The Campfire Trail: October 8 - DIY Homestead

October 8, 2022

Day 373 of the Adventure

Our day began early with breakfast in town with my sister. We had been planning a visit to some friends who were having a sale of Awesome Stuff and today was the day. When I say "awesome stuff" I'm referring to their hobby of collecting old, fascinating things like wooden canoes, iron pots, antique fishing gear, and just old-fashioned stuff in general. About twice per year, they haul their collection out and have a big sale. Today was that day. Larry and Judy are their names and they've been friends for quite a while. Part of the reason I mention this is that it was simply a great time to spend with friends and get caught up from our year of "Hiding out in the Woods". But also, it was a chance to hit Larry up for a favor.

Larry is a local historian of sorts. He's even finishing up a book on a local family who settled a part of this area in the Ozarks right near where Larry and Judy live. Besides that, Larry loves researching and re-creating old Ozarks folk arts and skills. Among his recent endeavors has been the digging of Chicory, drying it and roasting "Poor man's Coffee" from it. A staple back in the day when coffee was scare and too costly to afford. He's also dried tobacco and cured into plug chewing tobacco like the old timers did. Not to mention restoring log cabins, wooden boats and all of the other things you could typically find back in the days of the Civil War up through the Great Depression. Larry is kind of a walking Foxfire Book. He has agreed to let me run over and video his various efforts at preserving old ways of doing things. I am really looking forward to spending some time with him doing just that.

Carry On

Adventure Quote: “If you're waiting until you feel talented enough to make it, you'll never make it.”

― Criss Jami

Base Camp Coffee of the Day: Caramel Apple Strudel (it tastes just like it sounds)

Consider Subscribing to our monthly "How-To", Do-It-Yourself" newsletter in the upper right corner of this page. AND........

Click any of the following links to start your own adventure with us:

Mountain Craft

Pottery

Cornmeal Grinding

Blacksmithing

Sassafras Tea Making (Chicks in the Sticks video)

DIY Construction Basics Videos