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  1. Ivan Owen

    Using coppiced hazel for making yurt

    I spent a little time working with a yurt maker who'd just bought a hazel coppice and we found that those really lovely straight poles arent actually very straight at all. This makes them pretty much unuseable for the roof poles. Hope it goes well.
  2. Ivan Owen

    How best to dye a yurt canvas?

    Canvas generally doesn't dye very happily. Paint might be the way to go; i'm no expert though.
  3. Ivan Owen

    Best charity shop finds?

    Bought a merino/possum fur jumper for £4.50 ; checked online and the nearest prices were around £120. Rather smug, yes i am.
  4. Ivan Owen

    Jobs involving the outdoors - Suggestions?

    Have you considered trying to get into sound recording in nature? You'll a have a qualification and a field that to my knowledge isn't exactly jam packed. Getting some tree climbing courses would be useful in this i'd reckon.
  5. Ivan Owen

    A week on foraged wild food.

    You probably know it already but it you grind up those hazelnuts real fine you'll get more nutrients out of them; nuts and seed generally just pass through for the most part. I don't see much difference between this and any other bushcrafty activity; don't we all take on an activity, try to do...
  6. Ivan Owen

    Gorse and fires

    Wild ponies eat it naturally; they stamp on it to deal with the thorns. Smells lovely when it burns.
  7. Ivan Owen

    How waterproof is tweed?

    I've been reading over and over again that tweed is weatherproof but just how weatherproof is it? I'm considering whether to buy the Bison Bush shirt or not. Cheers.
  8. Ivan Owen

    World War Z - Brad Pitt!!

    Funny this cos the farm i workat are supplying his salad...
  9. Ivan Owen

    Removing branches

    Cheers guys; what's a veterian tree? I'm hoping to run an orchard and do some coppicing/pollarding some day. When i know my stuff. Did some work with a tree surgeon a while back but he wasn't interested in teaching me anything so it's good to hear this stuff!
  10. Ivan Owen

    Removing branches

    Keep the knowledge coming guys this is very interesting stuff. Tearing? Your gonna have to explain that one treelore. It seems clear to me that there are different 'rules' for foresters; it'd be interesting to hear more about it? Details of how/where to cut etc.
  11. Ivan Owen

    Removing branches

    So i'd been under the impression that removing a live, healthy limb from a tree is a cardinal sin until recently, when my boss (Who genuinely knows his stuff) informed me that it could 'potentially' extend the life of the tree by up to 150 years. So what's the general verdict? Is he right or...
  12. Ivan Owen

    how many blankets

    Just a warning; the dutch blankets are pretty bulky, i doubt you could fit two in your pack. Think of it as 30-35 litres on its own.
  13. Ivan Owen

    Moleskins

    Hi guys, was wondering where to get the best pair of moleskin trousers (preferably green) for about £30 or under. Also if anyone fancies giving the rest of us any insights into moleskin in generally that'd be lovely... Ta, Ivan.
  14. Ivan Owen

    Feeling attachment to a particular place

    Aye, i did a couple of days work on a veggie farm a month ago and felt a real feeling of belonging in the farm environment; completely changed my lifes direction. Get it in scruffy over grown terrace gardens too.... and Ilkley moor. Like people have said there no real pattern.
  15. Ivan Owen

    Leather Jackets?

    R. Lewis: I visited 'skye skins' a week ago and they were doing pretty hefty bin bags of sheepskin offcuts for £4; good size pieces n all; if you can find a sheepskin shop near you, it might be worth making your own? Skye skins is on the isle of skye though... probably pay in fuel what you save.
  16. Ivan Owen

    Leather Jackets?

    are there issues of weight? I've held sheepskins and was impressed with how light they are is this always the case with leather? The ones iv come across were hefty buggers...
  17. Ivan Owen

    Leather Jackets?

    Was rooting through a charity shop for a cheap jacket to ruin when i came across some leather ones and it occured to me that i didnt have a clue about their practicality. I have no real intention of buying one just thought it'd make an interesting thread.... So yeh; are they breathable...
  18. Ivan Owen

    I'm always looking to start a fire!!

    Forgot to empty my pockets when i put a pair of trousers stuffed with all kinds of tinders i was yet to try in the wash. I wasnt very popular ....
  19. Ivan Owen

    Zebra Billy or Canteen cup?

    Are they safe to use? I'm sure the plastic lined ones aren't worth trying to see but are the regular ones?
  20. Ivan Owen

    Austrian Army Sweater-but with a full length zipper? Help! German Speakers Please

    http://www.raeer.com/shopexd.asp?id=24848?var=00000 same language problem but its a nice price; grade B though... not sure what the equivalent is here. got the non-zip and yeh i think the zip would be an improvement as it can be a bit time consuming to put it on; worth it during winter but not...