Scroungecrafting/camping 101

  I mentioned in my last post that I bushcraft on a budget.  That may be a slight understatement.  When I first began this adventure I was a newly divorced woman with a part-time job and a son going off to college.  As tight goes, my budget was the equivalent of a Victorian-era corset.

  I've never had a free-flowing budget, and I've learned to make do.  This skill proved very valuable in  my new hobby.  Going from bushcrafter to scroungecrafter (thanks to The Professor for this term) was a snap! I simply use what I have on hand, and look for great deals on other things I need.  Many things found around the home can be re-purposed into useful items for camp.  The key is to experiment and find what works for you. Your imagination is the only limit.  Start revving it into high gear with these shopping suggestions.

Second hand stores can be veritable scroungecrafting gold mines.  Oh sure, you may have people look at you funny when you look through every shelf for treasures, and grin like a fool when you find what you were looking for.  But hey...we're bushcrafters...it's not like we're not used to getting strange looks from people ("You do WHAT?").   Shop through the kitchen and craft sections for useful items.  Check the book section for outdoors related titles.  Browse for good quality wool blankets. And thoroughly scan the clothing racks.  You can often find quality outdoor clothing for minimal cost.  Ladies, make sure to look at the men's/boy's section of the store too.  Function is a lot more important than fashion at camp, and the selection is often much more extensive.

Yard sales: Yard sale shopping is a favourite past-time to some.  If you are blessed with both the patience and time to drive around all Saturday morning looking for deals, you'll be sure to come across some bargains. Again, check for kitchen and craft items.  On more than one occasion I've spotted a cast iron frying pan for a steal that just needs a little TLC. 

Army Surplus:  While different stores  vary considerably in price and quality of gear, you can find some amazing stuff that's built to take a lot of punishment.  Packs, clothes, sleeping bags, and shelter items are always plentiful.  But beware...these stores appear to be hidden portals to other dimensions.   A person can get lost in them for hours! 

Dollar Store:  While many items are not high quality, if you choose carefully, you can find a few great buys.  Decent cordage is often available and is much more practical than paracord for cases where re-using it isn't going to be likely. Wash bins can be purchased for very little, and they are extremely handy for base camp. Battery operated lanterns and flashlights can be used for back-up.  Dollarama even carries headlamps, and while I wouldn't count on them to last very long, they are great to keep as a spare.  They also sell clear plastic compasses with map overlay, and even emergency shelters.  Bandanas, travel size toiletries, small containers, and notepads are all great items to add to your kit too.

Liquidation Centres:  My happiest retail shopping moment happened in one of these stores. As I turned down the isle, my eyes lit up. I thought Christmas had come early...and I must have been a very good girl.  It was filled with outdoor gear: folding shovels, emergency ponchos, compasses, folding saws, and even summer sleeping bags...all at 90% off.  After immediately putting in calls to tell my fellow bushcrafters of my find (and take delivery orders, of course), I spent the rest of the afternoon making my selections from what was available.  As a bonus, my excitement over the find sparked some really great conversations.  Along with a few of those strange looks, of course. 

Your own garage/junk room/barn:  This is the best one, because all it will cost you to add something to your kit is a little imagination and some time to search for treasure! Think outside of the box and beyond the original use for an item.  You'll be amazed at what you can come up with:

: folding reflector oven from scraps of sheet metal
: candle holders from old mason jars
: pot set from stainless steel canisters with lids (nesting ones are perfect!).
: stuff sacks sewn from scraps of nylon
: base camp cook stove/oven from an old barbeque side burner section - just add coals!
: pie plates are a multipurpose dish that can be used as a plate, frying pan, or clip 2 together for an oven
: a backpack picnic set, seldom used, turns into the perfect base camp kitchen kit - not exactly traditional, but  with a few minor modifications and additions, you have everything you need in one, easy-to-carry, compact location. 

    I wish you luck on you Scroungecrafting expeditions, as I leave you with a final word of warning.  It can become an obsession.  Every item you see in a second hand store will suddenly be filled with potential as a bushcraft item.  When friends and family are looking to part with something that looks even remotely usable,  a shout of "I'll take it!" will escape your lips before you are even aware of the thought.  No trip to a liquidation or dollar store will ever take less than half an hour. And your storage area will become a  magic land where things are transformed from their original purpose.  All this can be quite exhilarating.  Have fun with it, but please use moderation.  I don't think my conscience could live with someone ending up on "Hoarders", saying they were fine until they read that Bushcraft Girl's blog!


BG

"People wait until they have the latest tools, but it's out of necessity that true creativity flourishes."
~ Steve Supple