LET ME GIVE YOU A HISTORY LESSON.
What comes to mind when you hear things like survival, primitive living, and life skills? I bet you think zombie apocalypse, cavemen and using a smart phone or pc. Well you’d be wrong, survival is more than just what you play in video game’s or see in movies. Primitive living is more than being a caveman ‘Ugging’ at the amazement of fire…………Well the last one you can do, I still find it amazing how you can make fire with sticks. Yes you need a lot of skills and luck but it’s still an amazing thing.
I have always enjoyed watching and reading about primitive living, bush skills, bush tucker and everything that comes with it. I started my fascination with primitive skills and survival at a young age watching a television show called ‘The Bush Tucker Man’ with my Granddad. I always remember him for his large hat and lovely smile, and of course eating things that made me go eeeewwww as a child. My Granddad made me laugh too with his own brand of going yuck, or calling him a dirty sod. In reality, we both enjoyed watching and learning from this man, real name Major Leslie James Hiddins. (The wonders of the internet search machine.) Now we both knew we would never be able to go to Australia but it was nice sitting down and watching him and learning what he had to teach.
Now from there I went onto reading all the books I could find on primitive living, tribes and making shelters. My brother and I would always enjoy our trips to the library but once there we separated. (He to the kids section and me to the reference.) I must admit there wasn’t much in the way of books in my local library so I had to make do with what I could. You have to remember I am 35 so there wasn’t the internet when I was a child. If you wanted to know something you had to look for a book or find someone who knew the answer to your questions. But, as usual I’m digressing. As the years went on I found more books and more television shows appeared on British TV, such as Bruce Parry’s Tribe and Ray Meirs to name a few. Where I do admire Bruce Parry for his work I have to admit I did like Ray more for his skills and his knowledge not only of primitive living but the history of our beautiful land and the flora around us. I did indulge in Bear Grills but was never really impressed. Of course college and work happened so reading and watching television went out of the window. So that’s a brief history of my enjoyment of survival, primitive skills and living. It’s strange how a television show can ignite an interest.
Now if I was stuck on a desert island and could pick one person to have with me you would think I’d pick someone super famous to keep me company, or maybe a loved one? Well, even though you may know me well, you would actually be wrong. I wouldn’t even ask Bruce Parry or Ray Meirs. Nope. I would ask Mr Cody Lundin. Who is this man I hear you ask from your toadstools?! Well let me tell you, Mr Lundin is the Founder, Director and Lead Instructor of his own Aboriginal Living Skills School. He is Mr Primitive Skill! Well in my opinion and many others too. Not only does he teach primitive skills he actually lives it, Cody made his own home, he recycles water and much more. Now before I invite Mr Lundin to pull up a spiritual toadstool, (He’s in the US you see and my grotto is in the UK.) let me tell you about him and his work. Mr Lundin kindly directed me to his website where I found so much interesting facts and information to create this blog, so thank you for that.
THE MORE YOU KNOW, THE LESS YOU NEED.
Now I have to start this with a confession and an honest one at that, as that is what I am if nothing else. I only discovered Cody through another TV show and primitive skill guy. A brief tale, while shopping in a place called ‘The Works’ I found a box set DVD called ‘Survive That.’ A show with a bunch of military friends, kidnapping one another, leaving them in a survival situation where they have 100 hours to get to civilization. It was pretty neat, but of course I immediately latched onto the Primitive guy, Matt Graham, his skills were amazing. Yes it’s all well and good being militarily trained, but my Uncle was in the army and I heard his tales so military survival didn’t really interest me. Don’t get me wrong it’s still amazing skill sets but they have plan upon plan, they work with technology and so on.
Anyway, as usual I digress which is nothing new my regular readers. (Most likely thinking, there she goes again.) now of course I went to Google and searched what else Matt had done and low and behold there was a little show called Dual Survival. I was rather late to the Dual Survival boat I must say not having cable and all that jazz, too busy working and it seemed like a waste of money. Plus I’m more of a book worm so TV is not my big thing. But movies, don’t even get me started on Star Wars and golden oldies.
Anyway, I hate to start a show mid-series so I watched from series one and there was Cody and Dave rowing to the shore and Dual Survival had begun. And that’s how I came to discover Cody Lundin. I will be frank here and tell you I love series one and two, series three was good too but I didn’t feel there was much chemistry with the new guy Joe. There was moments when Cody and Dave bonded, shared a laugh or even disagreed and it looked natural to me, I don’t see Cody as a man to play to the camera like some ‘reality show’ hosts, lets face it people do. So when he had a smile on his face and hugged Dave because they had reunited, that to me was real. Whereas Joe, I only remember Cody hugging him once, please message me if I’m wrong. It just didn’t have the same feel.
Anyway, I loved the show so I got his books, and to this day years down the line I still put series one or two on in the background while I write or do the house work. So that’s where I know Cody from, now I don’t expect everyone to know my Special Guests, so here’s some biographical information for you straight from Cody’s website, delivered to you in a way only Nightshade from the Grotto can.
(Remember, the following is from Cody’s website, some from his books and a little of my own words. I make no money from this blog but I do hope you might buy his books and enjoy them as much as I did.)
“MY WARRIOR TRAINING.”
Did you know that Cody is an internationally recognized professional survival instructor? He has over 30 years experience of teaching and he does it hands on. He doesn’t just stand there and get you to read from a text book, explains the theory of making a fire then leave you to it. He’s the kind of teacher I enjoy working with and I have worked with many in college and at my place of work………with me being the same whenever I teach.
Now I was surprised when I read that Cody was a child of a military family, I pictured him coming from a family living in a beautiful countryside, what I would call the country but more than likely should be referred to as the wilderness. I guess having a family member in the military meant you moved around a lot because Cody moved, on his website it says years of migration. I like that term, almost like a bird flying to warmer climates. Nature became Cody’s constant companion, can you imagine how lovely that must have been, I can imagine it was a hard life though. Imagine making friends only to leave them when your family tells you it’s time to up and leave. But my heart goes out to amazing people who decide to follow an interest through, to not only study it but live it. Growing up he would hike alone into the Wyoming wilderness with a Spartan spear and a fishing line so he could improvise catching trout. Wow can you imagine that?! Just one day decided, no I’ve had enough, I’m downing tools and going for a walk. But that walk changing how you see the world and your very life itself? I do enjoy reading Cody’s words, his books are amazing and the information on his website gives you an insight to Cody’s early life.
Growing up Cody did some amazing things I only dreamed or wrote about in some trashy teenage story, (I was a terrible writer as a teenager, I used to write trashy love stories for my female friends.) when Cody graduated from High School, what we call Secondary School, he created his first survival kit for living on the go, grabbed his bag and a guitar and headed into the world. I think unless you actually know the man himself you won’t fully appreciate or know how he lived his life. From reading his works, I think it sounded amazing, hard not only physically but mentally and in my opinion, emotionally. I think the emotional side would break me. But read his works and you can make your own mind up.
PERFECT SHELTER? YOU MUST BE IN A BOOK.
Now this man knows his onions. When watching Dual Survival he came out with things that made me go and search and look in more depth. It’s one thing knowing about your specialized subject, but to have a knowledge of not only wilderness survival and primitive living but also the amount Cody does, it’s just too wow for words. Did you know Cody actually lived in a bush shelter while going to college. Now I know he said in one episode of dual survival that he didn’t have many friends and no girl wanted to hang out in a brush shelter, but bloody hell I would have! To me that’s amazing. I know at the time he was broke but instead of living in an alley way or door step he made his own home. I can imagine a young Cody would have still made a pretty badass shelter even back then. One of the many things I picked up reading and watching his work is this……….THERE IS NO PERFECT SHELTER! Unless you get bricks, cement and a butt load of modern materials you’ll never have a perfect shelter or location. It’s a case of taking a moment, slowing down and really taking in where you are, making the most of what Mother Nature has to offer. Make and make do! My favorite expression and my close friends must get annoyed with me saying it all the time.
My more avid readers will know my thoughts and feelings on Mother Nature by now, but for those who don’t, all you really need to know is that I don’t believe in any religious God’s, I believe in Mother Nature and science, the elements around me are more real than a book of religious words. Yet I have been called Buddhist as I fully accept and never disrespect others and their beliefs. But again…………….digression, back to survival.
Shelter is one of the most important things in life, think about it sitting in your home or place of work. How does it make you feel having a roof over your head, a warm bed, simple things like that?
Now making a shelter is hard, we made one when I was doing my Duke of Edinburgh Award and although it was rather shabby and a Lean To (Oh yes!) it did the job and I got the points I needed. You could read all the books in the world but unless you have to right tools and materials, you’ll never have the perfect shelter. The perfect shelter is build by many builders with machines, in the wilds you do what you can and tick as many boxes as you can.
I’d highly recommend reading some books on shelters alone, from a simple hammock to get you off the ground to a full on shelter like a teepee, shelter is key.
Of course being able to order a pizza would be great when living off the grid, but primitive living means to either hunt or gather what you eat. Matt Graham spends lots of his time gathering food, hunting and so on. I remember reading an article on his typical day, it was very full on and I’m sure 99% of the world couldn’t do it. Its not a case of going to the shop and picking something up, you have to know your onions! You can bet your bottom button that every survival expert knows what they can and can’t eat. I watched a film based on a real life story, ‘Into the Wilds’ and although it’s an amazing story and something I have only dreamed of, It ends sadly because he made a mistake. Eating things you don’t know can be deadly, and that’s not an exaggeration, plants are amazing things given to us by the earth but they can be deadly. So don’t go out into your local woods and start eating those mushrooms you walk passed. Know your plants, know you fungus and if in doubt don’t touch! I really enjoy reading about plants, they are so amazing and can be used for more than your salad. I use plants myself for tea’s and homemade creams, but you have to read up before you do anything like that.
Now fire is one of the sacred elements, it can take but it can also give. Have you ever sat in front of a fire and just relaxed, let your mind wander or simply enjoy the world around you? Fire making is an art and in my eyes, and many others, its magic! Fire keeps you warm, it cooks food if you catch it and keeps critters away. Fire can boost you mentally, it can give you the feel of home. The one thing I took way from Bruce Parry was how much Tribe’s value fire, how much it means to them, I remember reading a passage in a book, I can’t remember the book, but the author was watching as a tribesman made a digging stick and he made a fire for no other reason than it made him feel at home in the middle of nowhere. I’ve seen many fires made but I have to say Cody is the best at it, he’s made fire with sticks, stone, flint, he even fashioned a fire piston in one episode of Dual Survival. It took him many tries but he did it. Its all about the determination, the skill and respecting the worlds around you. Cody makes fire making look so easy, but it’s not. There are also primitive tools you can make to aid in fire making, have a look at pump drills and bow drill sets. My personal favorite is a bow dill, I would have love to make one for my Duke of Edinburgh!
TURNING YOUR PASSION INTO SOMETHING MORE.
Now I’m sure this sounds more like a Cody appreciation blog but the man is just that wow! When someone has such a living knowledge you can’t help but share it…….and this is just a small amount! (Pssst maybe buying a book or two……..) now making television shows about your passion is all well and good, Ray Miers made some amazing shows and while people like John Hudson and Matt Graham made 2 great series of Dude you Screwed, people like Cody went on and did more.
With less than $10 Cody founded his Aboriginal Living Skills school, he has used the same passion and determination from his own life to take people into the wilderness and give them the skills to live. He has an amazing understanding of physics, psychology and the very physiology of human survival it makes you wonder how many books he’s swallowed. Seriously this man is a walking encyclopedia and that is why I would have him on my desert island. Cody doesn’t just teach it, he lives it and I know I sound like a broken record as I’ve said that more than once in this post, but you really don’t understand how rare that it.
The way Cody lives and has lived his life, 99.99% of people would even volunteer to live that way for a weekend. Cody goes barefooted everywhere he goes, now I worry about that but I have soft feet, I wear shoes when I go out and only walk around the house and beach barefoot. Cody lives his teaching, he lives his passion, he practices what he preaches, whatever phrase you want to use, that’s what he does.
To have a passion to teach others is a special thing, to find a way of passing on your words and knowledge in a way that works, that’s genius. Being a teacher takes more than simply remembering what you yourself picked up from others and books. Its taking that knowledge and passing it on in a way that will stay with that person for life. Cody has so many amazing courses I would love to take part in, maybe one day he could do a live online lesson? (hint, hint.) I would be first in line for that.
The skills Cody teaches are life saving when you think about it, if there would be a world disaster and modern life reverts back to a more purer time, who would be alive, who would survive? Would it be the Smart Phone loving City man or the man in bare feet with sticks? I know who I vote for.
AFTER THAT CODY APPRICIATION SPEECH.
Now I know that was a lot of Cody application there, but as I said, when someone has such knowledge that’s second to none you have to share it. Now I’m not saying there’s only Cody in the world that’s a Primitive Skill’s expert, he’s just my personal favorite. Check out Ray Meirs, Matt Graham and Bear Grills if you want a giggle. (He makes me giggle as he reminds me of the energizer bunny in every situation.)
Now at the end of each blog I have a recommendation, this time its……you’ve guessed it! Cody’s books. I’ve added the links below for his website, so have a look and maybe share wih me your views on them.
BONUS INTERVIEW!
Also, today I have a special surprise! Cody, the man himself kindly answered a few questions for this blog, I do hope you enjoy this mini interview. Of course I’ve had to pull up a spiritual toadstool, even laid out the tea and cake, then sent the questions for him to answer but you can use your imagination here. The questions are in bold as usual.
When you’re not teaching, what do you do in a typical day?
I work a lot, and there is much preparation in what I do that goes unnoticed by a student.
Much of my time is spent reconning for courses, prepping materials and keeping up with maintaining gear from season to season.
What was it about Arizona that spoke to you, telling you this was your home?
Arizona has the most biological diversity, in the shortest drive time, of any place in North America. I have taught winter survival and then desert survival the very next day. It has amazing terrain variations and large amounts of extremely remote country. It is an ideal place to recreate in the outdoors year-round, from the deserts to the mountains.
Your home is amazing, it provides you with everything you need in an echo friendly way. But, what inspired you when designing and building it?
Nature. She always has the best design ideas. I paid attention to the seasons and how they played upon the landscape. I designed my home based upon what I learned about the environment in my area.
You have been to some beautiful places in the world and must have seen some sights. What has been the most memorable place you have been and why?
Every place has been memorable. Every place has its magic, from the sand dunes of Oman, to the swamps of Brazil.
What inspires you in life?
Integrity, honesty, principle and character.
When you go for a walk about alone, what do you think about, do you admire your beautiful surroundings, lose yourself in the tranquility or is your survival head always on?
Both. I appreciate the beauty but I am hard wired to see a “shelter” there, a way to make “fire” here and the ability to get something to “eat” over there.
What do you do to unwind, I read you had a guitar in your youth, do you still play?
I no longer play. When a person loves their job, there is little need to unwind.
I could have asked so many questions and I would love to sit down and have a real conversation one day but as I said before, Cody runs his own school. So the fact he took moments out of his busy day to answer me really made me happy. He seems like such a kind and genuine person, the kind of person I would welcome into my circle and learn from and just have a chat with for hours. The kind of person you’d befriend and keep for years. So thank you Cody for answering my questions, (Added note, and baring with me while writing this. It took such a very long time due to life and so on.)
Now I know I could have gone into so much more detail but for one, I’m not an expert and two, I would rather you pick up a book yourself and discover the world around you for yourself. Open your eyes to mother nature and see there is so much more. If it wasn’t for people like Cody, John Hudson, Ray Meirs, Bruce Parry and the Bush Tucker Man these things would die one day. But by teaching others and writing books for us to read, this amazing thing called Survival and Primitive Skills will live on. So go on, pick up a book today!
I do hope you enjoyed reading this and it wasn’t too long and boring in anyway, I really enjoyed writing it. I might take a few moments and write a more in depth posts about tribes and primitive living. Send me a message and let me know what you think, you know how to find me on Twitter.
Take care where ever you are, sending you much love and blue light.
Tatty bye
Photo taken by me (I also stacked those stones too ♥)
www.codylundin.com
Here's a search result of survival books.
www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=survival+books&sprefix=Survi&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_4_5
