A bud in the hand is better with two in the bush

 

Resiliency defined much of 2021. As we begin the New Year, many are looking to bolster their inner strength in the face of ongoing uncertainty. Enter Connie and Lonnie from Far North Bushcraft and Survival, the creators of countless instructional videos on self-sufficiency in the Alaskan wilderness. Let’s be honest, you may never find yourself alone in the woods with nothing more than a knife and a camp blanket, however, a few lessons in practical survival skills will prove invaluable in raising your preparedness to deal with any crisis. Hosts Connie and Lonnie are a genuinely nice couple with exceptional communication skills. Each episode of Far North contains nuggets of wisdom that will help you feel more confident whatever comes your way. Their soothing tutorials will lower your stress, increase your self-reliance, and may even send you down the path of personal discovery. So pull up a stump, roll a blunt, let’s get started!   

 

 

 

If you’ve ever spent time in the Far North, you know that nothing beats the cold like a piping hot beverage, and Lonnie’s soft-spoken voice is as soothing as a steaming cuppa. In this episode, Lonnie asserts, “If you’ve never tasted spruce tip tea before, you’re in for a treat.” Indeed, warmth and comfort can be found in a mug of spruce tip tea and the effort to make it is so worth it. Our hosts demonstrate how to identify black spruce from other Christmas trees in the woods. Hint: It’s totally tubular! Black spruce is Lonnie’s personal favourite with its “good clean evergreen smell with a little bit of a citrus smell to it.” Sounds like a fine description of our strain pairing—Superglue showcases its strong piney tones and citrus scents with a happy, creative high. The perfect tea and toke marriage—just like Connie and Lonnie. 

Watch it here 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

In this episode, Lonnie teaches us how to make a boreal shirt—a simple and relatively inexpensive project if you happen to have an old wool blanket lying about. Lonnie might not be a master tailor but when it comes to surviving the elements, he’s got his priorities straight: “I’m very pleased with how the size turned out as well—it makes me look huge!” Once completed, you’ll have a cosy bushman hoodie that can be worn for years and feels just like a warm bear hug. Pair with Animal Cookies for its earthy flavour, sweet aroma, and heavy full-body relaxation. It’s the perfect strain to smoke while snug inside your toasty anorak. You can even tuck a sandwich or two right inside the roomy front pocket in case the munchies hit. Clever!

Watch it here 

 

 

  

 

 

Panic-buying during the pandemic had many us asking, “Now what?” when faced with empty store shelves. Fret not, life hacks from the Far North have you covered. In this episode, Lonnie makes a TP substitute from the very thing we use to make toilet paper—wood! A sharp knife, a green branch and a little elbow grease is all you need to make an all-natural bog roll. And don’t worry about scratching your fine foufounes, Lonnie promises, “This is real soft, real fluffy, and moist. You’re not going to get slivers off of this!” Pair with OG Kush for its woodsy flavour and proven ability to alleviate tummy trouble and boost appetite. 

Watch it here  

 

 

  

 

 

In this episode, Lonnie turns himself into a human burrito. Using a thick wool blanket, a canvas tarp and an insulated mattress, he demonstrates step-by-step how to fold and tuck your way to a warm sleep system. He emphasizes why proper technique is so important for a comfortable night’s sleep: “If you’ve ever slept underneath a wool blanket like I have, perhaps you discovered the same thing I did and that was—I froze. I froze bad!” Co-star, Buck the dog keeps watch (mostly) on his owner and delights as Lonnie emerges Houdini-style from his wrappings. Pair with a classic couch lock strain like Bigfoot Glue from Humboldt Seed Company with its earthy piney aroma. You may want to sleep with one eye open in case Sasquatch tries to crawl into that cowboy bedroll with you.  

Watch it here 

 

 

 

  

 

 

In this episode, Lonnie invites us to “pull up a stump” while his wife Connie rustles up some bannock pizza pockets. Cooking on a makeshift rock griddle, Connie fries bacon and onions, and stuffs them along with cheese, olives, mushrooms, and pizza sauce into bannock dough. The homemade pockets fry up crispy and golden in bacon grease, making our mouths water with a vengeance. It just goes to show that you don’t need a lot to make a very, very yummy supper. We sincerely hope Lonnie keeps his promise to “save a bite for ya.” This Far North cooking instructional is simple enough to try in your own backyard. And as Lonnie declares biting into his bannock pocket, it “doesn’t get much better than this!” Pair with GMO Cookies for its savoury flavour profile and relaxed attitude.  

Watch it here 

 

 

 

  

 

 

While it’s true that most common men will never need a tent wood stove, come along with Connie and Lonnie for a hypnotic look at the different types from lightweight breakdown titanium and stainless steel to affordable homemade units. In this episode, wife Connie expertly mans the camera while Lonnie imparts his savvy on how to make spending time in an extreme environment bearable: “In cold weather, I’m a fan of bigger is better.” We couldn’t agree more—go big if you can’t go home! And while you’re at it, roll a big blunt of something to keep you toasty like Dutch Treat. It smells just like a walk through a boreal forest with its strong coniferous scent. If camping in the middle of winter ain’t your trip, just sit back and listen to the balmy sound of Lonnie’s voice. It will lull you into a deep state of relaxation. 

Watch it here  

 

Lonnie and Connie, thank you for your thoughtful and information-packed videos. We appreciate you folks!

 

 

 

 

Bonus video

 

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so give it up for Girl in the woods for her playful—and spot on—homage to Connie and Lonnie from Far North Bushcraft and Survival. If you were wondering what Lonnie keeps hidden in his beard, Brooke magically reveals all the essentials. Pair this tongue-in-cheek video with Laughing Buddha for its giggle-inducing effects and herbal sage aroma. 

  

What they’re saying about Far North Bushcraft and Survival:

“Lonnie and Connie, a match made in heaven.”

“Best beard on YouTube!”

“Connie seems like such a gentle soul.”

“Y'all are an inspiration to so many people.”

“Lonnie looks more and more like Gandalf. He is a treasure of the bushcraft community.” 

“His voice is so relaxing and his energy is so gentle.”

 

Want more far North Bushcraft and Survival?

Check out the YouTube channel here.

Disclaimer: The views expressed within the content of this article are solely Heads Lifestyle’s and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of the YouTube channel Far North Bushcraft and Survival and its creators.

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