I was raised on an old country resort between the Catskills and Pocono Mountains. Most of my time was well spent outdoors. There was no cable T.V. in my area until my early teens, and cell phones and the internet definitely didn’t exist. We made our own fun. We had everything from hiking adventures and exploring the landscape, to horseback riding and summer camps. I picked up a lot of basic skills that as a child, I never gave much thought to. There were family members who hunted, camp counselors, and a huge library of books my grandparents had. Mostly though, I was the type to get an idea and just try to figure it out, or make it myself. The lean to shelters I build now are the same forts I built as a kid. One thing that has changed is the meaning for doing it. Well,kind of. As a child it was about fun and a cool place to hang out. As an adult, it is the same in that sense, but also a practice in sharpening those skills should I need them to survive. It’s the same for fire starting, or foraging, and making tools I may need. It’s problem solving on the fly with what I have on me at the time. In my late teens and 20s I drifted away from all this as my journey in life took me in different directions. I pursued newer interests as the world changed, including many different artists outlets. Now in my 40s and settled in an area not far from my original home, I have re-embraced the love for the outdoors. I picked back up practicing skills of survival and self reliance. So it’s an old, but new journey with newer understanding than I comprehended as a child. I honestly never heard the term “Bushcraft” until about 5 years ago. To me it’s camping or survival practice with a new name. I decided to use Sparrow_Bushcraft because, well, it’s where I live. Sparrowbush is a hamlet in Orange County, New York. It’s not far from the Delaware River, which is actually visible from our property. So it made sense to add the “craft”. And well, I like to think I’m a crafty guy! My hopes are to share some of these crafts for everyone to use, enjoy, and learn on their own journey. I thank all of you for the support, and welcome you to my store. Sincerely yours, Bourbon Bill. Sparrow_Bushcraft