Earth Day Project 2014 – The Bottle Bag

Yosemite High Country – Happy Earth Day!

In my Earth Day message, I point out that the entire week is an exciting opportunity for bushcrafters.  It is a chance to meet others in our community, increase our knowledge, and learn about local resources for learning and growth.

But it is also a chance for us to undertake projects of our own.  We can make things, do conservation work, or vow to modify our behavior for the rest of the year.  It is a chance to leave the world a little better than we found it.

Below is a simple, fun Earth Day Project that children can do easily.  I call it the “Bottle Bag”. 

My Tradition

If you take a wilderness skills class, it may conclude with a “closing circle”.  In the circle the teachers review key concepts and students share what they learned during the class.

Some teachers have an additional custom of handing the students a small amount of ceremonial tobacco or kinnikinnick.  The students take a few minutes to wander away from the group.  During this private moment, they sprinkle the tobacco and give thanks to Earth Mother for providing the natural resources used by the class.  This is not a religious ritual.  The teachers do it to encourage mindful appreciation and gratitude for nature.

At first, I thought the tradition rather odd.  But I quickly grew to like it.  The expression of appreciation for nature instills a feeling of connection with a greater universe.  I liked the sense of calm and connectedness I felt during and after. 

But I desired my own tradition, something with which I could closely identify.  I wanted to give thanks to nature in a way that was personally meaningful.  About the time I began thinking about this, I noticed how much trash people leave along trails.  I decided that instead of leaving precious tobacco in nature, I would take man-made trash out of it.  Even everyday tasks can be made special if they are done in a mindful way.  So picking up garbage along the trail would become my ritual. 

I had no convenient way to do this.  I did not want to carry trash strapped to the outside of my pack.  Nor did I want messy trash leaking on my gear inside of it.  I could spend money for sealable plastic bags.  But that ran counter to my intent of being “nature friendly”, not to mention my budget.  So I created what I call the “bottle-bag”.  I recall seeing something like it once on the internet.  But I was never able to find it when I looked later.

The Bottle-Bag

The bottle-bag is a free, waterproof, watertight, airtight, re-sealable plastic bag.  The object is to take plastic bags we get for fee every day and turn them into “ziplock-type” containers.

Materials

• 1 gallon plastic water bottle (available at any supermarket)
• 1 surplus disposable bag (produce bag, packaging, etc.)

Tools

• Scissors (recommended) or knife

 Instructions for Making

1. Using the scissors, cut the top off of the empty 1 gallon plastic water bottle.  Make the cut on the neck, just below the threads.
2. That’s it!  You are done.

The threaded cap serves as a “zip-lock” for the bag.  Unscrew the cap.  Thread the bag through the neck of the bottle and fold the bag material backwards over the threads.  When you screw-on the cap, it forms an airtight, watertight seal.

1 Gallon Water Bottle with Top

Neck Cut from Bottle with Top and Bag

Thread bag through neck and fold plastic over outside of threads

Screw-on cap to make airtight/watertight seal

I always carry a bottle-bag in my pack.  When I find garbage along the trail, I unscrew the top and pull out the bag.  I use the plastic bag like a glove and grab the trash through it.  Once the trash is inside the bag, I feed the top of the bag back through the neck and screw-on the cap.   At this point I can throw the bag inside my pack without worrying that it will leak.  When I find a trash can, I unscrew the cap, pull the bag out of the neck, tie it into a knot, and toss it in the trash.  When I get home, I thread another bag through the neck and place it back into my pack.

Most of the bags I use are the supermarket bags found in the produce department.  I also use plastic bags I receive in packages shipped to me.  I just have to remember not to damage the bag when I open it.  Or, to only cut one hole in the bag to open it.

The bottle-bag is versatile and can also store wild edibles.  I never place “precious” items into it, but as a miscellaneous watertight bag it excels. 

Happy Earth Day and have fun with your bottle bag!  What uses can you find for it?

Further Reading

If you enjoy making or modifying your gear, check out the Gear Section.