Paul Kirtley Interview Part 2 - Problems with the Universal Edibility Test

This is part 2 of the interview I did with Paul Kirtley from Frontier Bushcraft in the UK.
Paul and I have a discussion about the controversial "Universal Edibility Test" and the many problems and misunderstandings associated with it. We discuss the many exclusions, general poison indicators, and other important pieces of information that are often completely ignored and left out of the presentation and instruction of this overrated method of identifying and testing unknown plants to eat.
Soundstripe Licence - 0UY4AT52VE5TDOIU
Hope you enjoy and thanks for watching.
Links to mentions
- Tom Lutyens 2019 GBS bushcraftsympo...
- 2022 Global Bushcraft Symposium globalbushcraf...
- Paul Kirtley paulkirtley.co...
- Frontier Bushcraft frontierbushcr...
This video is presented by Gordon Dedman, founder of Bushcraft Survival Australia (BSA). Bushcraft Survival Australia is an outdoor bushcraft survival school dedicated to teaching genuine and authentic modern and traditional outdoor living skills through carefully designed educational courses.
Gordon is a former member of the Australian Army 1st Commando Regiment and is presently a survival instructor in NORFORCE, an Australian Army Reserve Regional Force Surveillance Unit (RFSU). NORFORCE conducts patrols in the remote areas of Northern Australia, working closely with Aboriginal communities.
Gordon is also a Combat Survival SERE instructor (Survival Evasion Resistance Escape) and regularly instructs on RAAF Combat Survival Training School Courses in North Queensland.
Gordon has trained at and completed numerous Survival and Bushcraft courses and certifications worldwide at schools run by Paul Kirtley, Ray Mears, Dave Canterbury, Lofty Wiseman and Bob Cooper. Gordon also works seasonally as an outdoor guide in the NT, taking clients on camping expeditions into Kakadu and Arnhemland.
Gordon Dedman is currently the survival / bushcraft consultant for the “Alone Australia” TV series.

[@m005kennedy]

As someone who forages for mushrooms, I'm amazed virtually none of these presenting the UET don't say don't bother with mushrooms.

[@lukewarm2075]

Thanks another great video😊

[@davef5916]

Missed you both!! Two of the greats having a good conversation where you’re both actually listening to one another with respect, sadly don’t see this a lot at the moment. Thanks for the helpful info, greatly enjoyed this.

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Thanks for the feedback and your appreciation of this controversial topic. Paul is an incredibly knowledgeable guy and an amazing teacher. It vwas a pleasure to interview him about this important topic. Thanks for watching.

[@bushcraftbasics2036]

As I was looking into wilderness survival as a young scout my Father pointed out: -Most wild edibles out there are just good for making tea. They will give you some vitamins and maybe a morale boost but will do little to nothing to replace calories. So although "edible" priority of effort should be learning some key ones that offer good food value.

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

In a survival situation, priority needs to be given to foods that will give a high caloric energy value. The most bang for your buck comes from tubers (yams), roots and to a lesser extent shoots. These need to be prioritised first. The catch is they can be energy sapping to obtain depending on the ground they are found in. As stated, roots, shoots and fruits should be the priority if available. Take what you can get. If you don't eat at all your digestive system stops working and you fall victim to the later issues of re-feeding syndrome. Thanks for watching

[@keithandrews1069]

Thank you

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

You're very welcome. Thanks for watching

[@TheCog1983]

Thank you.

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

You are very welcome. Thanks for watching

[@bushcraftbasics2036]

Found a number of books and online sources repeat the same info which may not be accurate or is dated. Examples are using the watch method of finding North. Most sources do not mention it loses its effectiveness in different latitudes (extreme North and South). Another I have heard for years was using Potassium Permanganate to purify water for drinking. Recently came across information that indicates you could have serious health issues if you ingest even a small amount. Spoke with a physician assistant and he confirmed there could be serious, same day medical issues if you get your dosing off. Like both of you are saying in the video get good training from expert staff.

[@BuckMckawtheotherone]

As a basic recap: The military uses quick aide-memoires to guide their lost troops into a systematic regimen. This is no concern to top brass because they statistically know that most lost personnel are more concerned with evasion and escape in enemy territories, or, with signals and expectancy for rescue within 72 hours. The problem is that civilians think this applies to them. Acronyms are fine, as a guide (STOP, SERA for examples) to help under immediate stress to assist a lost individual to act within a certain degree of reason, especially when things happen quickly. But proper training and education goes a long way, especially with plant identification. I am on Paul's plant course. It is overwhelmingly thorough, and we need to constantly investigate, explore, ensure, and cross-check plants for positive identification, because, some can kill or incapacitate. Even the cattail has a nasty look-alike that can harm you. Know the plants you know positively, especially the major plants that bring best calories for effort loss. Love both your channels. Thank you.

[@christurner68]

Keen on doing some refresher courses 👍

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Come and do a course. Our courses can be found on our website. Thanks for watching.

[@MTwoodsrunner]

Thanks Gentlemen! top notch info and discussion...reminds me to brush up on my plant and tree ID...a subject in which the more I learn, it seems the less I truly know...cheers!...David

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Definitely the case. The more you learn the less you realise you actually know! Nothing is more so than botanical knowledge....it never ends. Thanks for watching.

[@christurner68]

I also thought the test is quite long winded also. My experience is through combat survival school RAAF Townsville.

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Yes indeed, I teach at CSTS quite regularly. It's a valid test if you have no idea about botany of a particular area and if done correctly, but it is still used as a crutch in the military instead of doing the work and learning some widespread useful of course there are some exceptions to this and there are some instructors who really know their stuff.. Thanks for watching.

[@danielnixon6418]

Hi what books would you recommend for NSW Australia ?

[@BushcraftSurvivalAustralia]

Wild Food Plants of Australia by Tim Low s a great starting point. Edible Bush Foods of NSAw (Sydney Botanical Gardens) is another. Thanks for watching