Random Weave Basketry- Guest article by Jason from A Great Alternative

January 28, 2023Jamie Dakota

Join this photo guide to building your own simple random weave basket.

Phoenix Eggs - The joy of baking eggs over the fire

September 15, 2022Jamie Dakota

Often when adapting to life in the woods, our culinary skills are simplified to better suit the camp fire and the pots we have with us. We loose perhaps some options for cooking that we might find in a modern kitchen, but we also gain options too. Sometimes we choose to embrace the fire, and with it birth some Phoenix eggs!

Foraged Early Spring Greens Soup

February 20, 2022Jamie Dakota

One of my favourite ways to get connected with nature in the early spring, before even the sap is rising in the Birches, is to test my plant ID with the young new growth of woodland plants and make a soup from those plants I can identify 100%. In this way my ingredient list gets longer each year, and I’m noting which plants to come back to as the season progresses to see whether any plant which didn’t make the 100% mark can be correctly identified.

Knife Skills - The Humble Tarp Peg

January 06, 2022Jamie Dakota

One of the most regularly recreated of the camp-crafts is the tent peg; whether to replace a lost one or to better suit the soft ground of the forest the wood peg is a simple tool which relies of a deft use of the knife.

Personal Equipment: Belt Pouch and Pocket Carry

December 10, 2021Jamie Dakota

In regularly assembling my gear into various configurations I’ve found there are a few key items which fulfil some critical functions across a broad span of disciplines and so come with me on most excursions, and so I’ve tried to bring together items which are small, durable and reliable to perform when I need them whilst being as packable as possible.

How to Make: Pigeon and wild mushroom Stroganoff

November 15, 2021Jamie Dakota

This Autumn during a Howl team training weekend I made Max and Craigy a pigeon stroganoff for one of the evening meals, and in fine bushcraft form we added to the ingredients I had brought with me with some freshly foraged Penny Bun mushrooms Boletus edulis to kick the meal into the stratosphere.

How to Make: A hammock for under £15

April 27, 2021Jamie Dakota

So I got to thinking, could be make a functional hammock for under £15 without using a sewing machine or any real craft skills at all… to produce a super cheap, usable hammock for trailing it as a sleep system. That’s just what I did:

Gear Review: Rab Alpha Freak Hoody. My weirdest layer

February 08, 2021Jamie Dakota

Often I’m asked about clothing and layering systems for the outdoors, especially when it comes to camping out for several nights. And often I reply with the examples I’ve used over the years to offer an insight into the different options available, be that wool and Ventile for the woods, Down for dry-cold or synthetics for wet-cold etc. And yet when I look back over the last year at the layer I taken with me most, be that for a walk or for overnights, wearing through the day or packed in the rucksack…I find myself struggling to describe it.

How to Make: Non-alcoholic Mulled Wine

December 24, 2020Jamie Dakota

As a seasonal gift from Howl HQ to all our readers and clients, I thought I’d share this quick and easy Mulled Juice recipes. Whether you’re making in it the woods, or at home, this warming and gently spiced drink is great for adults and kids alike.

Gear Review: Keela Ventile Smock

November 07, 2020Jamie Dakota

Having worn the Keela Heritage Smock now for over 3 years I thought it high time I offered my thoughts on the jacket I wear more than any other.

If you’re looking for a jacket that comfy to wear all day long, tough enough to handle the rigours of woodland life, and waterproof to the nines…

Hiking Volcanic: Lanzarote

August 06, 2020Jamie Dakota

High above the vistas to the sea I feel again the familiar mountain winds, but unlike those from home these have blown over the ocean from the continent. Having spent the last week in unrelenting sun the cold night zephyrs were unexpected.

How to Make: A Wild Camping Hammock

May 13, 2020Jamie Dakota

During some time at Howl HQ I finally managed to get around to making my own hammock for bushcraft and wilderness trips.

How to Make: Braided Willow Strapping

April 30, 2020Jamie Dakota

I’ve used willow bark for many years in the classic way, by separating out the inner bark from the outer and then slicing it into thin strips in several ways, processing it to produce fine twisted cordage. But here I like to share the method I learnt from Adam about how to get the bark off into strips easily, and then to make a simple and functional cordage which works especially well in a braided strap.

How to Make: Wild Garlic Salts

April 29, 2020Jamie Dakota

Ramsons and Hedge Garlic:

Here a quick and easy way to use those amazing but short lived wild garlic flavours to make long life salt for the store cupboard.