I am a 49 year old female. I grew up mostly in Tulsa, OK, via Long Beach, CA, & Joplin, MO.
I am disabled, but able to get around well enough. I was studying to be a nurse, but my mom got sick, & I ended up taking care of her, then my husbands health went downhill. It was a good thing I learned as much as I did, because I sure did get to use it. My husband passed away 3 years ago. I of course had first aid, CPR, & many other classes in health. I took some ROTC classes when I first went to college, in map reading, marksmanship, & repelling. I used to shoot with a friend at the Nat Guard Armory. I was the only female to survive the marksmanship class, & was excused from the final so the guys wouldn't be intimidated.
I grew up camping & hiking a lot. I was taught a good bit
about edible plants as we hiked. My dad also taught about weapon making, ie. knapping & putting handles on tomahawks, knife making... When I got older, & between health insurances, I started studying herbs, & their medicinal uses. This helped greatly with my own health, & I passed on this info to anyone who would listen. I was also a great fan of the series; "My side of the Mountain". I was very interested in the edible plants he used. This got me searching to learn more about what I could find. I was in Girl Guards (like Girl Scouts) as a kid, & learned what I could through that.
I would have to rate my level of experience at somewhere between intermediate, & advanced, with instructor thrown in in some areas.
I would have to say that my preparedness planning would have to be the same. A friend of mine who is male & 10 years younger, was talking to me & asked who I thought would last longer if dropped out in the wilderness. I told him that I would. He laughed. I said ok, were dropped into the wilderness in separate areas, near fresh water & green vegetation. I said that I would have to have several knives, my fold up shovel, & my machete, some dental floss, flint & steel, & nippers for limbs. First I would make shelter for myself, & find some food. I explained how, & he thought I was lying about the abundance of food available to anyone who knew about it. I then started leading him to web sites & telling him about some of the foods available in his area (CO). He said he would spend the first night cold & hungry. He also thought that because his health was much better than mine, that he would stand the better chance.
So you see I'm a natural teacher. My daughters preschool teachers called me scared that she was going to poison herself by eating wild plants around the playground. I laughed & told them that I had taught her 3 plants that she could eat, & she would only pick those. She is 15 now & knows many more. My friend is here in Tulsa now & I am taking him around & teaching him what I know. I like camping, hiking (when the weather, & my joints permit), music, reading, & learning more.
As a member I plan on sharing what I know, & learning more.
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