Photo by Ehud Neuhaus on Unsplash
Housebound!
So say the doctors. In the aftermath of my hiking accident, I sit in bed nursing a shattered foot. It’s a bitter dose of reality. And I feel imprisoned.
It turns out that the best things in life are not things. And I miss the comfort of the woods and the restorative power of nature. Being outdoors is my medicine without side-effects. And I feel restrained and impotent in my comfortable, well-heated home.
Milton’s Wisdom
The English poet, John Milton wrote
The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven…
– John Milton
And he’s right! Rather than mope about the house, I resolve to use my time to improve my bushcraft skills. And there’s a variety of ways to do this.
Below is a short list of activities you can do when you can’t make it to the woods. We’ve all been there. We’re injured or sick. We’ve got family commitments, or too much going on at work. Use this list to do fun bushcraft activities when you can’t make it to the woods.
Below each activity is a set of links to sample projects you can try.
1. Woodworking projects
I like doing small woodworking projects that don’t require fancy tools. This is because I don’t own any fancy tools. Try these projects and let me know how they turn out.
How to Make a Custom Firesteel without Fancy Tools
My Purple Ulu – And How You can Make an Ulu Too
How to make a traditional fishhook
Use Your Knife – Make a Whimmy Diddle Bushcraft Toy (Video)
2. Leatherwork projects
I love working with leather. You can make useful gear with minimal tools. And the soft materials are a joy to work with. Here are several projects you can try.
How to Make a Deerskin Pouch – 5 Easy Steps!
Simple Leather Project – Coyote and Night
How to Make a Leather Slip Pouch for a Folding Knife (Video)
Beginner Leatherworking Project
3. Practice Outdoor Skills
Just because you can’t get to the woods doesn’t mean you can’t practice outdoor skills. Here are some skills you can practice on your doorstep.
10 Traditional Skills You Should Learn
4. Make Your Own Gear
Making your own gear is fun and rewarding. And often it’s cheaper than buying the manufactured equivalent. Here are some projects to try.
My Internet-Enabled Sit Pad for Hiking and Backpacking
Earth Day Project 2014 – The Bottle Bag
5. Observe nature around the home
Nature is all around us, even in the most urban setting. So look out your window, or walk around the neighborhood and see what you can spot.
Urban Creatures – The Amazing Garter Snake
Urban Bushcraft and the Capacity to Wonder
Bushcraft at Home: Penguicula Weser
6. Read Books (Yes, books!)
Whenever I’m stuck at home, I pop open a book about bushcraft or nature and learn as much as I can. Each year since 2014, I have put together a list of the ten best books I’ve read. Check out this list (previous year’s lists are at the bottom of the list). See if you can find something to have on your shelf for a rainy day.
10 Books for Bushcrafters, Nature Lovers, and People Who Love the Outdoors (2019)
Keep a Positive Attitude
Even if you’re bummed to be housebound, keep a positive attitude. As the Walt Whitman said:
Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and the shadows will fall behind you.
– Walt Whitman
What do you do when you’re housebound? Share your activities in the comments below.
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“The Disaster-Ready Home” by Creek Stewart
The best book I’ve read in a long time. Many indoor projects in this book can be done/planned while housebound
Take care of that and have a speedy recovery
Thanks, Tommy! I’ll check out the book.