Woodlore

Bushcraft Tips And Advice

Welcome to the tips and advice section, where we have gathered information on a variety of topics related to Bushcraft and Outdoor Survival.

Bivy Bags
Caring for your Axe
Fleece
How to Sharpen a Knife
How to Sharpen an Axe
How to use a Fire Stick
Print Process/Organic Cotton

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Sleeping Bag Comfort Temperatures
What is Gore-Tex?
Wool

Print Process/Organic Cotton

Print Process

Woodlore's 25th Anniversary T-shirts (available in both black and olive) are made from Organic Cotton; Fairly Traded (see explanations below) and printed using specialist water-based inks that have a far reduced impact on the environment, both in the print process and when your shirt has reached the end of its useful life. These shirts are printed by the UK's only 'Soil Association Certified' textile printer. This means that they work to very strict guidelines, particularly for disposal of waste and recycling. In terms of inks and printing practises, they work closely with the Water Authority who monitor and test their effluent and all water is filtered before it enters the sewer.

The water-based inks and specialised method of printing used, means that the Woodlore and Ray Mears logos can be reproduced onto dark garments as well as light ones whilst still giving the end result of a durable and bold print that is soft to the touch and is PVC and Phalate free. There is the added advantage that the print is fully ironable and will not deteriorate over the life of the garment, unlike traditional plastisol inks which will eventually crack, or peel-off over time.

Organic Cotton

Organic cotton is cotton grown without pesticides or chemical additives to fertilise, relying instead on methods with less ecological impact.

Conventional cotton farming is one of agriculture's most environmentally destructive activities. It takes an enormous toll on the earth's air, water, and soil, and significantly affects the health of people living in cotton growing areas.

A typical conventional cotton t-shirt uses about 150 grams of acutely toxic pesticides and insecticides; that's the size of a cup of sugar. Organic farming methods benefit farmers and their communities by:

• preventing and reducing farmer debt

• improving food stability for farmers as a result of crop rotation

• preventing pollution of the water table

• preventing potential fatal pesticide poisoning of farmers and their families

• improving and maintaining biodiversity

To achieve organic certification, only azo-free dyes are used in the dying process and all effluent is properly treated.

In addition, the traceability of organic cotton right back down the supply chain means that it is the only cotton that you can be certain is GM free.

Different levels of certification exist, but at a minimum, a crop must be grown in soil that has been chemical-free for at least three years.

Fair Trade Cotton

Fair Trade is a growing, international movement which ensures that producers in poor countries get a fair deal. This means a fair price for their goods (one that covers the cost of production and guarantees a living income), long-term contracts which provide real security; and for many, support to gain the knowledge and skills that they need to develop their businesses and increase sales.