Hide Tanning- Traditional Scottish Methods & Peat Bog Survival Uses

[@davegrier523]

It warms an old tradesmans heart to see a younger generation preserving my grandfathers traditions. Good on ya lads!

[@piccalillipit9211]

You will love Gen Z then. They are unimpressed with technology and are reviving old crafts and traditions. As a reaction to the modern world they are knitting their own sweaters and carving their own spoons - sure they make a Tic Tok video about it, but that are the first hands-on generation for a long time.

[@Luca48882]

​@@piccalillipit9211 so many words trying to find an euphemism for "r3tarded"

[@piccalillipit9211]

@@Luca48882 - NOT IN ANT WAY. I am an author on psychology and the collapse of civilisations and I have researched the activities and practices of both Millennials and Gen Z and Gen Z are truly an amazing generation. Unlike Millennials, who are generally whiny and useless [which is the fault of their Gen X parents, I'm not hating on them directly]. According to the four generation cycle of civilisations theory, the Millennials should be saving the world, saving society, saving the economy - only they are not, that task appears to be skipping a generation to Gen Z. Thankfully Gen Z appears to be up to the task, and they better be cos the future of humanity's survival depends on them.

[@loganMartinPreacher]

@@piccalillipit9211 have you read Eric berne? I've read all his books and if you have any more recommendations I'd like to hear

[@peterananin2390]

Thanks Dave, glad you appreciate what we are doing, it feels so important to revive these old trades. We are currently training up an apprentice and passing on these skills to teenagers in the hope that it continues in expand and support the revival of many other old trades that were connected to the tanning trade.

[@fmare1319]

日本から見ています。 スコットランドの先祖たちは素晴らしい高度な技術を持っていたのですね。 そして2022年になっても、その伝統を守っている人たちも素晴らしいです。 良い動画をありがとう。

[@UnchartedAtlas]

Brilliant video, and yes, definitely make more how-to videos like this!

[@BeautifulTripsandPlaces]

Agreed!

[@motagrad2836]

Absolutely make more videos on making items using leather from each of the various tanning methods. I had heard of bog mining iron as well, so have you done that?

[@jamesbamber86]

Well said 👍 great stuff

[@matthewc670]

I would definitely like seeing a more in depth video on the making of the food bags and any other gear you end up using

[@kiltedsasquatch3693]

And homemade bagpipes, which would tie together many different Ole World skills in the process.

[@taracampbell2433]

Yes, food bags, gear, and bagpipes please. Especially bagpipes!

[@chriskwammie2773]

Would like to see how they would preserve food in a Bog!

[@peterananin2390]

@@kiltedsasquatch3693 yes we intend to do a video on traditionally tanned bagpipes soon.

[@kiltedsasquatch3693]

@@peterananin2390 👌 Awesome 👌. Another idea came to mind since I've been making cheeses lately, how about an Ole World cheese making video done with a sheep's stomach for the Rennet. A Cheshire, Darby, Cotswold, or Wensleydale would suit as an old world cheese. Cheers! 🍻

[@garybutler1672]

I've been a vegetarian for 20 years and I just love the respect you have shown for these animals. So much is wasted in food production, then replaced with plastics. A renewable material produced locally and biodegradable. You've won me over. I wont soon eat venison, but I support his kind of local sustainable craftsmanship.

[@Apostate_ofmind]

after all, if we dont want to use plastic, sometimes leather is the next best thing, since cotton cant replace leather for certain things.

[@thistles]

I've been veggie for well over a decade, but I do make raw meat food for my cats, and I've made my own fur clothes/shoes. Once I'm in a position to be able to rear my own food animals, I may start eating a small amount of meat, but the real goal for me is to be as sustainable as possible and to leave as small a footprint as I can. Items like this, although they are biodegradable and sustainable, are also so labor-intensive that they may cause people to reuse them instead of just tossing them and getting a new wrap. It's the best kind of positive feedback loop.

[@Apostate_ofmind]

@@thistles im so happy to hear you give your cats raw meat food! its so healthy for them, i bet their fur has improved/is great to begin with! I surely niticed with mine (although i cannot go the raw route yet, but at least i do all meat and not that dry garbage). I cant wait for us as a society to come back to the old handmade stuff, taking care of our objects like they take care of us, enriching them with history and personal flare.

[@thistles]

@@Apostate_ofmind yes, the food has made a tremendous difference for several cats. One was emaciated with terrible dandruff flakes when my sister found her, but her coat became incredibly soft and plush after just a couple months. Another cat went from 24 lbs to 11, and it resolved chronic dehydration and crystal problems he had. I’m a big believer in feeding animals a diet that meets their needs instead of our convenience.

[@Apostate_ofmind]

@@thistles oh, the chrystal problem! im so much familiar with it, i hate when the vets say 'its normal for cats'. Its not, its normal only because people keep giving the dry stuff. Another one is obesity and pancreas problems, which claimed already one of my cats. Im always so happy to hear of proper dieting for obligate carnivores like cats, thanks for offering such care for yours.

[@OverOnTheWildSide]

Excellent video, it’s incredible you have a such a man as a resource there. Makes me glad you’re not the only one keeping Scottish history alive!

[@ModernKnight]

superb and fascinating info, sadly no peat bogs anywhere near me!

[@FandabiDozi]

Glad you enjoyed it mate! Yeah me neither in my current location. I might just dig a big pit in my garden and fill it full of peat and oak bark though! haha

[@Admiral_Pumpout]

@@FandabiDozi I was just thinking, maybe some peat from the garden centre in one of those bog blue barrels and top up with a bit of water then chuck the hides in. Would it work? I see no reason why not.

[@kingpopaul]

As long as you can have an area with a steady water table near the surface or a shallow waterbody and poor conditions for most plants you could create a bog. Just need to get the species that is fit for those conditions. Some sphagnum was grown on floating pads in Japan also.

[@bread-ih9lm]

@@FandabiDozi I live in NJ with tons of peat bogs, cranberry bogs, hunting clubs, oaks, etc around me. I am a wilderness lover, and can safely say that you Scotts are lucky for the cold. We have so many bugs and pests over here that even standing on roadside near any of this nature will get you ticks, chiggers, mosquitos, gnats, greenheads, and tons of other pests. If I can make a request it would be to make a video about natural old time solutions to pest repellent. You genuinely can not camp in my local woods due to insane high volume of pests. My land was home to many native americans. I don't know they could tolerate thousands of chiggers per minutes. I have a significant amount of native american in me. I was taught none of their ways sadly.

[@bread-ih9lm]

@@FandabiDozi I live in the Pine Barrens in which the pine tree is remarkably resistant to fires. I suspect the only way they could live in my local area back in the day was to intentionally burn potions of woods. It is unclear if it is true the natives did that or not. Most native americans take the stance that they did not do this.

[@jeffreycoulter4095]

This was such a great video. Thank you Tom. I re-watched the video. You have a career here. Not only the Scottish hikes, but the history, the culture, the craftsmanship. This is all good information. Keep up your style and educate your viewers. You have a lot more potential here. Brain tanning, bark tanning, stretching, finished product.

[@lvlndco]

It's amazing the amount of work and raw materials it takes/took to make items. Our industrialized mass produced life styles make it easy to forget what is really required.

[@nicholasdavidson5683]

Its great to see someone left doing this trade

[@StripeyType]

My gosh that bog-tanned leather is absolutely beautiful. In America, bogs and swamps were used for the storage of timbers, and later in the Colonial and early Independence times, after most of the forests had been cut (there is no such thing as an "old growth" forest in Eastern North America, due to the shipbuilding industry) these bogs were mined not only for iron but for preserved timbers.

[@StripeyType]

Oh my gosh I would *love* to see about bark tanning the cow stomachs. Here in New England my mother-in-law has taken to raising goats primarily for milk, and I've been trying to tan hides so as not to let them go to waste. The more I can keep from going to waste, the better!

[@DuckcuD]

I would love to see more videos on traditional crafts and practices like this, and the more detail the better

[@Shadowshael]

It's heartwarming to see people out there keeping these traditional skills alive.

[@gudgengrebe]

This is absolutely one of the most interesting videos I have seen. I have learned so much in just a few minutes. I would love to learn these techniques. The whole process is a natural one, leaving no trace and no pollution. Things began to slip once the main focus was on money.

[@SmoothGefixt]

Very cool my dudes!! Also big respect for peter and his work/ preserving knowledge. Some inspiration there for the roundhouse life;)

[@FandabiDozi]

Thanks man! Any peat bogs near the roundhouse? :D

[@wikedwhich1]

@@FandabiDozi Where is the roundhouse?

[@docink6175]

I would really enjoy seeing the backpack and cow stomach pouches being made!!! Fantastic vdo!

[@stellanstellan8708]

Great piece of practical archaeology. This video are not only for traditional Scottish clothes and equipment but for so many other cultures. It is basic knowledge for so many centuries and it is great you discuss this.

[@thestupendouschumley]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video. I've been a leather and tanning enthusiast for over three decades now. I even worked for a wild caught fur broker as a skinner for 6 years in South Dakota. I posted a video on my channel years back about it. I commend you on your efforts.

[@BRaff-hl4ip]

Ya, definitely more in depth videos on tanning and also maybe one on preserving food in bogs. I came upon a road kill female otter recently which I case skinned and defleshed. Now salted and complete with her fur, she's awaiting the tanning process. If all goes well it will eventually become a hat.

[@hakonsoreide]

That was very interesting. Well done preserving not just leather, but also the knowledge of these techniques by making this video about it.

[@kiltedsasquatch3693]

For Peat's sake... Very interesting video as usual. As an amateur leatherworker myself, this inspires me to create a pair of buckskin britches. Cheers!

[@truedepthaquaponics7118]

Im thankful for videos like these. Preserving history, one video at a time.

[@slavpepe6581]

Thank you for keeping the traditions alive

[@gnollman]

Very cool, I love seeing this sort of stuff. I remember always hearing the saying 'In His wisdom, the good Lord gave each animal just enough brains to preserve their hides,' which, of course, you can take in a couple of ways.

[@plainsimple442]

Hi Tom, I don't have access to a bog, so I use 20 mule team Borax as a tanning agent, I sill have to soften it while it dries and then smoke it to keep it soft. Thank you and Peter for the great video.

[@blankanonymous5214]

Keep these vids coming. I live in the USA, but my ancestors came from Scotland. I have always felt a connection with it, and have always wanted to visit it. So these videos are a godsend for me. You definitely just got a new subscriber. Can't wait to see more..

[@holsson85]

This was REALLY fascinating! When I studied geology we learned a bit about Sphagnum moss, it's properties and it's environment but this info was completely new to me!

[@ryansnow9556]

Yes cow stomach vids please. Recently learned that blimps used them and figured hot air balloons may have been used and disintegrated long long ago. Also interested in fish skins for rain gear and other intestines for transparent rain gear. Found old pitures of North West U.S. and Alaska natives wearing good ones!

[@jasonsummit1885]

We have peat bogs here in Washington state in the US, never thought to try tanning hides this way.

[@pault1289]

What a fantastic film, thank you for taking the time to film and share this. Wonderful to hear the history and how practical and intelligent our ancestors were.

[@sindarpeacheyeisacommie8688]

Fascinating video full of I-did-not-know-thats. Please produce more like this!

[@twojac20]

this is so cool, I'm sure he could spread this trade by making it a high-end brand and trying to get some of the market share!

[@MrTacklebury]

Very cool. Here in Michigan, we had ways similar, but no peat bogs. We have floating cedar raft swamps where the trees grow completely over a lake and just keep shedding their foliage and dying into the water. You can jump and the land will move in a wave around you, but still be solid enough to walk on. You can shove stuff down into the openings here and there in the swamp and it performs similarly. Being a McNeal, I've loved watching the traditional Scot vids you do and would love to see some more detailed videos. We also make buckskins using the brains of the deer and can confirm that if you don't head shoot them, you can tan the animal's hide with it's own brains. If you have the money though, it's much easier to buy a gallon of Neatsfoot oil and it will tan about 4 to 6 hides for about $36. Less smelly than brain tan also. lol

[@WisdomThumbs]

What does the brain tan method smell like? Never been around it.

[@MrTacklebury]

@@WisdomThumbs basically rotting meat. Not quite as bad, but very unpleasant if you are downwind.

[@WisdomThumbs]

@@MrTacklebury Makes sense, since meat generally has fat in it. I'm imagining a jar of cooking fat that's gone rancid.

[@c.jarmstrong3111]

Every time I watch your videos, I reminded that I need to go to Scotland again. It is the land of my people, but I've only been there once!

[@thewizdad]

The highlanders were so resourceful! Explains how they can be mobile and well equipped to survive in that beautiful but rough terrain. Thanks!

[@bobdole8830]

Well depending on what time youre talking about the highland werent as "rough" as they are today. Before the introduction of farming 5900 years ago, Scotland was one big forest. Around 60AD half of Scotlands forests had been gone. During the middle ages and later during the 18th century there were periods of massive deforestation, which formed the landscapes that now are so typical for Scotland

[@threadsandpurrs]

This was very interesting. I love the color of the bog tanned hide. And yes, I'd be happy to see the detailed videos

[@jarlnieminen4307]

More videos about this sort of thing would be awesome.

[@BelegaerTheGreat]

*Wow, those hand-made items must be so much more durable and beautiful than our modern ones!*

[@esben181]

I would like to study my own culture as much as you do yours.

[@deborahdanhauer8525]

Those are beautiful hides! I have a tip…. When you’re ready to break the fiber, tie a rope to both sides and draw it back and forth around a tree. Rubbing it against the bark will soften it nicely. You may need to move the ropes around to get to all the hide.🤗🐝❤️

[@Graverobber94]

Using the hairy leftovers from the lime solution for masonry is a neat idea! I'm a tanner myself, and I usually just try to wash the lime out of the sheep wool and use it for felting, which is easier when it's been in the solution.

[@peterananin2390]

That’s great to hear your using the wool for felting, one technique the old tanners used to do was to paste lime onto the flesh side. Then stack the sheepskins up for a week or so then you can scrape the wool off without it getting lime on it.

[@Killer9forever]

As a city boy i feel like i missed out on so many tradinial things,good stuff lads.

[@Tomatonator]

I would absolutely love some more detailed crafting vids

[@irishka_zolotse]

This totally should be supported and taught by the local school, as some kids dont even know such techniques existed and helped the survival of our species 😀 👍

[@unavoidablycanadian397]

I can just imagine a scottish history village with you two working there. This has been a very cool hide making video. I have watched a few historical videos about tanning hides and this one is beautifully unique.

[@paulfollo8172]

Excellent video! I would love to see more like this. I’m so happy that someone is passing on the knowledge to the next generation. I believe that is vitally important. 👍

[@piccalillipit9211]

I WOULD LOVE a pair of brogues made out of the bog tanned leather - the depth of colours on that was amazing.

[@thefullaj]

Very informative video, I have a few small game hides and a deer hide that I want to process myself this gives me different ways to test out now. Thank you!

[@RoibinDeargFiadhaich]

Peter is truly one of the greatest wisemen and tutors ever, and I'm so grateful for the wisdom and craftsmanship he so generously shares , and I love this channel bringing to light such scottish history! Gradh mor agus slainte

[@peterananin2390]

Thanks Husky, really appreciate that, looking forward to teaching more people this year. It’s been a joy to work with our local forest school this year to pass on these skills and in future to revive other trades.

[@hamster5348]

As someone that has just taken up leather work , I found this really interesting and helpful, thankyou for sharing this with us , much respect to you from down here in fife .

[@SaraSantos-mh2xj]

I really enjoyed watching this video! It is so interesting to know that ancient skills are still being used;) It is a process that demands a bit of patience ;) Really cool to understand the different materials!

[@KengaruZ]

Thank you so much for sharing this! I've been researching traditional techniques of working with leather for a world building exercise, and this is an absolute gem!

[@keithfriesen3420]

Just love the how to vids! The history lessons are damn near better than the how to……damn near. Keep the great content coming my man this is an amazing channel!!

[@Tipi_Dan]

One of the most engaging exposes of an essential and critical activity.

[@PixieDust-eq6kc]

Wow! This is so awesome! I am an American but my ancestors were from Scotland. It is alway so cool to learn how they lived and worked. One day I would love to visit Scotland. Thanks so much for making and sharing this video.

[@NICEFINENEWROBOT]

I had some hours on horseback wearing Blue Jeans and the inner seams drove me nuts, my knees were hurting all over. So I would prefer to have the seams of the buckskin "riding trousers" somewhere else but not between crutch and ankle. (I taped rabbit furs to my knees, necessity is the mother of invention.) AND we could well do with hours and hours of your stuff, really!

[@frankrichardson9878]

If you research 18th century riding breeches some were made with only a seam on the outer leg. It is a particular pattern and layout of the hides to make them. I think Diederot shows them in his encyclopedia. The best ones were made of one hide for each leg with no inner seam and in great demand. Breeches makers were a specialty trade in the late 17th, 18th and early 19th century until they went out of style.

[@BCTGuitarPlayer]

Thoroughly enjoyable👍 I played bagpipes for a few years and did very well at it...til my lungs gave out! Anyway, I’d love to see you guys build bagpipes in the original technique. Love the pipes!! All things Scotland, for that matter.

[@fistsmcnasty]

This is really cool. At least now there is a pretty permanent record of this, so with a bit of trial and error, it could be relearned in the future.

[@nathaniel_fern4207]

That tanner has some exceptional fashion sense!!

[@stopit4uca]

The bog process makes a lot of sense since they found bodies mummified and preserved better than the ones found in Egypt

[@neanderthaloutdoors9202]

Interesting, these old skills are very useful to know for off grid living. Rather than a full poncho you could make up a shoulder cover/couling, similar to what you can get on modern waxed cotton country coats, but with a slightly longer back, smaller and lighter than a poncho.

[@kingofthefleetians]

I grew up in wellfleet where the marshes are super nutrient rich and makes some of the best oysters. But anytime I get new boots I go trudging through the mud and thoroughly cake them, wash them with saddle soap and mink oil. The mud would blacken the suede and the soap and oil would remove the salt and they last forever. Cool to see I was on to something, awesome video :)

[@andylongmore6697]

Good video, really interesting how tanning was done in different parts the country. The only tanning I seen previously was on TV abt 20 year ago, they used to say tanners only married tanners due what they used to tan hides (dog poo). Apparently in Victorian times the tanners used to pay children to collect it as fresh as possible and competition was rather fierce lol

[@chronicawareness9986]

wow the stuff you make looks quality and detailed as heck

[@BeverleyW]

This is an excellent video, really informative. I would love to see more instructional videos like this, both on leather working and on other traditonal Scottish skills.

[@AnderZ312]

instant subscription, i only wish I knew of this channel earlier.

[@haroldmedalen6757]

Great history and information. As soon as the snow goes away I am going to sink a deer hide in a muskeg hole and see how it comes out! Thanks for the great video!

[@fuzzythoughts8020]

I've just found you when this was recommended to me by KZbin and man am I glad it did, I love this kind of thing. Using the free to access parts of the internet for preservation of knowledge is something we really should be doing.

[@franswiggidy]

Amazing! This world never ceases to amaze me. Human ingenuity at its finest. A perfect harmony between man and nature. I had no idea how useful peat bogs are/were to human survival. Makes me wonder about all the treasures that are lost to the bogs.

[@Clay_j_Bray]

The almighty algorithm likes comments so i will do my part to help. & I 'm Liking the how to video brother Dozi. stay healthy & keep the quality content coming Please

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

Amazing video :) I have been working with leather for most of my life and I have to say I knew embarrassingly little about the tanning process, thank you for helping to fix that, and a video about how you made the backpack would be amazing to see

[@blackknight9156]

Finally! It is so rare to see anything on bark tanning. You could not be more correct about it nearly being forgotten. I have a couple furs brewing now actually.

[@DougPalumbo]

I was totally captivated by this video! Excellent look into the history and craftsmanship of traditional Scottish tanning. Well done!

[@PauloGarcia-sp5ws]

Just awesome!

[@SportsSenpai]

I didn’t know you could store meats and other things in the peat bog. That’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever heard and those hides were badass!

[@Gothmetalhead13]

This was amazing, thankyou for showing these old but important methods off

[@Brettmlyons]

The Information about the versatility of the peat big is absolutely fascinating. 3 years old peat bog hog? Yummy

[@Hugh.G.Rectionx]

i remember seeing something once about how scots used plants (cant remember which plants exactly) to make iron weapons. they just burnt a lot of them and worked the charred remains like a blacksmith would and eventually the iron in the plants would be all that remained. they did this because the english banned them from training with metal weapons and it was the easiest way to obtain metal. i always thought this was ingenious but havent been able to find this video again or anything else about this.

[@20ZZ20]

sounds like bullshit tbf mate

[@Hugh.G.Rectionx]

@@20ZZ20 it seemed to work. they got a good chunk of iron in the end.

[@Hugh.G.Rectionx]

@PolySaken actually it can. heres a simple experiment for you to try that proves it: ground up some cereal that has a high iron content, put it in a container with water then run a strong magnet on the outside of the container. you will see the iron gather at the point the magnet touches the container.

[@Goldenhawk583]

@@Hugh.G.Rectionx to have something prove your claim, maybe try it with some high iron veggies, like spinach.

[@Hugh.G.Rectionx]

@@Goldenhawk583 no need. ive seen it done with plants containing high levels of iron

[@sciencediver]

Excellent work, I'm very glad to know that at least someone is preserving old craft. Certainly I would like to learn more about it. Waiting for more of your videos. Congratulations! Happy New Year, and the best for all of you in this incoming year.

[@_keerp]

We have quite a few peat bogs here in Latvia, but I've never heard of anyone using them this kind of process, very cool!

[@JamesSmith-or7eg]

Absolutely!! More videos like this and making clothing, bags, etc…

[@littlebull8881]

think its brilliant and so fitting having stomachs as food pouches. Fantastic, yourself' MattyFF and Peter would be the team to beat' I bet your bottom dollar not many people could if any. Truly was Fandabidozi that mate

[@franotoole2702]

Love learning new things about the old ways. Todays lesson, preserving meat in a bog. I new it was used for preserving alot of things but but never would have guest meat or butter!

[@feathernow]

Yes, keep sharing more detailed videos. Thankyou!

[@Keelsman]

COOOOOOOOOOOOL!!! Thanks to you both and everyone whose activity helps to teach and practice and preserve these amazing traditional skills!

[@angusdrummond6719]

Thanks again for this...great to see the background of highland culture!

[@markcoffman9522]

Any and all traditional how to videos would be great. No peat bogs in Michigan, but bark tanning is possible. Step by step how to would definitely would be appreciated.

[@ThrashingBuddha]

Great video, great lad! Would absolutely LOVE to see videos about what you make with the leather and how to's. Even more so, i would love to see videos on clothing and patterns with the leather. Like vests and whatever the ancient scots would have worn.

[@Kalmoneiros]

Those pants look durable. ngl I kinda want a pair.

[@axeboy9638]

Thank you guys for keeping the legacy going I always wanted to learn how to do this but now that I see that I need a lot of materials just to make this stuff happen

[@truedepthaquaponics7118]

Yes, please do a detailed video on making the backpack!

[@0m3GAARS3NAL]

I've only got traces of scottish in me but I would love to learn this craft. This information is so grossly valuable.

[@johnr1350]

Fantastic vid. Please continue this series.

[@KingfisherTalkingPictures]

Fascinating. There are skills here that could help recover lost skills from the Americas. I’d love to learn more about this.

[@nightwolf1592]

Fascinating video. Keeping history alive and relevant 👍

[@cephasgunn1993]

Right, next course in line. love your channel mate, gives me the insight to my heritage like no other.

[@redleo380]

Fantastic bit of knowledge to stumble upon.

[@charliemanis9193]

Hearing Fife made me chuckle a little bit I immediately thought about my ancestors before they immigrated to the U.S

[@bytesandbikes]

Really enjoyed the detailed look at the process. Would like to see more

[@vipguyschnorgi6629]

Thanks for this very good video. I would’ve very interested in the food pouch making. Looking forward to see more. Best regards from Germany 🇩🇪