– Etymology
– The Oxford English Dictionary defines bushcraft as skill in matters pertaining to life in the bush.
– The term has been used in Australia and South Africa since at least the 1800s.
– “Bush” is a direct adoption of the Dutch “bosch,” originally used in Dutch colonies for woodland.
– In North America, the term “bushwacker” is reminiscent of the Dutch “bosch-wachter,” meaning forest-keeper.
– Historical books where the term “bushcraft” has appeared include works by Francis Galton, Ernest Favenc, and Miles Franklin.
– Trademark
– The word “bushcraft” was registered as a trademark by Bushcraft USA LLC in 2013.
– The trademark covers providing an online forum for bushcraft discussions.
– Concerns arose about the mark’s validity due to prior uses by figures like Mors Kochanski.
– As of 2021, Bushcraft USA has not actively enforced its trademark against other forums.
– No formal opposition was filed against the trademark registration.
– Promoters
– Richard Graves, an Irish-born Australian writer, authored “The 10 Bushcraft Books.”
– Mors Kochanski, a Canadian wilderness instructor, published “Northern Bushcraft” in 1981.
– Ray Mears, Cody Lundin, Les Hiddins, Les Stroud, and Dave Canterbury have contributed to the popularity of bushcraft.
– The term has gained recent popularity due to the influence of various television programs.
– An article by Daniel Stables in BBC Travel discusses the resurgence of bushcraft.
– References
– Scott Heiman’s works “Bushcraft & Survival” provide valuable insights into the topic.
– Ray Mears, a prominent figure in bushcraft, has been a key reference in the field.
– Information on bushcraft can be found on websites like Ray Mears Bushcraft and Springfields Bushcraft.
– The Galton Archive and Kochanski’s webpage offer further resources on bushcraft.
– Interviews with Mors Kochanski provide valuable insights into survival and wilderness living skills.
