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The Best Wood for Bow Drills in the Eastern Woodlands: Your Ultimate Guide

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In the Eastern Woodlands of the United States, selecting the right wood is critical for successfully making a primitive fire using a bow drill. Among the various options, tulip poplar and cedar are my go-to choices for creating friction fire with a bow drill due to their superior performance.

There are five key factors to consider when choosing bow drill wood in the Eastern Woodlands:

  1. Softwood: Opt for softwoods. Refer to the list below for the most suitable types of wood for bow drills.
  2. Dry Wood: Ensure the wood is dry. Seek out dead branches hanging from trees, wood from dead standing trees that have been exposed to the elements for extended periods, or baton a section of wood to access the dry core. The latter is especially effective in wet conditions, such as during rain.
  3. Availability: Familiarize yourself with the local tree species and their uses. Understand the resources available in your specific forest area. For example, in the forests of Michigan, where my survival school is located in West Michigan, tulip poplar is rare, but poplar and cedar are common and effective choices. Interestingly, I once found a tulip poplar along Wildcat Creek, south of Whitehall, Michigan, which was surprising since this tree is generally more prevalent in southern regions.
  4. Non-resinous Wood: Avoid pine, as the resin can hinder friction when using a bow drill. Pine can contain up to 20% resin, which can be found in branches, needles, cones, stems, and roots. While some success has been reported with white pine, it is not my preferred choice for a bow drill set.
  5. Consistency: Typically, using the same wood for both your hearth board and spindle yields the best results, although exceptions exist. For instance, pairing a poplar hearth board with a willow spindle can be effective.

Below is an alphabetical list of the best types of wood for a bow drill:

  • Aspen
  • Basswood
  • Cedar
  • Cottonwood
  • Juniper
  • Poplar (known as “popple” in Michigan)
  • Staghorn Sumac
  • Tulip Poplar
  • Willow
  • Yucca Stalk (referred to as Adam’s Nettle in Michigan)

Discover the art of primitive fire-making with a bow drill, and much more, at Arcturus Primitive Skills Institute. Join us for a transformative course—visit our website at survivalschoolmichigan.com to learn more. See you in the wild!

Grid Down Ready: Top Strategies for Ensuring Power Continuity

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 When the Grid Goes Down: Be Prepared

It’s not a matter of if, but when. In the event of a grid-down scenario, having a reliable power source for various applications becomes essential. Picture this: batteries for flashlights to investigate that strange bump in the night. Let’s prepare!

First, invest in a couple of Surefire flashlights. Stock up on CR123A lithium batteries to ensure you have a powerful, tactical flashlight at your disposal.

Next, purchase lithium-ion batteries and 18650 rechargeable batteries. Additionally, stock up on AAA, AA alkaline batteries, and size D batteries for various applications. For extremely reliable power, consider nickel-metal hydride batteries.

Then, acquire both a tri-fuel generator and a diesel-burning generator. Make sure to have fuel for each generator. For the tri-fuel generator, keep a supply of gasoline, propane, and natural gas on hand.

Don’t forget to buy some battery banks, such as the Dewalt 1600 Peak Amp Jump Starter. This will give you power and enable you to jump-start your vehicle if needed.

Consider investing in solar panels to charge those battery banks and portable solar chargers for charging smaller devices like phones and radios.

Note: In a grid-down scenario, the sound of a generator may attract unwanted guests who realize you have what they need. Hence, the Surefire flashlight for investigating those strange bumps in the night is a wise investment. Pro tip, black out those windows to prevent prying eyes from seeing that you are prepared.

Lastly, stock up on candles and lamps. Kerosene lamps work great. Ensure you have plenty of lamps, wicks, mantles, and chimneys. Here are some recommended lamps:

  1. Lamplight Large Paraffin Oil Indoor Lamp
  2. Dietz Original 76
  3. Feuerhand Hurricane Lantern
  4. Firefly Fuel Wine Bottle Lamp
  5. Aladdin Genie III Oil Lamp

Prepare now and stay ahead of the game!

Primitive Power-Lighting a Fire with Tinder Fungus and a Ferro Rod

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In this video, I show how to light a fire with tinder fungus, a ferrocerium rod and the spine of my knife. 

Top Ten Essential Medical Preparedness Books That Could Save Your Life!

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  1. The Ultimate Survival Medicine Handbook by Joseph Alton M.D. and his Nurse wife Amy Alton
  2. Living Ready Pocket Manuel: First Aid Fundamentals for Survival by James Hubbard
  3. The Complete Medicinal Herbal: A Practical Guide to the Healing Properties of Herbs by Penelope Ody
  4. Where There is No Doctor by David Werner
  5. Where There is No Dentist by Murray Dickson
  6. A Book for Midwives: Care for Pregnancy, Birth, and Women’s Health by Sheila Kitzinger
  7. Ditch Medicine: Advanced Field Procedures for Emergencies by Hugh Coffee
  8. Wilderness Medicine: Beyond First Aid by William W. Forgey
  9. The Survival Medicine Handbook: A Guide for When Help is NOT On The Way by Joseph Alton M.D. and his Nurse wife Amy Alton
  10. The Modern Herbal Dispensatory: A Medicine-Making Guide for Herbalists by Thomas Easley and Steven Horne

***DON’T FORGET: Nurse’s PDFs; Wilderness First Responder manuals

Extreme Wilderness Medicine: APSI Instructor Teaches Suturing Skills for Wilderness Survival

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Extreme Wilderness Medicine: APSI Instructor Teaches Suturing Skills for Wilderness Survival Using Fishing Line

In this video we show how to perform suturing using fishing line in an austere environment. #survivalskills #suturing #fishingline #wildernessmedicine #firstaid #survivalguide #outdoorsurvival #emergencypreparedness #survivaltactics #DIYfirstaid #survivaltraining #natureskills #bushcraft #selfsurgery #fieldmedicine #prepperskills #suturetechniques #survivalhacks #fishinglinesuture #wildernessfirstaid #wildernessfirstresponder 

Life-Saving Tactics: Mastering the Tourniquet for Emergency Situations

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Life Saving Tactics: Mastering the Tourniquet for Emergency Situations

https://youtu.be/uOoSIjooYqk?si=3jfoG4IuTwoibv89

How to use a tourniquet. #survivalskills #firstaid #tourniquet #wildernesssurvival #emergencypreparedness #outdoorsafety #survivaltips #bleedingcontrol  #preparedness #lifesavingskills #survivaltraining #learntosurvive #stopthebleed 

Emergency Ready: The Ultimate Bugout Bag Checklist

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Bugout Bag Kit List: We live in extremely uncertain times, from the port strikes, to the war in Ukraine, and to the soon-to-be apocalyptic war in the Middle East between Israel and Iran. We have no idea what is coming, but we all need to be ready for any emergency that may present itself, and I cannot recommend enough, having a bugout bag for yourself and each of your loved ones. Please see the checklist below.

1. Shelter (You want to regulate your body’s core temperature)

  • Tent, rainfly, hammock or tarp: Lightweight, rain-proof, and weather-resistant.
  • Sleeping bag: You want a bag with down insulation. Down insulation is lightweight, compressible, and has the excellent ability to maintain warmth. This is what you want for cold weather.
  • Blanket: You want wool, it is easily compressible, lightweight, and is excellent for warmth, even when wet. You can even sleep with 2-3 wool blankets sandwiched in a tarp on the ground.
  • Emergency space blanket/mylar blanket: Use to keep you warm, for signaling, and for an emergency shelter. Drape it around your shoulders, sit against a tree, light a candle and warm yourself inside the emergency blanket.

2. Food/Water

  • Water purification device: Filters and devices such as a LifeStraw.
  • Water bottles or bags of water: Portable and easy to pack
  • Water purification tablets: Easy to pack and small.
  • Non-perishable food: MREs, freeze-dried food, energy bars, hard candy.
  • Mess Kit: Portable stove, cook pot, plate, cup, spork

3. Med Kit

  • Basic first-aid supplies: Bandages, antiseptic wipes, gauze, adhesive tape.
  • Medications: Personal prescriptions, allergy meds, antihistamines, pain-killers, heart-burn meds, (optional but recommended-Epipen, Narcan).
  • Tools: Tweezers, multitool, scissors, safety pins, cloth sail needle.
  • Tourniquet: Gunshot wounds, apply so you don’t bleed out.
  • Corn starch: Stops bleeding effectively.

4. Tools and Equipment

  • Multi-tool: Get a Leatherman such as the Wave.
  • Survival knife: Get a Mora Black or Mora Pathfinder.
  • Paracord/#36 bankline, cordage: So many uses.
  • Duct tape: For repairs, first-aid, signaling, cut into strips to light a fire, and make emergency fixes.

5. Navigation and Signaling

  • Map and compass: Always have a physical map, find them at MyTopo, get a Suunto mc2 compass.
  • Whistle: Use for signaling.
  • Portable charger, solar charger or power bank: For your iPhone, electronics, etc.
  • Walkie-Talkies: For comms between your teammates.
  • GPS with batteries: Most reliable method; map and compass are a backup to your GPS.

6. Clothing

  • Clothing: Waterproof coat, multiple layers when cold, you want real wool.
  • Extra dry socks and clean underwear: Keep yourself dry, clean, and comfortable.
  • Rugged footwear: Broken-in, durable, think Salomon shoes, they are the best in my personal experience and affordable. Merrell’s are good and affordable but tend to make your feet hot in my experience.
  • Gloves: Protect your hands when grid down and in rugged environments.

7. Personal Items

  • Hard Cash: Bring cash for emergencies, and if grid down, bring silver such as American Silver Eagles.
  • Toiletries: Soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, wet wipes which are easier to pack than toilet paper, gold bond.

8. Self-Defense

  • Hand Weapons: Buy a full-tang tomahawk, a good utility tool and self-defense weapon. Carry a good knife for both bushcraft and self-defense. I like my Mora Pathfinder. For something more intimidating, try the Becker BK9, it looks like a short sword. Also consider a foldable saw like the Bahco Laplander or Silky Gomboy.
  • Firearms: Just buy a Glock in .9mm.

9. Miscellaneous

  • Flashlight: Get a Sure Fire with extra batteries. A headlamp is also a good option.
  • Fire-making: You want a minimum of 3 ways to light a fire, such as fero rod, lighter, matches, or perhaps flint and steel. Put in a small bag, also add tinder.
  • Outdoor contractor bags: Buy at Dollar General, cheaper and more rugged than regular trash bags.
  • Notepad and a pen: Use for notes.
  • Cotton Bandannas: Many uses, bandaging, signaling, making char cloth, mark a waypoint, filter water.

10. Optional Items

  • Fishing kit: For gathering food.
  • Bivvy sack or emergency tent: Bring for a quick shelter.

Pro Tips:

  • Check your inventory and the condition of your gear once a month.
  • Mod your gear based on your own personal needs. Example, for me that would be including both Claritin-D and Xyzal for my allergies.
  • Get your family and practice bugging out twice a year at a minimum. Try it in warmer months (spring, summer) and cold months (fall, winter).
  • Try to keep your bag at 25-30 lbs or less, because ounces equal pounds, and pounds equal pain.
  • This list is highly modifiable!

Lucky 13 Best Places to get your Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics and Med Kits:

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Doom and Bloom (doomandbloom.net) has lots of good supplies and information

The Wellness Company (twc.health) med kits and supplies for vaccine injuries (not that you would need anything for vaccine injuries because vaccines are completely safe)

Fish Mox Fish Flex (fishmoxfishflex.com) fish antibiotics (definitely not for humans)

Jase Medical (jasemedical.com) preppers antibiotic kit

Murdochs (murdochs.com) (animal antibiotics; definitely not for humans)

Chewy (chewy.com) (animal antibiotics; definitely not for humans)

Contingency Medical (contigencymedical.com) antibiotic kits

All Day Chemist (alldaychemist.com) wide variety of health products

My Go To Doc (mygotodoc.com) antibiotics

MD Anywhere (mdanywhere.com) antibiotics

Refuge Medical (refugemedical.com) IFAKs, med kits, meds

Duration Health (durationhealth.com) med kit

My Patriot Supply (mypatriotsupply.com) med kits, potassium iodide

Chert: The Stone That Built Human Survival

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I recently received a shipment of chert. In the video I make sparks using a steel striker and a piece of chert. I used this chert to practice primitive fire with a group of kids from Kansas City who were staying at a camp in Stony Lake, MI. I will also be using this chert during my weekend survival courses this spring and summer.


Purple Dead Nettle: The First Spring Medicinal Every Forager Should Know

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Today (April 2024) I did a video on the edible and medicinal uses of Purple Dead Nettle (PDN) as part of my series on Youtube called the Bushcrafter’s Pharmacy. PDN is an early plant, usually arriving in April. Due to it being an early plant it is a harbinger of spring. PDN usually is seen growing soon after Snow Drops. I will give you three places local to me where I find it growing: the softball field across from the cemetary off of Dowling Street in Montague, MI. I also spotted it growing on the ridge behind the wesco in Montague. In Whitehall, MI I have found it growing nearby the bike path behind the White Lake Library on the south end of Whitehall, as well as in forests. PDN has a square stem, giving a forager a clue that this plant is in the mint family, and because it is a mint it has carminative properties. The plant only lasts 6 weeks, April through May. The top of the leaves are a dusty purple color and become more green the further you go down. As the plant grows older, it goes from purple to more of a soft pink color. The flowers typically range from purple, pink and white. The leaves grow opposite each other and are heart-shaped. The plant is edible, but not tasty. It is packed full of nutrients and will keep you alive if you have to eat it on the fly. If you do have to eat it, try to make a salad out of it and other plants and ingredients. Then try to find some salad dressing. Medicinally, the whole plant is astringent and is therefore good for wet conditions (like bleeding). It is also diuretic making it good for kidney problems and UTIs. The plant is also styptic meaning it stops bleeding. The plant is antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory. These properties make PDN a good plant to choose for making a poultice for wounds. To make a poultice, mash it up with the butt of your knife or other implement. In a past class I used the butt of my atlatl, a technique that was used by ancient indigenous people. Once the plant is mashed up, apply the poultice to your cut or wound, then secure it in place with some type of make-shift bandage. If the plant is a little too dry for a poultice and it does not stick together, add some water to it from your canteen, or make a spit poultice by chewing it then applying it to your wound. In my video I used a cut strip of cotton t-shirt as my bandage. In my opinion, the most interesting thing about PDN is that it has antihistamine properties and can be used for allergy relief. As an allergy sufferer, I was glad when I first learned this about PDN. To make allergy medicine, I have found tinctures to be the most useful. To make a tincture using PDN, chop up the leaves of the plant, place them in a mason jar, then fill it to the brim with 180-proof grain alcohol. Seal it and let it sit for about 6 weeks. Once it is done, take 1-2 ml three times per day. This is why I call PDN the Claritin of the forest. In preparation for hard times, it is wise to stock up on allergy medication and PDN. PDN is an immune system modulator making it useful against colds and flu. It has an anti-inflammatory effect in the lungs. Although I have yet to try it, I would imagine PDN would work well with Mullein for lung ailments. If you need a laxative, make a tea out of PDN and drink it. Or you can use PDN to make a salve for any skin conditions. The plant is also nervine, meaning it calms the nerves. If you get a chance this early spring, try working with PDN. If you want to learn more about wild plants and survival skills, you have come to the right place. Go to my shop page and select the classes subcategory. I hope to see you at my class very soon. Train as if your life depended on it, because someday it will. I will see you in the wild! -Art

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