My Self Reliance

Walk through my recently completed off grid root cellar with me. To receive 20% off all DeleteMe consumer plans, click on the link and enter Promo Code "RELIANCE" - https://joindeleteme.com/?utm_source=influencer&utm_campaign=RELIANCE&coupon=RELIANCE The complete build from start to finish, followed by a walk through tour where I explain exactly how and why I build the cold cellar and how I am storing at least a full year's worth of food for two, much of it packaged to last 25 years. Log Cabin Building, Bushcraft, Survival Skills, Cooking, Canadian Wilderness, Off Grid Living, Homesteading Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/40OgrDO Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7pym84TIpDlbOagIrjDoWU?si=87a26de90e0e41b5 Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2261599/episodes Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/myselfreliance Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/MySelfReliance

As the 2023 harvest season winds down, my freezers are full of wild game and produce from the garden as I hunt and process my last animal of the year, the most mature whitetail deer buck on my property. Three bull moose and a cow are hanging around the cabin right now and one or more of the bulls attacks my deer archery target, breaking it's legs. I explain the challenges wild animals face in my area, from competition for limited resources to deep snow and wolves, and where the deer go when the snow gets deep as it is now. Thanks for Watching! My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MySelfReliance/featured For exclusive content, Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/myselfreliance CLOTHING: https://teespring.com/stores/my-self-... AMAZON LINKS: https://www.amazon.com/shop/myselfrel... Best of My Self Reliance: https://bit.ly/2OfW7ry 2022 OFF GRID CABIN LIFE: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-... OFF GRID LIVING: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... COOKING: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... BUILDING LOG CABIN WITH HAND TOOLS: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-... BUILDING OFF GRID SAUNA: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... BUSHCRAFT & SURVIVAL: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

Taking the final steps in food security over the last three months has convinced me that the self reliance foundation I starting laying thirteen years ago has finally resulted in the freedom that I've been seeking since I was a teenager 40 long years ago. I believe that at least the next 7 years are going to be tough, with high inflation, diminishing freedom of speech, mobility and quality of life and decreased access to healthy foods, clean water, cheap energy and rural living. In this video, I document my life in Canada from September to December, including hiking in the mountains, flyfishing, bowhunting of small and big game (moose and deer), growing and storing food, making lard and bone broth, fleshing hides, cutting and wrapping wild meat and many encounters with wildlife - bear, deer, moose, caribou, bighorn sheep, pika, chipmunks, grouse, turkeys and more. Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/40OgrDO Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7pym84TIpDlbOagIrjDoWU?si=87a26de90e0e41b5 Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2261599/episodes Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/myselfreliance

Log cabin living, camping, hiking, snowshoeing, food growing, foraging, archery, wildlife viewing, filming, fishing, hunting and cooking wild foods from January to August this year in the wilderness. Log Cabin Building, Bushcraft, Survival Skills, Cooking, Canadian Wilderness, Off Grid Living, Homesteading Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/40OgrDO Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7pym84T... Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2261599/ep... Patreon: / myselfreliance Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/MySelfReliance Hi, I'm Shawn James. I am a passionate outdoorsman living the life of my dreams in a log cabin that I built by myself in the Canadian wilderness. Join me and my golden retriever, Cali and listen to the sounds of the forest in this relaxing wilderness setting. I prefer to keep my talking to a minimum and let the natural sounds of nature make you feel as though you are there with me. MY SHAWN JAMES YOUTUBE CHANNEL - / @shawnjames1

I'm finishing the root cellar one section at at time - this week I install a floor in the breezeway section, move the freezer back into place and set up a metal rack to store mason jars full of preserved and dried food. On the new wood cookstove, I make moose and lasagna sandwiches with fresh homemade sourdough bread. Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/40OgrDO Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7pym84TIpDlbOagIrjDoWU?si=87a26de90e0e41b5 Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2261599/episodes Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/myselfreliance Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/MySelfReliance Hi, I'm Shawn James. I am a passionate outdoorsman living the life of my dreams in a log cabin that I built by myself in the Canadian wilderness. Join me and my golden retriever, Cali and listen to the sounds of the forest in this relaxing wilderness setting. I prefer to keep my talking to a minimum and let the natural sounds of nature make you feel as though you are there with me. MY SHAWN JAMES YOUTUBE CHANNEL - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5L_M7BF5iait4FzEbwKCAg MERCHANDISE - https://teespring.com/stores/my-self-reliance Mail: 200 Manitoba St., Unit 3, Suite 415 Bracebridge, ON P1L 2E2 CLOTHING: https://teespring.com/stores/my-self-reliance AMAZON LINKS: https://www.amazon.com/shop/myselfreliance Best of My Self Reliance: https://bit.ly/2OfW7ry 2022 OFF GRID CABIN LIFE: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPnTFccPGm33LnMVlB9J1D0m OFF GRID LIVING: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPkGrISWOKvY_0uMOjJI-Chv COOKING: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPlwY0hqcJOT6bw5z-MpmfKy BUILDING LOG CABIN WITH HAND TOOLS: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPnAe9mk5qKu-RQvRTk6dhpG BUILDING OFF GRID SAUNA: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPm0Hfb7sidZBHx3GVLL7JQB BUSHCRAFT & SURVIVAL: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPk2dpiJb-wfPrpJkodkS7g7 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MySelfReliance/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/myselfreliance/ My Self Reliance/Shawn James 200 Manitoba St., Unit 3, Suite 415 Bracebridge, ON P1L 2E2

My land has a large diversity of micro ecosystems with different tree and plant species in each zone. Directly around the cabin, the ground is deep sand with a thin layer of organic matter on top and supports mostly pine, fir and spruce with pockets of old and dying shade intolerant species such as cherry, red maple, ironwood and birch. Since these are low quality and dying off, I'm harvesting them for firewood and leaving the superior quality red oaks and sugar maples to become the dominant species in select areas. For wildlife, I'm cutting openings in the forest where those same shade intolerant species can thrive along with quaking aspen, all important wildlife foods. Around the workshop, Beech bark disease is killing all of the mature trees and occurs as the result of an insect-fungus complex where an invasive beech scale insect feeds on the bark of the tree, creating cracks that allow a native canker fungi (Nectria) to enter. The mature trees are falling and are being replaced by hundreds of beech root sprouts, creating thickets of trees that also die as soon as they reach a certain age and size, starting the process over again.

My wife joins me for deer season at the cabin in the north woods where we cook duck breasts for dinner on the wood stove, practice traditional archery and prepare for the first snowfall of the season. Thanks for watching! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/myselfreliance Shawn James YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/shawnjames1 CLOTHING: https://teespring.com/stores/my-self-reliance AMAZON LINKS: https://www.amazon.com/shop/myselfreliance Best of My Self Reliance: https://bit.ly/2OfW7ry 2022 OFF GRID CABIN LIFE: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPnTFccPGm33LnMVlB9J1D0m OFF GRID LIVING: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPkGrISWOKvY_0uMOjJI-Chv COOKING: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPlwY0hqcJOT6bw5z-MpmfKy BUILDING LOG CABIN WITH HAND TOOLS: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPnAe9mk5qKu-RQvRTk6dhpG BUILDING OFF GRID SAUNA: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPm0Hfb7sidZBHx3GVLL7JQB BUSHCRAFT & SURVIVAL: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPk2dpiJb-wfPrpJkodkS7g7 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MySelfReliance/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/myselfreliance/ Address for items sent by courier: 200 Manitoba St., Unit 3, Suite 415 Bracebridge, ON P1L 2E2

Cold November rain, snow and mild sunny weather from one day to the next, but all suitable temperatures to butcher and wrap moose, bear and deer steaks and mincemeat and to render tallow and simmer bone broth on the wood cookstove in the outdoor kitchen. The challenges of harvesting, processing and storing meat at an off grid log cabin homestead are apparent this year and I talk about what plans on have to make next year's harvest season more efficient. Podcast I refer to; https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Ih3... My Self Reliance Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2261599/ep... Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/myselfreliance Shawn James YouTube Channel: / shawnjames1 CLOTHING: https://teespring.com/stores/my-self-... AMAZON LINKS: https://www.amazon.com/shop/myselfrel... Best of My Self Reliance: https://bit.ly/2OfW7ry 2022 OFF GRID CABIN LIFE: • 2022 Off Grid Cabin Life OFF GRID LIVING: • Log Cabin & Off Grid Living COOKING: • Cooking at the Cabin BUILDING LOG CABIN WITH HAND TOOLS: • Building a Log Cabin Alone in the Wil... BUILDING OFF GRID SAUNA: • Building an Off Grid Sauna BUSHCRAFT & SURVIVAL: • Bushcraft & Survival Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MySelfReliance/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/myselfrelia... My Self Reliance/Shawn James 200 Manitoba St., Unit 3, Suite 41

The wood stove I've been using for the past two years has functioned well as a source of heat, but it was less than ideal for cooking. This week, I remove it and install a LaNordica Rosa L cookstove, complete with an oven and removable rings for stove top cooking. To test out the oven, I bake a loaf of bread, which turned out perfectly in the easy to control oven where I kept the temperature at 450F for the full 45 minutes of baking time. Check out my other channel to see the installation in a little more detail with explanations, and visit my Patreon channel to hear what's going on in my life the other 167 hours per week. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/myselfreliance Shawn James YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/shawnjames1 CLOTHING: https://teespring.com/stores/my-self-reliance AMAZON LINKS: https://www.amazon.com/shop/myselfreliance Best of My Self Reliance: https://bit.ly/2OfW7ry 2022 OFF GRID CABIN LIFE: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPnTFccPGm33LnMVlB9J1D0m OFF GRID LIVING: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPkGrISWOKvY_0uMOjJI-Chv COOKING: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPlwY0hqcJOT6bw5z-MpmfKy BUILDING LOG CABIN WITH HAND TOOLS: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPnAe9mk5qKu-RQvRTk6dhpG BUILDING OFF GRID SAUNA: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPm0Hfb7sidZBHx3GVLL7JQB BUSHCRAFT & SURVIVAL: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPk2dpiJb-wfPrpJkodkS7g7 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MySelfReliance/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/myselfreliance/ Address for items sent by courier: 200 Manitoba St., Unit 3, Suite 415 Bracebridge, ON P1L 2E2

Shawn shares his personal story, telling his evolution from a construction worker to a self-sufficient, off-the-grid homesteader. His remarkable journey showcases the transformative power of embracing nature, forging your own path, and living a life guided by self-reliance. Shawn delves into his childhood, growing up in rural Canada, where his deep-rooted connection with nature began. He shares the experiences that fueled his passion for the outdoors and a desire to live a more self-reliant life. From building log cabins to raising livestock, he paints a vivid picture of his journey to a life steeped in independence and sustainability. In this podcast, expect engaging solo episodes where Sean discusses his ongoing projects, imparts invaluable insights into self-sufficiency, and brings experts to the table for enriching conversations. Experience the thrill of wilderness trips, the triumphs of self-sustained living, and the satisfaction of thriving in harmony with nature. Whether you're a self-reliance enthusiast, an aspiring homesteader, or simply captivated by tales of living off the land, join us at the cabin for an inspiring and educational adventure. My Self Reliance is also available on YouTube, where you can watch Shawn's adventures and projects firsthand. Support the show My Self Reliance YouTube Channel- https://youtube.com/@MySelfReliance?si=d4js0zGc5ogYvDtO Shawn James Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5L_M7BF5iait4FzEbwKCAg Merchandise - https://teespring.com/stores/my-self-reliance

Winter's coming and I've been focusing on harvesting, preserving and storing a year's supply of food in my cold storage under my log cabin, including a freezer full of meat and shelves full of root vegetables, squash, pickles, freeze dried meals and more. This week, I harvest the last of the garden, build a door for the cellar and build heavy shelves to store the pails of grains, corn, pasta, milk, rice, MREs and freeze dried vegetables and fruit. Podcast:https://www.buzzsprout.com/2261599/episodes Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/myselfreliance Shawn James YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/shawnjames1 CLOTHING: https://teespring.com/stores/my-self-reliance AMAZON LINKS: https://www.amazon.com/shop/myselfreliance Best of My Self Reliance: https://bit.ly/2OfW7ry 2022 OFF GRID CABIN LIFE: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPnTFccPGm33LnMVlB9J1D0m OFF GRID LIVING: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPkGrISWOKvY_0uMOjJI-Chv COOKING: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPlwY0hqcJOT6bw5z-MpmfKy BUILDING LOG CABIN WITH HAND TOOLS: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPnAe9mk5qKu-RQvRTk6dhpG BUILDING OFF GRID SAUNA: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPm0Hfb7sidZBHx3GVLL7JQB BUSHCRAFT & SURVIVAL: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPk2dpiJb-wfPrpJkodkS7g7 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MySelfReliance/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/myselfreliance/ Mailing Address for items sent by regular mail: My Self Reliance/Shawn James 51 King William Street P.O. Box 30017 Huntsville, ON P1H 0B5 Address for items sent by courier: 200 Manitoba St., Unit 3, Suite 415 Bracebridge, ON P1L 2E2

Thanks for watching! Late October garden harvest and planting garlic. As I mention in this video, I have a couple of important podcasts coming up where I address rumours of my divorce and provide details of my financial life. My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MySelfRelian... For exclusive content, Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/myselfreliance CLOTHING: https://teespring.com/stores/my-self-... AMAZON LINKS: https://www.amazon.com/shop/myselfrel... Best of My Self Reliance: https://bit.ly/2OfW7ry 2022 OFF GRID CABIN LIFE: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-... OFF GRID LIVING: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... COOKING: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... BUILDING LOG CABIN WITH HAND TOOLS: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-... BUILDING OFF GRID SAUNA: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... BUSHCRAFT & SURVIVAL: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

In this first podcast episode, I explain why I'm doing a podcast and what it's going to be about. Thanks for Watching! My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MySelfReliance/featured For exclusive content, Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/myselfreliance CLOTHING: https://teespring.com/stores/my-self-... AMAZON LINKS: https://www.amazon.com/shop/myselfrel... Best of My Self Reliance: https://bit.ly/2OfW7ry 2022 OFF GRID CABIN LIFE: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-... OFF GRID LIVING: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... COOKING: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... BUILDING LOG CABIN WITH HAND TOOLS: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-... BUILDING OFF GRID SAUNA: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... BUSHCRAFT & SURVIVAL: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

A busy autumn week focused on food, heat and power - harvesting vegetables from the garden and storing them in the cold cellar, installing solar panels for electricity, moose hunting for meat, cutting firewood and shingling the firewood shed, traditional archery practice for deer season, cooking with cast iron on the wood stove and keeping my dog Cali the golden retriever entertained. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/myselfreliance Shawn James YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/shawnjames1 CLOTHING: https://teespring.com/stores/my-self-reliance AMAZON LINKS: https://www.amazon.com/shop/myselfreliance Best of My Self Reliance: https://bit.ly/2OfW7ry 2022 OFF GRID CABIN LIFE: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPnTFccPGm33LnMVlB9J1D0m OFF GRID LIVING: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPkGrISWOKvY_0uMOjJI-Chv COOKING: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPlwY0hqcJOT6bw5z-MpmfKy BUILDING LOG CABIN WITH HAND TOOLS: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPnAe9mk5qKu-RQvRTk6dhpG BUILDING OFF GRID SAUNA: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPm0Hfb7sidZBHx3GVLL7JQB BUSHCRAFT & SURVIVAL: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPk2dpiJb-wfPrpJkodkS7g7 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MySelfReliance/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/myselfreliance/ Mailing Address for items sent by regular mail: My Self Reliance/Shawn James 51 King William Street P.O. Box 30017 Huntsville, ON P1H 0B5 Address for items sent by courier: 200 Manitoba St., Unit 3, Suite 415 Bracebridge, ON P1L 2E2

With cold weather finally here, I prioritize harvesting the vegetable gardens, building shelves and installing lights and a fan in the root cellar under the cabin to store the vegetables and other food. On the wood stove, I light the first indoor fire of the season and cook my wife a beef stew. 00:00 - Intro 00:06 - Insulating and boarding the cellar ceiling 01:17 - Lighting the first indoor fire of the season 04:40 - Cooking dinner for my wife 09:02 - Harvesting squash from the garden 09:54 - Drone footage of the cabin and forest 12:01 - Installing a fan in the cellar 12:30 - Building cedar shelves for storing vegetables in the cellar 19:18 - Harvesting and talking about potatoes in the forest garden 29:00 - Storing vegetables in the completed root cellar Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/myselfreliance Shawn James YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/shawnjames1 CLOTHING: https://teespring.com/stores/my-self-reliance AMAZON LINKS: https://www.amazon.com/shop/myselfreliance Best of My Self Reliance: https://bit.ly/2OfW7ry 2022 OFF GRID CABIN LIFE: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPnTFccPGm33LnMVlB9J1D0m OFF GRID LIVING: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPkGrISWOKvY_0uMOjJI-Chv COOKING: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPlwY0hqcJOT6bw5z-MpmfKy BUILDING LOG CABIN WITH HAND TOOLS: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPnAe9mk5qKu-RQvRTk6dhpG BUILDING OFF GRID SAUNA: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPm0Hfb7sidZBHx3GVLL7JQB BUSHCRAFT & SURVIVAL: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPk2dpiJb-wfPrpJkodkS7g7 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MySelfReliance/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/myselfreliance/ Mailing Address for items sent by regular mail: My Self Reliance/Shawn James 51 King William Street P.O. Box 30017 Huntsville, ON P1H 0B5 Address for items sent by courier: 200 Manitoba St., Unit 3, Suite 415 Bracebridge, ON P1L 2E2

I have been off YouTube and off grid for the past few weeks exploring Canada with my wife, daughters and Cali, our Golden Retriever - three weeks of camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, filming and photographing wild scenes and wild life. My wife, Cali and I drive 13,000 kilometres from Ontario across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon Territory and Alaska. We're joined by our daughters Erin and Emily for a week in Kananaskis, Banff and Jasper before we part ways and the three of us head north on the Alaska highway through the northern Rockies and back down the Stewart Cassiar Highway east of the coastal mountains, camping in remote areas and fire evacuation zones. Along the way, we film log cabins, wild fires, grizzly and black bears, woodland caribou, elk, deer, bighorn sheep, fox, birds, mountains, rivers, clear blue lakes, glaciers, autumn colors and waterfalls. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/myselfreliance Shawn James YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/shawnjames1 CLOTHING: https://teespring.com/stores/my-self-reliance AMAZON LINKS: https://www.amazon.com/shop/myselfreliance Best of My Self Reliance: https://bit.ly/2OfW7ry 2022 OFF GRID CABIN LIFE: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPnTFccPGm33LnMVlB9J1D0m OFF GRID LIVING: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPkGrISWOKvY_0uMOjJI-Chv COOKING: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPlwY0hqcJOT6bw5z-MpmfKy BUILDING LOG CABIN WITH HAND TOOLS: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPnAe9mk5qKu-RQvRTk6dhpG BUILDING OFF GRID SAUNA: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPm0Hfb7sidZBHx3GVLL7JQB BUSHCRAFT & SURVIVAL: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-UbUksm4nPk2dpiJb-wfPrpJkodkS7g7 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MySelfReliance/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/myselfreliance/ Mailing Address for items sent by regular mail: My Self Reliance/Shawn James 51 King William Street P.O. Box 30017 Huntsville, ON P1H 0B5 Address for items sent by courier: 200 Manitoba St., Unit 3, Suite 415 Bracebridge, ON P1L 2E2

The growing season here in Canada is winding down and I'm starting to harvest fruit and vegetables for fresh eating and long term storage. Thanks for Watching!

This week at the cabin, I build stairs into the breezeway and log cabin from the new outdoor kitchen and then glue pine boards together to make 12 feet of countertops. I install the first countertop and a double sink beside the wood cookstove and next to the water tote that will provide rainwater to the kitchen. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/myselfreliance

I have several axes that I use for different purposed, but these three are my favourite.

I make a dining table and bench from a pine tree cut down in the forest behind my log cabin, staining it dark walnut.

#forging #blacksmith #viking I visit the blacksmith shop of Paul Krzyszoski (Toronto Blacksmith) to watch him forge me a hewing axe (Viking broad axe style) for some upcoming timber frame building projects at my wilderness homestead (at the log cabin in the forest). The biggest project this year will be the workshop, which I plan to build using timber framing techniques combine with log cabin building and stone masonry. I'm considering making at least one wall cordwood with sawdust and concrete and the remaining walls; squared timbers (which I'll do with the hewing axe). All of this will sit on a field stone foundation. I may build the woodshop on top of the stone cellar since the cellar will be mostly underground and can essentially function as the basement of the shop. I'm not sure about this yet as I need to excavate the ground by hand once the snow melts to see how deep the bedrock is and how difficult it is to dig in the rocky soil.

While boiling maple syrup on the fire at the off grid log cabin, I practice bushcraft by carving a wooden serving spoon with a Haida carving knife that I carved a handle for earlier. I carved the knife handle from a piece of hard sugar maple, installed the blade with brass rivets and wrapped the handle with braided decoy anchor line. I coated the string serving with wood glue and sanded it and the maple wood handle smooth with 220 grit sandpaper. I sharpened the hook blade with three sharpening stones, from coarse to fine and then finished it off on the leather strop. Once the carving knife was assembled and sharpened, I split a piece of hard yellow birch with my splitting froe, axe and Adventure Sworn knife and use a combination of a small straight blade carving knife, the 4" bushcraft knife and the Haida carving (hook blade) knife. Once it was close to the finished shape, I sanded it with 80 grit sandpaper, then 150 grit, then 220 grit. I dipped the spoon in water to raise the grain and set it out to dry in the wind and sun and then sanded it again. The wooden spoon is to be used for serving one pot meals cooked on the open fire and the wood stove, so the handle is long and the bowl deep. The wood is extremely strong and tight-grained. I sealed it with two coats of mineral oil, sanding lightly between coats. I'll reseal it a few times over the next month or two and then maybe twice per year. While I'm working on the knife and spoon, my wife and dog Cali are there. My wife is helping with the sap boiling and preparing meals while I'm tending to the fire. Our golden retriever is a retrieving fanatic and is constantly asking me to throw her training dummy to retrieve. When I'm not doing that for her, she sleep on the front porch of the tiny house log cabin and chases the red squirrels that roam the property around the cabin.