The Art of Free Range Naturism

[eyesup]

I live in a desert. Water is a big deal.  Where I grew up in East Texas lack of water was not a concern. Snakes were. As a kid I saw 'em all the time. Good ones and bad ones. Mosquitos can be the most important thing on your mind depending on where you are.

Out here, if you are on a hike by yourself, a turned ankle can be a death sentence in the summer. You bring what is needed for the place you hike in.

Nothing wrong with being prepared.

Duane

[reubenT]

Up. Toilet paper. If you have ever forgotten it at home, going without is a traumatic memory.
Jbee

Like you says,  everybody is different.    The need for TP is one I fail to understand.   It's a very recent invention, what did everybody use for the thousands of years before?  I just use whatever's at hand that's loose.   Usually dead leaves from the forest here in eastern woodland.  But otherwise I've used rocks, sticks, dirt, sand,  snow, moss, soft grass, (have to be careful of the grass with sharp edges, it can cut)  and of course water whenever it's available.   And water between everything else to stay clean as possible.     My cousin who lives with us has to have his TP,  carries it along everywhere when going out.  I don't even use it at home since the woods is close at hand,   bury my bank deposit under the forest litter like a cat and step it flat so it's well exposed to the soil microbial life.  Makes it disappear so one can walk past and even step on it without knowing it's there.   In the desert sand and rocks may be all there is.   I've left my deposit under a loose rock,   used a smooth rock to clean with,  or a handful of scrub leaves,  or a wad of dry grass,  or handfuls of sand. 

[ric]

we were baby sitting the grandkids yesterday , hottest day of the year so far, spent most of the day in the garden in the shade of a hazlenut bush,   toddler had a snotty nose, should have seen the look on the wifes face when i wiped the kids nose with a leaf.
(hazlenut leaves are the size of the palm of a large hand)


why is socially acceptable for the toddlers to spend all day in their birthday suits, but ive got to wear shorts?

mind you we dissobeyed the instructions to smother them in sun cream, just kept them amused in the cool shade.

[eyesup]

why is socially acceptable for the toddlers to spend all day in their birthday suits, but ive got to wear shorts?

The clue to the answer is in the word you used, "socially".  Society imposes a large list of behaviors on us by the time we attain our "majority". At that point you are free to discard as many as you choose. Just make sure you are able to endure the inevitable reactions.

At the root is most likely a fear of losing control of the status quo.

Duane

[eyesup]

The need for TP is one I fail to understand.   It's a very recent invention, what did everybody use for the thousands of years before?  I just use whatever's at hand that's loose.   Usually dead leaves from the forest here in eastern woodland.

Mostly it's just easy and convenient.

When I was a kid we spent most of our summer days in the woods. Generally I took care of that issue before I left the house. Sometimes the call came and you just took care of business. Grab a large stick, dig a hole and make a deposit. Grab a handful of duff (that layer of dead leafy material on the forest floor) or a large leaf, being careful in the choice, and there is no need to carry anything.

Duane

[jbeegoode]

why is socially acceptable for the toddlers to spend all day in their birthday suits, but ive got to wear shorts?

The clue to the answer is in the word you used, "socially".  Society imposes a large list of behaviors on us by the time we attain our "majority". At that point you are free to discard as many as you choose. Just make sure you are able to endure the inevitable reactions.

At the root is most likely a fear of losing control of the status quo.

Duane

Seems to be a difference between a peepee and a sex organ. One is harmless. Yep, seems to be kinda goofy thinking to me, too.
Jbee

[jbeegoode]

The need for TP is one I fail to understand.   It's a very recent invention, what did everybody use for the thousands of years before?  I just use whatever's at hand that's loose.   Usually dead leaves from the forest here in eastern woodland.

Mostly it's just easy and convenient.

When I was a kid we spent most of our summer days in the woods. Generally I took care of that issue before I left the house. Sometimes the call came and you just took care of business. Grab a large stick, dig a hole and make a deposit. Grab a handful of duff (that layer of dead leafy material on the forest floor) or a large leaf, being careful in the choice, and there is no need to carry anything.

Duane

I can't think of a single thing on this desert that would not be abrasive and inefficient and it is also a poor use of precious drinking water. When I was a kid, back east, nature had many answers, but I only used them in a pinch...messy for the inexperienced.

[Greenbare Woods]

Caution --  Frank discussion of body functions.  Skip if you don't want to read.

The need for TP is one I fail to understand.   It's a very recent invention, what did everybody use for the thousands of years before?  I just use whatever's at hand that's loose.   Usually dead leaves from the forest here in eastern woodland.

You are right that TP is a modern invention.  TP was invented in the 20th century.  Prior to its invention people used corn cobs, pages from the Sears catalogue, or whatever.  The most common was nothing at all -- like other animals. 

When people are naked any residual matter quickly dries.  Rubbing of our behinds together as we walk causes it to flake off without a problem.  Its a little more messy if you have "the runs," but the result is the same.  Within a few minutes its mostly gone by itself. 

That worked well when our ancestors lived mostly outside in the forest or plains.  Its not so good in houses, and if you wear pants it makes your pants messy.  But billions of humans still just go out to a field and squat.    India has a campaign to convert its billion people to indoor plumbing without success.   Middle eastern immigrants coming to Europe are also often unfamiliar with indoor plumbing.

When we westerners are out in the woods naked I'm not sure we need TP either, nor leaves and duff.  It dries. It flakes off rapidly.  When naked we can easily return to natural (animal) behavior in the woods.   As an old saying goes, "Do bears shit in the woods?"   (I don't know if that's an American saying,) 

My backpack has a small supply of TP in my kit.  I suppose its left over from days when I was Scoutmaster leading clothed boys, or hiking with other textile oriented people.  TP helps a lot when you have been a little messy and then have to put pants back on.  When you are hiking naked, it doesn't matter. 

I read that the Roman Empire had public toilets at their "baths" which included running water and a sponge on a stick to wash.  In my opinion that was a lot more clean than wiping with paper.  At home I have a bidet with a warm water wash.  My opinion is that every home or public toilet facility should have warm water wash for personal cleanliness. 

I hike naked on my land all the time without taking any kit.  When hiking naked TP isn't needed and it doesn't matter, in my experience.  I wash more when I get home.


 

[JOhnGw]

In the natural squat position there is almost no residue outside the anal passage, even with the "runs." It is the use of the toilet seat which causes the bottom cheeks to close in and accumulate unwanted residue.
In my opinion the WC and the seated earth closet have a lot to answer for - the squatting pole over an earth closet or the French "hole in the floor" toilet are far better both hygienically and anatomically.

[ric]

humans are the only animal that uses tp , were also the only one that cooks its food ,   is there a connection?


what we eat does effect the the condition of the stool, maybe the crap that most people now eat makes there own crap more messy than it would be on a more natural diet.

on a similar vein do all the chemicals in processed food come out in sweat and make that smell bad as well?

[MartinM]

We are the only species with the technology foe either. That said, as a species we have cooked our food for tens of thousands of years, whereas toilet paper was only recently invented, as was modern underwear. The latter is a more relevant connection, and sheeted beds which become obviously soiled.

Off track, I use leaves, moss, grass and water. I only use toilet paper as a last resort. The 'sharp edged' grass sounds more like sedges. Uncomfortable!

[Greenbare Woods]

humans are the only animal that uses tp , were also the only one that cooks its food ,   is there a connection?

No connection.   We've been eating cooked food for about 2 million years.  Our jaw and facial muscles have evolved smaller than our primate cousins who eat raw food.  Our digestive tract is now about 25% smaller in proportion to our body mass. 

If a person eats raw food you now only can absorb around 70% (more or less) of its food value so a lot of undigested raw food will pass through without being absorbed.  As a species we no longer have the guts to make efficient use of raw food.  The undigested raw material would affect your waste stream.

We have only been using TP for less than 100 years, not an evolutionary item yet.  No relation to our 2 million years of evolution for cooked food.

[Greenbare Woods]

In the natural squat position there is almost no residue outside the anal passage, even with the "runs." It is the use of the toilet seat which causes the bottom cheeks to close in and accumulate unwanted residue.

Good point John.  I have seen advertisements for a foot rest designed to fit in front of a toilet.  It raises one's feet into more of a squatting position.  It is said to pull one's leg muscles out of the way for easier passage of waste inside.  They don't advertise that it is also cleaner outside but that is obvious too.

In my opinion the WC and the seated earth closet have a lot to answer for - the squatting pole over an earth closet or the French "hole in the floor" toilet are far better both hygienically and anatomically.

As a large fellow with bad knees I have problems doing an actual squat.  I'm going with the raised foot toilet.   

[jbeegoode]

humans are the only animal that uses tp , were also the only one that cooks its food ,   is there a connection?


what we eat does effect the the condition of the stool, maybe the crap that most people now eat makes there own crap more messy than it would be on a more natural diet.

on a similar vein do all the chemicals in processed food come out in sweat and make that smell bad as well?

Okay, more leafy vegetable matter, and squatting do make an highly significant difference and these two have been lost to us. In my experience (oh perish the image of it), it has been night and day dramatically different.
Jbee

[jbeegoode]

humans are the only animal that uses tp , were also the only one that cooks its food ,   is there a connection?

No connection.   We've been eating cooked food for about 2 million years.  Our jaw and facial muscles have evolved smaller than our primate cousins who eat raw food.  Our digestive tract is now about 25% smaller in proportion to our body mass. 

If a person eats raw food you now only can absorb around 70% (more or less) of its food value so a lot of undigested raw food will pass through without being absorbed.  As a species we no longer have the guts to make efficient use of raw food.  The undigested raw material would affect your waste stream.

We have only been using TP for less than 100 years, not an evolutionary item yet.  No relation to our 2 million years of evolution for cooked food.

It is probably best to avoid a raw food discussion, but raw works very well, with modern food processors, it passes beautifully, relaxes the digestive system to better efficiency and health. Our species has always eaten lots of uncooked food as well as cooked. Most food's enriching qualities are mostly lost (70% give or take) when cooked, sat around for days, not chewed enough, or produced with the impotent soils that need chemicals to produce produce in. Not as much food is needed, or desired because nutrients are absorbed at a higher rate. Not just reading this, my experiential use of raw has shown these to me in a slap in the face obvious way.

We eat chewy dehydrated foods on the trail. There is plenty, actually more according to my reading, of protein, etc. and satisfaction in it. The latrine squat is more convenient. The way that I make the food, it packs lighter, and gives more healthy energy. It also packs better in a squat.

The Squatty Potty showed me in a similarly dramatic way the value in squatting. The advert is hilarious! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbYWhdLO43Q
Jbee