Master forager makes mushroom paper, fish leather & superfoods

Fergus Drennan is a professional forager who often sleeps in a solo tent in the woods to be closer to the wild materials he collects for eating, tanning, and druid-like experimenting. Foraging for food is just one aspect of his bushcraft (which includes making clothing, fire, and shelter).
For decades he’s been collecting mushrooms and plants for food. He’s spent 11 months of the year living on wild food alone (only February remains elusive), but when funding allows, he hopes to dedicate more time to completing his Year-Long 100% Wild Food Experiment.
He's a vegetarian except for what he calls “accidental meat” (he was "The Roadkill Chef" for a BBC show produced by Jamie Oliver's company). He also uses “found” animal skins to create leather drumheads.
More recently, he has been preparing and tanning fish skins donated from sushi restaurants so his archeologist partner Charissa van Eijk can turn them into handbags, wallets, and jewelry. Together they teach courses in fish skin tanning that “goes far beyond (although not excluding) the traditional and well-known tanning methods using bark, eggs, brains, and urine.”
Not believing in the separation between life, play, and work, Fergus recognizes that all roads lead to a life embedded in nature, providing physical sustenance and psychological nourishment.
Fish Skin Tanning Course:
eequ.org/exper...
Fergus aka "Fergus The Forager":
fergustheforag...
Craefty Salmon: www.patreon.co...
Charissa Instagram: / craeftychaga
On *faircompanies: faircompanies....

[@kirstendirksen]

Some answers to your questions from Fergus: "The book I mentioned at the beginning is a short children’s book called The Salamander Room by Anne Mazer - a simple story but no less profound for that. It was mentioned and recommended by one of my favourite authors, Derrick Jensen. The mushroom hat making is an on-going project. The one I’m wearing was made by skilled Romanian craft folk, see here www.etsy.com/market/amadou_mushroom_hat I have finally worked out how to do it so will make one soon! The mushroom paper book is available as a digital reproduction here issuu.com/barryturner0/docs/tfbp-full-book-for-web?fbclid=IwAR0GDsMn2-KpvZVHVXQZhrmg10WeONcgDy9Th2-6ejDRonijr1XsW3dunt0 The book was a collaborative endeavour between myself and James Wood. He did most of the hard graft including hand writing it all! Creating a wild crafted book of and for your own region, be that a state, county, municipality, town, park or school can be a lovely way to learn and celebrate the place in all its magic. I mention fish skin leather craft as an intangible cultural heritage. Coincidentally I am giving a talk on foraging in January for the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee. Please join me if you can. Full details here www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/britons-foraging-for-food-the-return-of-an-ancient-tradition-tickets-477259244247 It was fun to be involved with this film, although it is a shame my partner Charissa wasn’t there on the day, although Kirsten added some short clips filmed at another time. Our fish skin leather journey is very much a collaborative one and is certainly not about me tanning skins and handing them to my woman to craft with lol! We both do as much tanning as each other, indeed she sources all the skins, and one day I hope to be even half as skilled in crafting as she is! We hope to document our fish skin leather adventures on KZbin in the future, for now we are both on Instagram. Charissa’s is in the links below the video, mine is instagram.com/fergustheforager/ The house! I don’t own it, just rent a room there, and am lucky to be allowed to keep a camp in the woods. I spend more time living in the house. I’m getting older and like the warmth and convenience but try to get out there as much as I can."

[@jimcy1319]

I did wonder about the house at the time, I thought 🤔 making fish leather must pay well.

[@jamiecurran3544]

I was also wondering about the house too, Fergus n his wife are pure genius this was an extremely eye opening video!, thanks Kirsten!😊💜✌️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@megm.c4026]

AWESOME!!!! So cool Fergus. Im not good at computer stuff and dont have ways to print off stuff but Id LOVE to buy a book if you ever do a good ole fashioned forage craft book. I LOVE what you are doing. Very cool. From the wild backblocks of NZ.

[@JerseyJimFish]

I am a fishmonger/ artist/ mate on a fishing boat/ avid fisherman and youtuber. For the last year and a half , I have been compulsively working to understand the vegetable tanning process using foraged plants found here in Southern New Jersey. My leathers have been made from halibut, fluke flounder, walleye(pike), bronzini, salmon, snakehead, pickerel, haddock, and most recently, striped bass. The latter was completely the motivation for the whole fish skin leather making journey. These I tanned in sumac, which is considered a ditch weed to the uninitiated. I video documented my efforts on my channel if you care to see the process I have developed or the fillet knife scabbards I have made with them. Your movie has inspired me to look more deeply into natural dying mediums as that copper dyed skin was absolutely beautiful! Thanks for that.😁

[@thecraeftysalmon]

Great. Will have a look

[@moamoa7067]

Fergus is definitely one of those people that are real example of native thinking that are probably one of the most inspiring kind of things to seen in our modern world where a lot of native wisdom is lost. -Creativity, curiosity, drive and respect for living things. Forging for mushroom was definitely one of the gateways for creating the curiosity and shifting my mindset regarding resource use and seeing the living organism of the earth.

[@davidsteinhour5562]

I was lucky enough to grow up with an uncle who's taught primitive skills and bushcraft for many years. He's an invaluable resource to my family, especially in terms of wisdom and perspective. These people are priceless. Also, dang, relationship goals.

[@christopherfisher128]

I do not want, or intend, to sound arrogant, but I grew up in a time, and place, where most everyone I knew was involved in living history, ancestral skills, restorative/regenerative agriculture, and the beginning of the slow food movements etc, and I thought I had seen, & done, almost everything that our ancestors had, including tanning fish skins for bow backing, making fish glue, and foraging, but I was floored by the fish skin thread and the mushroom "fabrics"! That was brilliant!! I am genuinely grateful you introduce us to Fergus cheers, and thanks for shining a new light on a very old set of skills :)

[@andercoyote4170]

Fergus, thank you. Best episode yet.

[@kathleenomalley7838]

I'm a part time fish monger at Whole Foods. The gelatinous layer between the underskin and the flesh holds the majority of the omega 3 oils, so it makes sense to use it in the tanning process, outstanding.

[@marthareyes4024]

This was so fascinating to watch. What a pleasant, playful, relaxed personality he has. I could re-watch this several times and get a lot from it.

[@streetscienceofficial8675]

Yoo martha yo fine like wine, where yaa from ? Yo stunning lady

[@sueg2658]

This man is a brilliant treasure! Thank you so very much for this episode!

[@minikas27]

Oh God, please do more series with this guy!!!

[@rawforyou5514]

can we not persuade him to come over to Bretagne and teach us????

[@jamiecampbell4666]

Please more videos this guy is awesome

[@pennygrimes8425]

This was a most fascinating treat, thank you! How about a series featuring Fergus' adventurous and natural life?!

[@01splitpea]

Kirsten Dirkson, you have delivered yet again. As with all your others, this video is riveting. Your choices of subjects, your videography, and your interviews are all invaluable to our world, and those who live in it. You've helped me comprehend there's an enormous world out there, with endless opportunities for personal satisfaction and fulfillment,while at the same time helping others. Thank you for the part you play in delivering the great news.

[@petersterling5334]

I Really want to Encourage Fergus to Write a Book about all his knowledge and philosophy! The World really needs knowledge like this at this time!!

[@runvidr]

I started watching this channel for the unusual dwellings, usually smallish. But this video is a fantastic crossover to other topics I find interesting, such as camping, bushcraft, and natural history. I love it!

[@marieleopold1625]

ABSOLUTELY A M A Z I N G !!! Thank you 4 this vid...it has opened my mind to all manner of possibilities! Health and God Bless!

[@carolynknight1520]

Great episode on skills humans had, and inspiration people whose curiosity rekindles ways of knowing and being. I appreciate Fergus' query-ways; ask out loud, quietly, How, If, Why/ Why Not questions that kneedle a need to know IF a thing is possible, launching pathways to re-discoveries. In the Pacific Northwest Coastal region of Canada where live, there are curious folk who explore waste stream materials, are re-sourcing everything from cloth, invasive plants, foods (via reclaiming from grocers' receptacles to agencies picking up and redistributing useable produce, meats, baked goods through frontline outreach organizations attempting to fill the every-widening gap in food security for folk experiencing lack of housing and food security), to the savvy re-upping of clothes, furniture, biproducts from imported items on pallets. Status quo is getting a head shake by more and more of us. Thanks for bringing these stories to the accessible platform KZbin provides. I look forward to more stories such as this one!

[@TheJustinasG]

We all need more people like Fergus Drennan. Thank you for "exposing" him and his lovely wife to us all!

[@Amanda-yf7vj]

My goodness!! You are absolutely incredible!! Thank you all!! I think we will be getting back to this kind of living in the near future.

[@jennifernorris3830]

This has got to be one of your best! I'd love to see more of people like him. Your work is my absolute favorite! How will I sleep tonight with all this wonderful new stuff going round in my head? Thank you 🎶💜🎶

[@monicacruz4407]

I must say Fergus and partner radiate health, in a broad sense. I feel it is the deep connection they feel and have with the living world. He’s like a kid in a candy store. Kirsten, your family too have this, thank you for sharing your radiance and curiosity, wishing all here a great 2023

[@visnuexe]

What a genius of natural living! I aspire to his way in my humble way. Only I have started late in life with exploring uses of foraged plants and animals rather late in life. It makes one think of many possibilities seeing Fergus at work.Thank you for sharing this treasure!

[@tmckmusic8584]

The contrast when the Target commercial advertising cheap clothing comes on just after he shows us the mushroom hat.

[@SustainerNYC]

🤜🏻

[@SonnyDarvishzadeh]

I learned so much just in one video! Thank you, Kirsten for this :) and also Fergus for sharing his knowledge and opening many eyes to how we used to live and actually how we're supposed to live!

[@maikatupua8228]

You just took me from Fiji to Sussex to forage sightseeing learning and tasting... you are fantastic Kirsten.... you are a KZbin Gem.

[@justinhaslam-lucas8711]

Thank you Kirsten and Co. I live circa 12 miles away on the coast, and used to go to Ashdown forest a lot as a Kid. What a great reminder for me. I do also follow your series pretty religiously, and never get bored. I also love the Italian Alpine projects you cover as I lived for 5 years up in the Austrian Alps in Tirol. Please keep going.

[@gallopingg1]

THIS VID WAS SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL! WHAT A CLEVER GUY, FROM UK

[@hobocyclist]

Living outdoors is great! I prefer it to house living most of the time, however doing everything on the ground is hard on the body and after 10 years living in tents and cars I’m looking forward to building my own house. Thanks for giving me lots of inspiration from your videos, they are always very high quality documentary of human life in modern times

[@srendall1452]

Good luck mate! Have you been to Denmark :)

[@hobocyclist]

@@srendall1452 Yes, around 2013 I was in Copenhagen, its a nice city!

[@spaceforthesoul6286]

I feel so too..

[@kathleenomalley7838]

Kirsten, wow, thank you for sharing ❤️ Happy New Year to you, yours, and everyone 😊

[@OMGAS]

What a marvelous education I’m receiving from this video.

[@chezmoi42]

The tanned skins are an interesting process. I once had a salmon-skin watch band, which surprised me because it came from a very conventional jewelry shop. I am a forager and amateur mycologist with a freezer full of interesting things, but I'm afraid I'd draw the line at jamming an unsealed sack of animal skins in on top of an open sack of berries. He's got a hat like Paul Stamets'! Très chic! The mushroom book is truly a work of art; I've only used plants and flower petals when I once played with papermaking. The dye (and I suppose ink) colors you can get from mushrooms are surprisingly varied. His final comment on the 'not-so-dead' stump was very apt. The mushrooms on the wood are slowly digesting it, and in the process, converting it to elements that can nourish new plants and, in turn, animals. It is thanks to fungi that our mineral world became habitable for all forms of life.

[@KatsapyNeLiudy]

It's just mind-blowing! Mother Nature has all the answers, but not so many people speak her language, this man being one of the best to interpret her wisdom to us.💚 Thank you for this peaceful enlightening journey for it's the only journey I can afford now, when russian barbarians stuffed our woods with mines😞

[@rubberbiscuit99]

Such a perverse thing for them to do. I'm sorry. We need to get the psychopaths out of politics and business and leadership of all kinds because they enjoy destroying goodness and life.

[@heatherthunderhawk485]

I loved this. I wish he had a book sharing how to make the paper, tan hides with plants for us who don't live in england.

[@CleoHarperReturns]

"You don't have to be limited by the baggage of what's possible." LOVE THIS. Also, "techno-topia." I finally have the terminology for the frustration I've been unable to express. I truly wish I could meet this couple and learn everything they know. Kirsten you find the most outstanding people on your journey! Thank you so much for sharing it with us.💜

[@Friaspordias]

Incredible talent and skills this individual has! Great Vid!

[@IcedReality]

Such tremendous love, passion, and curiosity for the natural world. An indescribable pleasure. Thank you for the video, Kirsten. And thank you Fergus - you're a great teacher and guide. It's a pleasure to share this earth with you.

[@judeross3875]

Thank you so much to Fergus, his partner and to you for sharing your knowledge and wisdom with us.

[@lydiarowe491]

Surviving on what is given by the natural world..curiosity and experimenting with what is under foot … observing and respecting the elements that makeup the clock of harvesting..thank you all for sharing…a beautiful day while there..🌱🌿🌲🌞

[@donwyates]

That book is a priceless treasure! To understate the obvious, very interesting couple.

[@sharonadlam3195]

What an amazing person. Fergus has an encyclopedic mind. Thanks Kirsten for this video

[@SustainerNYC]

Can we have some more please?! 🙌🏻Kirsten, Brava🍄 Like Fergus, I bet a bunch of us knew this form of reason as tiny kids - emphatically! - and searched for guidance in the smallest references made to TEK - as I did - in our standard schooling. Now, it’s great to see you offer this profile of how curiosity & intelligence leads us further toward what too many among our species have been schooled to forget. Arriving at these practices, even by following our most rational queries into “how things work,” is such crazy pleasure. As with so many of your posts, what an overdue reunion with the wisdom that makes us human. Here’s to the indigenous among us who never relinquished this knowledge and to those humbly returning to it, as Fergus has, with awe! Thanks for pulling “the thread that connects” through your own great work… and big wishes for prosperity through your talent in 2023! Hugs to the fish-loving ants, too.

[@joancook8454]

This is by far one of the most interesting shows of yours that I’ve seen. All of your shows are great but this was fantastic!

[@unpopuIaropinion]

It is people like him that have moved humans to the top of the chain.

[@judeross3875]

I'm not sure that being top of the chain has done much good for the hunting and extinction of wolves, bears, wild cats etc in a lot of Europe though. We paying price for that now.

[@macmaniac3080]

Only found two channels worth watching in youtube. This is one of them. Keep up the amazing work!

[@hamade7997]

This might be one of my favorite episodes so far

[@nendrianendria2706]

Thank you for this particular video!

[@meredithheath5272]

What adventures the Dirksen Family have - peaking into so many lives of these interesting families, and individuals in so many situations...

[@ErnestoSun]

That book of the books is soooooo great! Congrats!!

[@H.v.R.]

Living life from inspiration, seeking the intimacy with our environment. Thanks for sharing this with us!

[@irishfruitandberries9059]

I love Fergus and have been following his work for years. Great to see him on your channel. You should check out his story about squirrel milk!

[@dudley1850]

This is one of the most fascinating adventures you've ever produced.

[@ssl33p]

I love how the book looks like the voynich manuscript. Amazing work.

[@JasonCarmichael]

The book OMG!

[@Garibuenavista]

This is one of the best episodes in your channel! Amazing man. Thankyou for sharing this Kirsten.

[@wasthataflute]

The radical thing of looking up.

[@TheDrKKool]

In a world that values Elon Musk, we also need Fergus Drennan. Thank you, Kristen for sharing.

[@roidroid]

nah, i'd think the former would value the latter.

[@markanon5581]

yep!

[@ramb1353]

Does the world really value Musk? The guy who's introducing neural implants with some virtuous veneer? Fergus is a true and loving legend of sorts in my book; Elon just the opposite....

[@ramb1353]

In other words Fergus presents a lifestyle that keeps away from the disease causing poisons of the modern world that Elon makes money out of curing. Caring for the roots: no symptoms to address.

[@DeanIsJesus]

Everyone is valuable. 🌎✨

[@moiravandamme3408]

Wauw this is so yes!!! thank you!!!

[@chrisbgifford7387]

This has an amazing amount of information in it!

[@stephvickers1710]

What a wonderful video! Thank you for casting a net into the unbelievably interesting mind & world of Fergus Drennan ✨✨ - Super video with so much fun & knowledge... Magic!! 🍄🐟 🌴

[@TheAlexHJrShow]

Great video, thank you for the diversity in content Kristen!

[@claudews529]

Just BRILLIANT. Wonderful reminder of what life is "really" about. Thank you.

[@yougkuan9198]

Your videos are always so much fun n an amazing insight into the creative minds out there. Thanks for the shares n have a lovely '23 for you n yours! ; D

[@nicolasboullosa]

Same to y’all!

[@createa.googleaccount713]

I'm thrilled to see someone who also feeds the ants 🐜 🙌 I love, honor & respect the ants and always share food with them. I like teaching children to feed them rather than stomping them out. I'm also a wild forager and I so appreciate you, thank you for sharing your wisdom and for being you ❤

[@monoshock57]

His knowledge is incredible.

[@3_Star_Belt]

What a wonderful human being. Genuinely pleasant and knowledgeable. Making a „fun“ dessert out of amonita mascaria mushrooms, if you know you know :D lovely! Thx Kirsten!

[@swizzysaf9914]

I had no idea you could make anything remotely edible from amanita, really interesting

[@monat_son]

Would love a recipe :D

[@gmmunderground]

I’ve been an avid follower of your channel for the past few years, this video in particular is incredible. Thank you for going from strength to strength, this knowledge on the internet is a cornerstone of uniting the collective consciousness of the world !

[@bradlafferty]

This presentation is one of the best things I’ve seen in a very long time. Illuminating! What a remarkable man.

[@jphanks]

Dang, I could have watched Fergus for hours! Beautiful!

[@01splitpea]

Mr. Drennan, your lifestyle, knowledge, skills and abilities are spectacularly inspirational. Thank you for sharing some of your incredibly important knowledge and expertise with us.

[@moonmarie3253]

THE ALCHEMIST ! THANK YOU ! Much LOVE

[@naarvmaan]

This guys is awesome. He’s like a wizard from a a video game who sells products to increase your inventory or bring your health up.

[@CathyCawood]

Somewhere I saw that you can make "windows" from the scales - maybe by boiling them down, I think they became like gelatine and could be spread in a thin layer, which then hardened into a hard translucent panel.

[@thecraeftysalmon]

I have thought vaguely similar. Will give it a go!

[@larsstougaard7097]

Great guy, very impressive 👏

[@matthewmccooke7748]

Great video, simply great. Thank you so much. More content like this please. Loved the sheep milk guy also. So important to here these voices.

[@jonfisher9214]

A Ha-Ha was a barrier ditch to prevent livestock getting onto the lawn or gardens of a stately home. It was designed to be invisible from the house so the rural view was uninterrupted. The name derives from the idea that weekend guests would ride out from the house unaware that there was a sudden drop ahead of them. In modern language I suppose it would be called a "Surprise, lol!"

[@xpsxps1339]

Thank you, Kirsten! Stunning, as always.

[@thinkplanetearth2946]

I am a huge fan of your content but I must admit that I almost passed on this video because I thought that at almost 48 minutes long, and watching someone forage, I would get bored. Unfortunately one of the byproducts of this day and age where we want everything quick or we move on. Well I must say that the time simply flew by. What a fascinating man. His knowledge and enthusiasm for what he's doing was captivating. His sense of curiosity and childlike wonderment, (I mean this in the most positive of meanings), was magical.

[@yoyopg123]

One of your best episodes - and that's saying something! This guy is amazing and you did such a good job telling the story.

[@slokestope3769]

Interesting. Thank you for taking us along to meet this fellow

[@nikolaysalutski3270]

Brilliant insight into the life of a very special person! thank you to all involved for this tinny glimpse into big undiscovered world :)

[@MaxSafeheaD]

He's 20 miles from me and I've not been able to visit for over two years. I HAVE to go say hello as soon as I am able.

[@SustainerNYC]

Go, Max, go! It’s 2023 already!!

[@searchingforwonder]

That book is just a beautiful item, the care and time poured into it speak volumes even through the screen.

[@levoiliernippon]

I like this hands-on style video. More learning content than the other format.

[@anthonyjenkins6966]

That was an amazing watch thank you 🙏

[@DIYDalia]

I really enjoyed this video! Thanks! ❤

[@elizabethcarrington5819]

Just fascinating. I feels a kindred spirit with your guest. I too spend loads of time in nature foraging! Awesome show! Fan from Texas ❤️😊

[@warriorqueen863]

This dude has so much intelligence of survival bestowed on him by Mother Earth because he's compatible with Mother Earth. He's got a child-like spirit which makes you comfortable listening to him. He's got stored ancient wisdom gifted by Mother Earth to him for loving and honoring Mother Nature's gifts... Amazing person... Thank you you for discovering this unique wonderful person. I want to buy his products if he can export it here in Philippines...

[@sjaron23]

I love all the different sounds in your videos. They really augment the very unique content.

[@ginalarsen4875]

This man is amazing, and so is his partner!

[@ozerain7640]

This guy is legend.....

[@evesperspective7662]

This is amazing! Thank you for sharing with us.

[@romet333]

First of all I thank you for introducing the man called Fergus to the world. His experiences and talents that have been derived from this vast experience are a gift to human kind. He is the book made out of mushrooms and herbs- the human encyclopedia. The alchemist reaching gold. I feel a strong connection to what I see you doing in the video- the practical mind-set of a contemporary forager/explorer mixed with sensitivity and spirit. If Fortuna forsees it our paths will come to cross under a great old grandmother tree. Sending my best regards from the North that is Estonia. Romet

[@firatsoylu5132]

Yet another amazing episode, thank you! Foraging is a great way of getting to know your local flora and fauna.

[@123Homefree]

Awesome episode Kirsten!

[@aprilgorry5594]

Like someone else who commented I started watching your videos because of the repurposed houses in unusual locations! I really loved this divergent topic. How you followed and let it meander. I feel it would be hard to find this elsewhere. Agree about the questions concerning access to such lovely woods. It would be wonderful to see more of him and other topics like this… thank you.

[@bogverenko]

This guy is so interesting, humble and full pf lovw that I keep coming to this video. It's my 3rd time watching.

[@BRaff-hl4ip]

Interesting what he said about the Gargoyles, as it is widely understood that the columns supporting church roofs are a representation of tree trunks, the roof being the canopy of a forest.

[@CampingforCool41]

Man I would love to see a whole series following this guy around and sharing what he knows

[@jdavis4408]

Excellent and amazing...

[@taleandclawrock2606]

Gorgeous skins!!! So much knowledge, wish i could follow this couple around for a couple of years and learn from them!

[@swoondrones]

These hermit type people you present are extraordinary.