what exactly they are.

4.       I passed a dead deer on the highway lying in the grassy middle lane and though “What a shame, that’s good eating.  This thought is quickly followed up by “the poor animal is probably dead because of overpopulation, human encroachment and the lack of predators and hunters all of which help to maintain a healthy natural balance. 

5.       I passed the tea section in the health food store today and refused to buy anything because I know that I have fresh mint and lemon balm growing in my own garden at home and gosh darn it I became aware that I can make your own damn tea.

6.       I  never took my shoes off & I mean never!   Even in the house I would wear slippers. Now, I find joy in walking barefoot.  I  ate lunch today on the grass in the quad under a tree at the University barefoot.  I find myself asking people if they want to come over and take their shoes off at eat salad on the lawn under my favorite Elm tree.  They look at me with strange puzzled looks on their face and they wonder if I was abducted by the mother ship over the weekend.

7.       My effortless walks in the woods now become a scouting mission for throwing sticks and thumping logs.   When I got home I wanted to set up targets in the woods and go to town.  Feeling like a playful and curious kid again.  

8.       I find the need to become a skilled craftsman.  I  desire a new knife for carving sticks, I desire the knowlege needed to throw clay pots for cooking and for food containers.  The curiosity is just oozing out of me. 

I want to learn how to build my own canoe.  I found a great book by renown Master Maine Guide Gil Gilpatrick who I went dog sledding with a couple years ago that will teach me how. 

9.       I can make my own water container from tree bark, you make a spoon out of a log using a piece of coal from your fire pit, part of a plant and a knife.  Oh and of course both of these can hold water cause’ I’m cool like that!  Wanna learn?

10.   I have a deeper appreciation and connection to the Earth, Spirit and to the Ancestors.  It has once again been affirmed to me that Nature provides us with everything that we need in to survive.  We need to redevelop and learn the necessary skills and make use of our natural landscape.  Mother Nature does not owe anyone, anything.  She may not offer you the comforts that you are accustomed to in modern day living but she will provide you with the necessities for which you need to live.

  Going to survival school has rekindled the flame in my soul that wants to play, to connect, to live.  It has taught me the difference between what it means to exist and what it means to live. It is not enough for one to simply exist...One must live!

 It has also taught me the importance of community.  I cannot wait to go back to school and learn more about edible and medicinal plants.  This is a passion that I have always had but what smothered by the modern day western society for which I live.  I am grateful to have found a community that embraces native traditions and seeks to share that primitive way of life with us modern day ignoramuses’.

*Note:  It has been 24-hours since I left school.  I can’t wait to see what other lessons I learn and develop over time.  For those interested in learning more, here is a link to the Maine Primitives School 

PS-I promise I won't leave my job for at least 3 months.  Being inside today was excruciating!  Thanks Mike!

Mike-teaching us the many uses and properties of Cattail.

Primative Cooking Technique--stone acts like a griddle.  Cooking up the venison we learned how to field dress.

Facilites-note that wonderful sawdust and orange bucket,

Instructions on Primative Pooping!

Learning how to make a Shelter-Debris Hut Style

Nate is teaching me how to Set the Trap I made.

Do I look like I'm in training for American's Next Best Ninja Warrior?  Well....kinda sorta.  Is Earth Living/Survial School is that close enough for ya?

Throwing a stick at milk jugs-I hit it~pretending the milk jug was a squirrel of course.  Sweetness!

This guy was there to wish me a good morning!

We're making spoons--I swear! 

Thanks Mom for a great weekend together at Survival/Earth Living School.

Another Adventure Accomplished and Many More to Come!